THE  BED  BOOK 


OF 


MICHIGAN; 


CIVIL,  MILITARY  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY. 


BY 


CHAKLES  LANMAN, 
1 1 

AUTHOR   "DICTIONARY  OP   CONGRESS,"   ETC, 


DETROIT: 
E,   B.   SMITH  &  COMPANY. 

WASHINGTON : 
PHILP    &    SOLOMONS. 

1871. 


F 
Lit 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy,  by 

CHARLES    UA.NMAN", 
In  the  offioo  of  the  Librarian  of  Congreefi  at  Washington. 


25 

i 


CORRIGENDA. 


A  few  typographical  errors  have  been  discovered  since  this  volume  went 
to  press,  which  the  reader  will  please  correct  as  follows : 

Page  9.  For  La  Honton  read  La  Hontan. 

"  88.  "    Greenley         "     Greenly. 

"  91.       "    Kobert  McClellan  read  McClelland. 

"  101.       "    Mahew  read  Mayhew. 

"  106.       "    this  table  of  population  substitute  that  on  page  507. 

"  416.  Transfer  names  of  J.  J.  &  L.  B.  Adams  to  preceding  page. 

"  436.  For  Labodee  read  Labadee. 

"  475.       "    Zini  Pitcher  read  Zina. 

"  497.       "    G.  L.  Whiting  read  Whitney. 

"  515.       "    Mharles  M.  Cooley  read  Thoma*. 


3D7773 


PREFACE. 


THE  Compiler  of  this  volume  is  a  native  of  Michigan,  and  although  long 
an  exile  from  its  borders,  he  has  never  lost  his  affection  for  the  beautiful 
country.  He  has  revisited  it  a  number  of  times,  and  in  a  former  publica 
tion  did  what  he  could  to  make  known  its  physical  attractions  and  aborigi 
nal  lore.  Whilst  cognizant  of  the  fact  that  an  admirable  History  of  the 
Territory  was  in  existence,  and  that  one  or  two  good  Gazetteers  of  the  State 
had  been  published,  he  felt  convinced  that  there  was  still  needed,  for  the 
use  of  the  general  public,  a  more  comprehensive  volume,  and  that  want  he 
has  now  endeavored  to  supply.  His  leading  object  has  been  to  prepare  an 
authentic  book  of  reference,  rather  than  to  make  any  display  as  a  writer; 
and  while  he  has  been  contented  to  perform  the  duties  of  a  literary  scout, 
the  success  of  his  present  enterprise  has  been  assured  by  the  effective  artil 
lery  of  James  H.  Lanman  and  General  John  Robertson.  To  the  first,  who 
is  a  relative  of  the  Compiler,  he  is  indebted  for  the  history  of  the  Territory, 
from  its  earliest  settlement  down  to  the  organization  of  the  State;  and  the 
latter,  who  was  the  able  and  indefatigable  Adjutant-General  of  Michigan 
during  the  War  for  the  Union,  has  contributed  a  complete  account  of  the 
important  part  which  the  State  took  in  subduing  the  Rebellion.  Not  only 
has  he  chronicled  the  action  of  the  Legislature,  but  he  has  taken  special 
care  to  place  upon  the  record,  in  compact  form,  the  heroic  achievements  of 
the  Officers  and  Soldiers  who  have  honorably  identified  their  names  with 
the  State  of  their  nativity  or  adoption. 

With  regard  to  the  biographical  part  of  this  volume,  the  Compiler  alone 
is  responsible.  Although  most  of  this  information  has  been  obtained  from 
original  sources,  he  did  not  deem  it  advisable  to  amplify  his  records  more 
than  was  absolutely  necessary.  He  regrets,  however,  that  a  few  of  his 
notices  are  more  brief  than  they  should  have  been;  and,  if  any  persons  have 
been  omitted  altogether,  who  deserved  notice  on  account  of  their  association 


iv  PREFACE. 

with  Michigan,  it  is.  because  his  efforts  to  obtain  the  proper  data  were  un 
successful.  His  leading  intention  has  been  merely  to  give  the  salient  points 
in  the  lives  of  the  persons  who  pass  under  consideration,  referring  the  reader, 
who  may  desire  further  information,  either  to  the  historical  narratives  in 
the  present  volume,  or  to  the  more  elaborate  biographies  hitherto  published. 
Indeed,  so  far  as  the  numerous  officers  are  concerned,  who  acquired  reputa 
tion  during  the  Rebellion,  or  died  the  death  of  heroes,  their  services  were 
found  to  have  been  so  well  depicted  by  General  Robertson,  that  the  Com 
piler  has  generally  omitted  their  names  altogether  in  his  department  of  the 
work.  To  the  many  friends  who  have  kindly  assisted  him,  by  their  corre 
spondence,  he  would  tender  his  grateful  acknowledgements.  And,  to  the 
People  of  Michigan,  he  now  dedicates  this  Historical  Record,  as  an  ex 
pression  of  his  regard  for  their  superior  intelligence,  persevering  enterprise 
and  exalted  patriotism. 

CHARLES  LANMAN. 

GEORGETOWN,  D.  C.,  November,  1870. 


CONTENTS. 


FIRST  PART. 

CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

PAOK 

General  Description  of  the  State.— Its  Soil  and  Scenery;  Heavily  Timbered  Land; 
Oak  Openings ;  Burr  Oak  Plains  ;  Prairies  ;  Rivers ;  Lakes  ;  Wild  Ani 
mals  ;  Birds  and  Fishes 9 

First  Advance  of  the  French  Missionaries  and  Travellers. — Breboeuf;  Daniel ;  Pijart; 
Raymbault ;  First  Arrival  of  White  Men  at  Saut  de  Ste.  Marie  ;  Father 
Jacques  Bressani ;  Chaumonotot;  Claude  Dablon  ;  Mesnard;  Lallemand; 
Dreuillette;  Gareau;  Mesnard  Advances  to  Che-goi-ne-gon;  Allouez;  Mar- 
quette  ;  Indian  Council  at  Saut  de  Ste.  Marie  ;  Marquette's  Explorations  and 
Death;  LaSalle;  His  Explorations  ;  Michilimackinac  Founded  ;  Death  of 
La  Salle  ;  Saut  de  Ste.  Marie  ;  Fort  St.  Joseph  ;  Detroit  Founded  by  Cadil 
lac  ;  Early  Condition  ;  Attacked  by  Ottawas  and  Foxes;  Hennepin  ;  La 
Hontan  ;  Charlevoix  ;  Their  Operations  on  Lakes  Erie,  Huron,  Michi 
gan,  and  Superior 14 

Colonial  Pioneers. — Merchants  ;  The  Rangers  of  the  Woods  ;  The  French  Peas 
antry  ;  The  Jesuits  ;  French  Soldiers  ;  French  Policy ;  Indian  Mythology : 
Frontier  Posts,  and  the  Fur  Trade  at  Michilimackinac  and  Detroit 30 

Struggle  Between  France  and  England  for  Possession  — The  Iroquois  and  Algonquins  ; 
British  Troops  Advance  into  Canada ;  Battle  of  Quebec  ;  Death  of  Wolfe 
and  Montcalm ;  British  Detachment  under  Rogers  takes  Possession  of 
Michigan  ;  Rogers  traverses  Lake  Erie  ;  Pontiac  makes  his  First  Appear 
ance  ;  Bellestre  ;  Surrender  of  Detroit 35 

Condition  of  the  Country  under  the  English. — Pontiac  forms  a  Confederacy  to  attack 
the  English  Posts;  War  breaks  out;  Siege  of  Detroit;  Battle  of  Bloody 
Bridge;  Indians  assemble  around  Michilimackinac;  Minavavana ;  Alex 
ander  Henry;  Wawatam ;  Michilimackinac  destroyed;  General  Brad- 
street  arrives ;  Peace  concluded;  Death  of  Pontiac 43 

The  Fur  Trade  and  American  Independence.— Hudson's  Bay  Company;  English 
Administration  of  the  Law;  Criminal  Trial;  Quebec  Act;  Mineral  Rock 
oc  Lake  Superior;  North-west  Company  ;  American  Revolution  ;  Expedi 
tions  from  Detroit;  Indian  Council  held  at  Detroit ;  American  Indepen 
dence  established 

Organization  of  the  North-western  Territory.— Arthur  St.  Clair  appointed  Governor  ; 
English  refuse  to  surrender  the  Posts:  Indian  Disaffection  ;  Indian  Coun- 


vi  CONTENTS. 

PAOS 

cil  at  Detroit;  Message  from  the  Spanish  Settlements  on  the  Banks  of  the 
Mississippi  ;  Campaign  of  General  Harmar;  Campaign  of  General  St. 
Clair;  Campaign  of  General  Wayne;  Extension  of  French  Settlements; 
Michigan  surrendered  to  the  United  States;  Condition  of  the  Territory  in 

connection  with  the  Fur  Trade  ;  Currency  employed  in  the  Fur  Trade 58 

Condition  after  the  Surrender  of  the  Posts. — Michigan  erected  into  a  Territory  ;  Gen 
eral  Hull  appointed  Governor;  Detroit  destroyed  by  Fire;  Administration 
of  the  Law;  Third  Indian  Confederacy  under  Tecumseh  and  the  Prophet; 
Le  Marquoit;  Land  Office  established;  Walk-in-the-Water ;  Population 
in  1811  ;  Memorial  from  Michigan  praying  Aid  from  the  General  Govern 
ment;  Savage  Outbreak;  Operations  on  the  Wabash  ;  American  Fur 

Company 64 

War  between  Great  Britain  and  the.  United  Slates. — Defenceless  condition  of  Michi 
gan  ;  Representations  of  William  Hull ;  Appointed  to  Command  the  West 
ern  Army;  Crosses  to  Sandwich  and  Addresses  the  Canadians  ;  Policy  of 
Prevost ;  Surrender  of  Detroit;  Tecumseh  ;  Conduct  of  Hull;  Expedition 
to  the  River  Raisin  ;  Capture  of  Chicago  ;  Battle  of  the  River  Raisin  ; 
General  Harrison's  Campaign;  Commodore  Perry;  His  Victory  on  Lake 
Erie;  General  Harrison  arrives  at  Maiden  ;  Marches  to  Detroit ;  Battle  of 
the  Thames  ;  Death  of  Tecumseh  ;  His  Character;  Attack  on  Mackinaw  ; 

Peace  concluded 69 

Transition  from  Territory  to  State. — Lewis  Cass  appointed  Governor  of  the  Terri 
tory  ;  Its  Condition  at  that  Time;  Public  Lands  brought  into  Market; 
First  Steamboat  on  the  Lakes  ;  University  Founded  ;  Expedition  to  Explore 
the  Lakes;  The  Clinton  Canal;  G.  B.  Porter  appointed  Governor;  Mode 

of  making  Surveys;  Controversy  with  Ohio;  State  Organized 79 

History  an  a  State  and  Present  Condition. — Admission  of  Michigan  into  the  Union 
as  a  State;  Stevens  T.  Mason  the  first  elective  Governor;  Act  passed  for 
establishing  University  of  Michigan  ;  Other  Events  of  his  Administration  ; 
Organization  of  the  Militia;  Administration  of  William  Woodbridge  and 
J.  Wright  Gordon;  Branches  of  University  Established  ;  Grand  Lodge  of 
Free  Masons  ;  John  S.  Barry  Elected  Governor ;  Administration  of  Alpheus 
Felchand  William  L.  Greenly  ;  Epaphroditus  Ransom  elected  Governor: 
Progress  of  Agriculture;  Re-election  of  Governor  Barry;  Great  Rail 
road  Conspiracy  Case;  Commercial  Advantages  of  Michigan ;  Adminis 
tration  of  Robert  McClelland  and  Andrew  Parsons  ;  Election  and  Re-elec 
tion  of  Kinsley  S.  Bingham  ;  Ship  Canal  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary ;  Moses 
Wisner  elected  Governor;  Election  to  the  same  Office  of  Austin  Blair, 
Henry  H.  Crapo,  and  Henry  P.  Baldwin;  and  Complete  List  of  Governors 

under  French,  English,  and  American  Rule ., 85 

Education.— University  of  Michigan  ;  Its  Professors  and  Instructors  ;  General 
Features  ;  Homeopathic  Controversy  ;  Action  on  the  Admission  of  Women 
as  Students :  Possessions  and  Advantages  ;  Observatory ;  Adrian  College  ; 
Albion  College;  Kalamazoo  College;  Michigan  Female  College;  State 
Agricultural  College;  Hillsdale  College;  Public  Schools  of  the  State; 
State  Normal  School  ;  State  Reform  School ;  Asylum  for  the  Deaf,  Dumb 
and  Blind;  Superintendents  of  Public  Instruction;  Asylum  for  the  In 
sane;  State  Prison  ;  Public  School  Statistics;  Union  School  System,  and 
Listof  Incorporated  Literary  Institutions 91 


CONTENTS.  yij 

Agriculture. — Population  and  Statistics  ;  Government  Lands  ;  Value  of  Crops ; 

Fruit  Culture  ;  Counties  of  the  State  ;  Increase  of  Population 103 

Mineral  Wealth. — Copper  Interest  of  Lake  Superior  ;  Iron  Interest  of  the  Same ; 
Salt  Springs  of  Sagiriaw :  Plaster  Beds  of  the  Grand  River ;  Magnetic 
Waters  of  Eaton  Rapids ;  Chronological  History  of  Geological  Explora 
tions  in  Michigan 107 

Railroads. — Michigan  Central  Railroad  and  its  Branches;  Michigan  Southern 
Railroad  and  Branches  ;  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad  ;  Flint  and  Pere 
Marquette  Railroad  ;  Amboy,  Lansing  and  Traverse  Bay  Railroad  ;  Condi 
tion  of  New  Railroads 115 

Lumbering  Interest. — The  Pine  Forests  ;  The  Hard-wood  Forests ;  Amount  of 
Lumber  Manufactured ;  Climate  of  the  Lumber  Region ;  Various  Attrac 
tions 120 

The  Fisheries. — Their  Commercial  Value;  Variety  of  Fish  Taken  ;  Principal  Lo 
calities  where  the  Business  is  Carried  on 124 

Commerce. — The  Great  Lakes  ;  Their  Coast  Line  and  Area  ;  The  Steamboat  and 
other  Shipping ;  European  Consumers  of  Grain  ;  The  Northern  Peninsula ; 
The  Southern  Peninsula;  Resources  of  the  State;  Ship  Canal  of  St. 
Mary;  Indebtedness  of  the  State  ;  Banking  Institutions 126 

The  Indians  and  Antiquities  of  the  State. — The  Number  of  Indians  in  the  State ; 
Their  Annuities  and  Condition;  Ancient  Gardens  and  Mounds;  Ancient 
Mining  on  Lake  Superior ;  The  Mound  Builders  ;  Indian  Names  of  Michi 
gan  130 

Recent  Developments. — The  Grand  Traverse  Region  ;  The  Sand  Dunes  on  Lake 
Michigan ;  The  Saginaw  Valley,  Its  Lumber,  Salt  Springs  and  Gypsum 
Beds  ;  The  Straits  of  Mackinaw ;  Mackinaw  City ;  The  Cheboygan  Re 
gion,  its  Lumbering  and  Agricultural  Interests 133 

Notes. — Order  of  Odd-Fellows  ;  Nativities  of  Population  HO 


SECOND  PART. 

HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Military  Department  of  Michigan  from  1861  to  1871 143 

Prefatory  Notes.—  Love  of  Michigan  for  the  Old  Flag;  Necessity  of  an  Historical 
Record;  Origin  of  the  Information 

Introductory. — The  American  Rebellion  ;  Unprepared  condition  of  Michigan ;  Val 
edictory  Message  of  Governor  Moses  Wisner ;  Sentiments  of  Governor 
Austin  Blair ;  War  Meeting  in  Detroit ;  Flag  Song  of  Michigan  Troops ; 
Organization  of  Troops  and  provision  for  Ways  and  Means ;  Special  Session 
of  the  Legislature  and  its  Action;  Curious  Telegram 

Raising  of  Troops.— The  First  Regiments  ;  The  Secretary  of  War  to  the  Governor 
of  Michigan ;  Camp  of  Instruction ;  Progress  of  Recruiting ;  Message  of 
Governor  Blair ;  Action  of  the  Legislature;  Re-inforcements  Demanded; 
Action  of  the  Adjutant  General;  Patriotism  of  the  Churches;  Additional 


viii  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Troops  sent  to  the  Front;  Particulars  of  the  Draft;  Military  Census;  Ap 
peal  from  Governor  Blair;  Report  from  Adjutant  General  Robertson; 
Gratitude  of  the  Legislature  ;  Michigan  Cavalry  ;  Enrollment  of  Districts  ; 
A  new  Draft ;  Another  Report  from  the  Adjutant  General ;  Veteran  Troops ; 
Another  call  for  Troops;  Proclamation  of  Governor  Blair;  Continued 
Organization,'  Troops  furnished  by  Counties  ;  Action  of  Legislature;  Val 
edictory  Message  of  Governor  Blair;  Legislature  thank  the  Retiring  Gov 
ernor;  Governor  Crapo's  Inaugural;  Soldiers  thanked  by  Legislature; 
Total  number  of  Michigan  Troops  by  Counties  ;  Conscription  ;  End  of  the 
War ;  Proclamation  of  thanks  from  Governor  Crapo ;  Governor  Baldwin 
comes  into  Office;  Nativities  of  Michigan  Volunteers;  Analysis  of  Vol 
unteers ;  Table  of  Casualties;  Table  of  Dates  and  Places  when  and 
where  the  Troops  of  the  State  were  mustered  in,  and  mustered  out  of  the 
Public  service 150 

Financial  Statistics. — Amount  of  the  money  expended  by  State  for  Enlisting 
Troops;  Amounts  paid  by  Counties  ;  Appropriation  by  Legislature  for 
Soldier's  Home;  Disbursements  by  Colonel  George  W.  Lee 195 

Sanitary  Operations. — Michigan  Soldier's  Relief  Association  ;  Report  of  James  M. 
Edmunds;  Operations  of  the  Association;  The  Christian  and  Sanitary 
Commissions ;  The  Ladies'  Aid  Society  of  Kalamazoo  ;  State  Sanitary 
Fair ;  Appeal  from  Citizens  to  the  Ladies ;  Response  of  the  Ladies,  and 
their  Appeal  to  the  People  ;  Success  of  the  Fair;  The  Christian  Commis 
sion  and  Delegates  to  the  Commission 197 

Volunteer  Surgeons. — Bright  Array  of  Names 208 

Soldier's  Vote  in  the  Field. — Letter  of  the  Executive ;  Commissions  for  Army  of 
the  Potomac  ;  For  Army  of  the  Cumberland ;  For  Army  of  the  Tennessee; 
and  for  Army  of  the  Gulf;  Result  of  the  Vote  for  Presidential  Electors 
and  Governor 210 

Reception  of  Troops. — Committee  of  Reception ;  Committee  of  Finance ;  Courte 
sies  of  Railroad  and  Steamboat  Companies  212 

Presentation  of  Colors. — Adjutant  General's  Report;  Letter  of  Major  John  H. 
Knight ;  Attendance  of  Soldiers  ;  A  War  Poem ;  Number  of  Flags  Present 
ed 213 

The  Harper  Hospital. — Its  Success  and  final  Transfer  into  a  Soldier's  Home 217 

The  Soldier's  and  Sailor's  Monument. — Measure  Inaugurated  ;  Board  of  Directors  ; 
Officers  and  Committees,  Adoption  of  Design  by  Randolph  Rogers  ;  Plan 
of  Monument ;  Corner  Stone  laid  by  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellow  Fraterni 
ties  ;  Oration  by  Governor  Blair 218 

Cemeteries  at  Gettysburg,  Sharpsburg,  and  Andersonville. — Appropriation  by  Legis 
lature  ;  Appointment  of  T.  W.  Ferry  as  Commissioner ;  Appointment  of 
John  I.  Bagley  as  Trustee  ;  Andersonville 221 

Rebel  Raid  from  Canada. — Adjutant  General's  Report ;  Action  of  the  Confederate 
Secretary  of  the  Navy ;  Manifesto  of  the  Confederate  President ;  Tele 
grams  and  Letters  from  Lieutenant-Colonel  B.  H.  Hill  and  Commander  J. 
C.  Carter;  The  Steamers  Philo  Parsons  and  Michigan., 222 

The  Michigan  Contingent. — Heroism  of  Michigan  Troops ;  Various  Campaigns  ; 

Their  Motto 231 


CONTENTS.  ix 

Regiment  of  Engineers  and  Mechanics.—  Colonel  William  P.  Innes  ;  Engagement  at      *A°* 
Lavergne;  Opinions  of  Greeley  and  Rosecrans;  Services  in  the  Atlanta 
Campaign;  Colonel  John  Yates 233 

The  Cavalry  Brigade.—  First  Regiment ;  Colonel  T.  F.  Broadhead  ;  Colonel  Charles 
H.  Town  ;  Fifth  Cavalry,  Colonel  J.  T.  Copeland,  Colonel  Freeman  Nor- 
vil,  Colonel  R.  A.  Alger ;  Sixth  Cavalry,  Colonel  T.  W.  Kellogg,  Colonel 
George  Gray ;  Seventh  Cavalry,  Colonel  W.  D.  Mann  ;  General  A.  S.Wil 
liams  ;  Operations  of  the  Michigan  Cavalry  Brigade  ;  Justice  granted  by 
Congress  ;  Michigan  Senators  and  Representatives  ;  Report  on  Conduct  of 
Michigan  Troops  at  Gettysburg  by  General  Custer;  The  Michigan  Cavalry 
in  Maryland  ;  Report  of  Colonel  C.  H.  Town  ;  Report  of  General  Kilpat- 
rick;  Report  of  Colonel  Alger;  Report  of  General  Custer  on  Virginia 
Campaign;  Raid  of  General  Kilpatrick  ;  Another  Report  by  General  Cus 
ter  on  operations  around  Richmond;  Losses  during  Campaign;  Additional 
Reports  of  Colonels  Algsr  and  Kidd  ;  Report  of  Colonel  Peter  Stagg  ;  Gen- 
Custer's  Report  of  Winchester  Campaign;  Services  of  Staff  Officers  ;  Cap 
tors  of  Battle  Flags  ;  Heroic  Deaths  ;  Final  Actions  of  the  Brigade 235 

The  Second  Cavilry. — Colonel  F.  W.  Kellogg  ;  Colonel  Gordon  Granger  ;  Point 
Pleasant  in  Missouri;  Colonel  P.  H.  Sheridan,  Boonville  ;  Operations  in 
Mississippi,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee;  Colonel  Archibald  Campbell; 
Battle  of  Chicamauga;  Further  Operations;  Colonel  Thomas  Johnson; 
Continued  Engagements 265 

The  Third  Cavalry.— Colonel  J.  K.  Mizner:  New  Madrid,  in  Missouri ;  Battle  of 
luka ;  Report  of  Captain  L.  G.  Wilcox ;  Tribute  of  General  Rosecrans ; 
Services  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  Mississippi ;  Arkansas  Cattle  ;  Michi 
gan  City  ;  Escort  to  General  Canby ;  On  duty  in  Texas 270 

The  Fourth  Cavalry.— Colonel  R.  H.  G.  Minty  ;  First  Battle  at  Stanford,  in  Ken 
tucky  ;  Numerous  Engagements  in  Tennessee  and  Mississippi ;  Its  Fight 
ing  Reputation  ;  Major  F.  W.  Mix;  Battles  of  Chicamauga  and  Missionary 
Ridge;  Minty's  Report:  Lieutenant  J.  H.  Simpson;  Major  Horace  Gray; 
Death  of  Lieutenant  Edward  Tucker;  Death  of  Lieutenant  Randolph; 
Rebel  Testimony  ;  Death  of  Lieutenant  T.  W.  Sutton  ;  General  Kilpatrick's 
Raid;  Operations  near  Jonesboro  ;  Famous  Charge  Under  Minty  ;  Private 
William  Bailey's  Exploit;  Operations  Around  Atlanta;  Corporal  C.  M. 
Bickford ;  Colonel  B.  F.  Pritchard ;  Attack  on  Selma  and  its  Capture ; 
Capture  of  Jefferson  Davis ;  Official  Notes  and  Names  of  Officers  and 
Men  at  the  Capture;  Distribution  of  the  Reward 273 

The  Eighth  Cavalry.— Colonel  John  Stockton  ;  Its  Bright  Record ;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  G.  S.  Wormer ;  Capture  of  General  Morgan  ;  Major  Edgerly ;  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Mix ;  Operations  Against  the  Forces  of  General  Hood 287 

The  Ninth  Cavalry. —Colonel  James  I.David;  Pursuit  of  General  Morgan  and  his 
Further  Fighting  Operations  in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky;  With  General 
Sherman  on  his  March  from  Atlanta  to  the  Atlantic  ;  Morgan's  Escape 289 

The  Tenth  Cavalry.— Colonel  Thaddeus  Foote  ;  Colonel  L.  S.  Trowbridge  ;  Affair 
at  Watauga  River  ;  Death  of  Captain  Weatherwax;  Service  with  General 
Stoneman;  Affair  at  Abbott's  Creek;  Incident  at  Strawberry  Plains; 
Further  Operations  in  that  Vicinity 292 


x  CONTENTS. 

PAGK 

The  Eleventh  Cavalry. — Colonel  S.  B.  Brown  ;  Operations  at  Saltville  and  Marion, 
in  Virginia  ;  Captain  E.  C.  Miles  ;  Death  of  Colonel  Mason  and  Lieuten 
ant  Davis  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles  E.  Smith  ;  Subsequent  Services 
in  North  Carolina 296 

The  "Merrill  Horse"  Cavalry.— Captains  James  B.  Mason,  Jabez   H.  Rogers  and 

Almon  E.  Preston;  Services  in  Missouri,  Arkansas,  and  Georgia 298 

The  Light  Artillery. — Colonel  C.  0.  Loomis  ;  The  Brave  Boy  Mclntire  ;  Report  of 
General  Rousseau  ;  Guenther's  Battery ;  Death  of  Lieutenant  Van  Pelt ; 
Captain  W.  S.  Bliss  ;  Pittsburgh  Landing ;  With  General  Sherman  at 
Atlanta  ;  Murder  of  Lieutenant  Bliss  ;  Siege  of  Corinth  ;  Captains  A.  W. 
Dees;  George  Robinson;  L.  R.  Smith;  John  C.  Schultz;  J.  W.  Church  ; 
John  J.  Dennis;  John  S.  Andrews;  Paddock  and  C.  H.  Lamphere  ;  Oper 
ations  in  the  South-west ;  Charles  J.  Thompson ;  Edward  J.  Hillier  ;  Death 
of  Captain  S.  De  Gobyer  at  Vicksburg;  Captains  J.  J.  Daniels,  C.  H. 
O'Riordan,  Charles  Dupont,  and  Charles  Heine 299 

The  Sharp-shooters. — Colonel  C.  V.  DeLand ;  Battle  of  the  Wilderness;  Civilized 
Indians;  Major  Levant  C.  Rhines  ;  Corporal  B.  F.  Young  ;  Death  of  T. 
H.  Gaffney;  of  Lieutenant  G.  A.  Graveraet ;  Captain  G.  C.  Knight  and 
Lieutenant  Martin  Wager  ;  Before  Petersburg  ;  Operations  in  Front  of 
Petersburg;  Colonel  W.  A.  Nichols;  The  Fall  of  Petersburg  and  Rich 
mond  ;  Michigan  Troops  the  First  to  Enter  Petersburg;  Report  of  Gen 
eral  0.  B.  Wilcox 305 

The  First  Infantry. — Colonel  0.  B.  Wilcox  ;  Opportune  Arrival  in  Washington  ; 
Colonel  John  C.  Robinson  ;  Colonel  H.  S.  Roberts ;  Death  of  Captain  0. 
C.  Comstock  ;  Second  Battle  of  Bull  Run  ;  Report  of  Chaplain  Arthur 
Edwards ;  Death  of  Captains  Wendell,  Alcott,  Whittlesey  and  Pomeroy  ; 
and  Lieutenants  Arnold,  Garrison  and  Bloodgood  ;  Colonel  Franklin  W. 
Whittlesey ;  Operations  in  Maryland  and  Virginia  ;  Death  of  J.  B.  Ken 
nedy;  At  Gettysburg;  In  the  Wilderness  under  Colonel  W.  A.  Throop  ; 
Death  of  Captain  James  H.  Wheaton  ;  Major  George  Lockley  ;  Death  of 
Captain  L.  C.  Randell  and  Lieutenant  W.  S.  Woodruff;  Report  of  Gen 
eral  Wilcox  on  Operations  in  Virginia 310 

The  Second  Infantry. — Colonel  J.  B.  Richardson  ;  Colonel  0.  M.  Poe  ;  In  Penin 
sula  Campaign;  Bull  Run  ;  Colonel  Louis  Dillman  ;  In  Mississippi  Cam 
paign  ;  Report  of  Colonel  W.  Humphrey;  Battle  of  the  Wilderness  and 
Army  of  the  Potomac ;  Order  of  General  R.  G.  Berry ;  Testimony  of  Cor 
respondents  ;  Rebellion  Record  ;  Death  of  Lieutenants  Sherman,  Fletcher, 
and  Williams;  Report  of  General  Wilcox;  Colonel  Ralph  Ely 316 

The  Third  Infantry. — Colonel  Daniel  McConnell ;  In  Battles  of  the  Peninsula  ; 
Report  of  Colonel  A.  A  Stevens  ;  Colonel  B.  M.  Pierce ;  His  Report  of 
Operations  ;  Colonel  M.  B.  Houghton  ;  In  Virginia  and  at  Gettysburg;  In 
the  South-west 323 

The  Fourth  Infantry. — Complimented  by  General  McClellan  ;  Death  of  Colonel 
Woodbury  ;  Report  of  Captain  J.  F.  Randolph  ;  Colonel  H.  H.  Jeffords  and 
his  Death  ;  Colonel  Lombard ;  His  Death  ;  Death  of  Captain  W.  H.  Love- 
land  ;  Reorganized  and  again  in  the  Fit-Id  under  Colonel  J.  W.  Hall;  Gen 
eral  Griffin 326 


CONTENTS.  xi 

PAQB 

The  Fifth  Infantry.— Colonel  H.  D.  Terry  ;  Numerous  Officers  killed  in  the  Vir 
ginia  Campaign  ;  Death  of  Colonel  John  Gilluly;  Colonel  E.T.Sherlock; 
His  Death  ;  Colonel  Pulford  ;  at  Gettysburg  and  in  Virginia ;  Numerous 
Casualties  among  Officers  and  Men  ;  Testimony  of  General  Berry  and  Gen 
eral  Kearney  ;  Letter  from  Colonel  Sherlock 328 

The  Sixth  Infantry. — Its  Isolation ;  Colonel  F.  W.  Curtenius ;  Services  at  Balti 
more  and  New  Orleans  ;  On  Lower  Mississippi ;  Captain  Charles  E.  Clark  ; 
General  T.  Williams  at  Baton  Rouge ;  Colonel  Thomas  S.  Clark  ;  His  Re 
port  ;  Exploit  of  Private  Charles  Dustin  ;  Complimented  by  Generals  But 
ler  and  Banks ;  Transfer  to  Artillery  arm  of  Service ;  March  on  Mobile 
and  its  Surrender  ;  Reports  of  General  Butler  and  Weitzel ;  Miscellaneous 
Testimony 333 

The  Seventh  Infantry  — Colonel  Ira  R.  Grosvenor ;  Heavy  Losses  at  Antietam  ;  In 
cluding  Captains  A.  H.  Zacharias  and  J.  H.  Turrill,  and  Lieutenants  J.  P. 
Eberhard  and  John  A.  Clark  ;  Death  of  Baxter;  His  Heroism  at  Freder- 
icksburg ;  Pennsylvania  Campaign  ;  Death  of  Colonel  A.  E.  Steele  and 
Lieutenant  Slafter  ;  In  Command  of  Major  S.  W.  Curtis  ;  Operations  in  Vir 
ginia  ;  Sergeant  A.  Smith's  Exploit  and  Reward  ;  Colonel  Lapointe ;  Par 
ticulars  respecting  Captain  A.  H.  Zacharias  ;  Death  of  Lieutenant  John  J. 
Brown 336 

The  Eighth  Infantry. — Colonel  W.  M.  Fenton  ;  Called  the  Wandering  Regiment ; 
Death  of  Adjutant  N.  M.  Pratt  and  Lieutenant  F.  M.  Badger;  Nine  Battles 
in  four  States  ;  James  Island  ;  Death  of  Captains  S.  C.  Gould  and  B.  B. 
Church  ;  At  Bull  Run  ;  In  Maryland  ;  Mississippi  and  East  Tennessee  ; 
Siege  of  Knoxville  ;  Wilderness  ;  Death  of  Colonel  F.  Graves  ;  Colonel  R. 
Ely  ;  Cold  Harbor ;  Death  of  Lieutenant  E.  A.  Nye,  Major  W.  E.  Lewis, 
and  Lieutenant  T.  Campbell ;  Weldon  Road  ;  Death  of  Major  Belcher  at 
South  Mountain  ;  Major  R.  N.  Doyle  at  Petersburg ;  Report  of  Colonel  W. 
M.  Fenton  of  Operations  at  Wilmington  Island  ;  Report  of  General  Ste 
vens  ;  Tribute  to  Major  Belcher  by  General  J.  D.  Cox 340 

The  Ninth  Infantry  —Colonel  W.  W.  Duffield  ;  Defence  of  Murfreesboro  ;  Death 
of  Lieutenant  A.  Chase  ;  Battle  of  Stone  River;  Colonel  W.  Wilkinson; 
Operations  in  Georgia  ;  Death  of  Lieutenant  C.  F.  Fox 345 

The  Tenth  Infantry.— Colonel  C.  M.  Lum  ;  Services  in  Georgia  ;  Buzzard's  Roost ; 

Jonesboro  ;  Bentonville 347 

The  Eleventh  Infantry.— Colonel  William  L.  Stoughton ;  His  Report  of  Stone 
River ;  Colonel  Melvin  Madge ;  Chicamauga ;  Death  of  Captain  C.  W. 
Newbern  ;  Mission  Ridge;  Death  of  Major  B.  G.  Bennett;- Loss  of  a  Leg 
by  Colonel  Stoughton  ;  Death  of  Lieutenant  E.  Catlin 350 

The  Twelfth  Infantry.— Colonel  W.  H.  Graves  ;  His  Report  of  Operations  at  Mid- 

dleburg  ;  Complimented  by  General  Grant ;  Services  in  Arkansas 352 

The  Thirteenth  Infantry.— Colonel  Charles  E.  Stuart;  Colonel  Michael  Shoemaker  ; 
Operations  in  Tennessee  ;  Report  of  Colonel  J.  B.  Culver  ;  Death  of  Cap 
tain  C.  C.  Webb  ;  Report  of  Colonel  Shoemaker  ;  Report  of  Colonel  Bar 
ker;  Services  in  Georgia;  Exploit  of  Julius  Lillie,  Orderly  Sergeant 354 

The  Fourteenth  Infantry  —Colonel  Robert  P.  Sinclair  ;  In  Alabama  and  Georgia  ; 
Jonesboro  ;  Bentonville  ;  Colonel  H.  R.  Mizner  ;  Colonel  G.  W.  Drummond ; 

ft  ft  IV 

March  to  Savannah;  Capture  of  Flags 


xJi  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

The  Fifteenth  Infantry. — Colonel  J.  M.  Oliver  ;  At  Shiloh  ;  Death  of  Captain  G.  A. 
Strong  and  Lieutenant  M.  W.  Dresser;  Corinth  ;  In  Mississippi ;  Alabama; 
In  Georgia  Campaign  ;  Colonel  F.  S.  Hutchinson  ;  Numerous  Engage 
ments  and  extensive  Marching;  Death  of  Captain  C.  H.  Barnaby  at 
Atlanta 360 

The  Sixteenth  Infantry.— Colonel  T.  B.  W.  Stockton  ;  Games'  Mill ;  Major  N.  E. 
Welch  ;  Death  of  Captain  T.  C.  Carr  and  Lieutenants  B.  McGraw  and  R. 
Williams  ;  Captain  R.  W.  Ransom  ;  Death  of  Lieutenants  M.  Chittick  and 
J.'  Ruby  at  Malvern  Hill;  Colonel  N.E.Welch  at  Middleburg;  Death  of 
Captain  J.  M.  Mott  and  Lieutenants  Brown,  Jewett,  and  Borden  at  Gettys 
burg,  and  R.  T.  Elliott  at  the  Wilderness  ;  Captains  G.  H.  Swan  and  Guy 
Fuller;  Major  B.  F.  Partridge  ;  Death  of  Colonel  Welch  ;  Incidents 362 

The  Seventeenth  Infantry. — General  James  E.  Pittman  ;  Colonel  W.  H.  Withington  ; 
South  Mountain  ;  Death  of  Lieutenant  George  Galligan  ;  Report  of  Colonel 
F.  W.  Swift;  Colonel  C.  Luce  in  Mississippi;  Death  of  L.  L.  Comstock; 
Army  of  the  Potomac ;  Death  of  Captain  J.  S.  Vreeland  and  Lieutenant 
A.  E.  Canfield  ;  Reports  of  General  Wilcox  and  General  McClellan 365 

The  Eighteenth  Infantry. — Organized  by  Hon.  Henry  Waldron  ;  Colonel  Charles  C. 
Dooliitle;  In  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  and  Alabama  ;  Colonel  Hulbard  ;  Cap 
tain  Moore;  Exploit 369 

The  Nineteenth  Infantry. — Colonel  Henry  C.  Gilbert;  In  Department  of  the  Cum 
berland  ;  A  Surrender ;  Tribute  from  a  Confederate  Officer  to  Colonel 
Gilbert ;  In  Atlanta  Campaign  ;  Death  of  Colonel  Gilbert  and  Captain  C. 
H.  Calmer;  Major  E.  A.  Griffin  ;  His  Death,  and  that  of  Lieutenant  Charles 
Mandeville,  and  Captains  C.  W.  Bigelow  and  John  J.  Baker;  Atlanta  to 
the  Sea;  Report  of  Colonel  David  Anderson;  Death  of  Captain  L.  Gibbon 
and  Lieutenant  C.  G.  Purcell ;  Note  respecting  Lieutenant  Baldwin 372 

The  Twentieth  Infantry. — Tidus  Livermore,  Commandant ;  Colonel  A.  W.  Wil 
liams  ;  Services  in  Kentucky  ;  Colonel  W.  H.  Smith  ;  Interview  with  Gen 
eral  Morgan  ;  Death  of  Lieutenant  W.  M.  Green;  Commended  by  General 
Burnside ;  In  Tennessee ;  Death  of  Colonel  Smith ;  Major  Byron  M. 
Cutcheon;  At  the  Wilderness  ;  Major  George  C.  Banes;  Casualties  at 
Spottsylvania ;  Alexander  Bush  and  Frank  Philips;  Colonel  C.  B.  Grant; 
Casualties  in  Peninsula  Campaign 374 

The  Tweniy'/trtt  Infantry. — J.  B.Welch,  Camp  Commandant;  Colonel  Ambrose  A. 
Stevens  in  Kentucky  ;  Colonel  W.  B.  McCreery  at  Stone  River  ;  Report  of 
General  Sheridan ;  Death  of  Colonel  McCreery ;  Colonel  L.  K.  Bishop  in 
Georgia  and  South  Carolina;  Captain  A.  C.  Prince 379 

The  Twenty-second  Infantry. — Hon.  and  Colonel  Moses  Wisner ;  Colonel  Heber  Le 
Faro«r  at  Chicamauga;  Brave  Sergeant  and  Corporals;  Death  of  Cap 
tains  W.  A.  Smith  and  E.  Snell ;  In  Note;  Story  of  Johnny  Clem 382 

The  Twenty-third  Infantry. — Colonels  David  Jerome  and  M.  W.  Chapin  ;  In  Ken 
tucky  and  Tennessee;  Colonel  0.  S.  Spaulding;  Hard  fought  Battles; 
Major  W.  W.  Wheeler;  At  Campbell's  Station  ;  Spaulding's  Report;  Death 
of  Lieutenant  W.  C.  Stewart  at  Resaca;  Death  of  Captain  David  M.  Ave- 
rill  at  Franklin  ;  Service  in  North  Carolina 384 

•The  Twenty-Fourth  Infantry  .—The  "  Iron  Brigade  ;"  Colonel  Henry  A.  Morrow  ; 
Battle  of  Gettysburg ;  Heroism  of  Privates  William  Kelly  and  Silburne 


CONTENTS.  xili 

Spaulding;  Captain  Albert  M.  Edwards  ;  Nine  Standard  Bearers  killed  or 
Wounded;  Report  of  Colonel  Morrow  complimenting  Heroic  Officers; 
Speed,  O'Donnell,  Wallace,  Safford,  Grace,  Humphreville  Dickey,  and 
Shuttuck;  On  the  Rappahannock  ;  In  the  Wilderness;  Death  of  Captain 
George  Button  and  Lieutenant  William  B.  Hutchinson  ;  Colonel  Morrow 
Wounded ;  Death  of  Seville  Chilson ;  Siege  of  Petersburg ;  In  Note ; 
Patrick  Maloney 388 

The  Twenty-Fifth  Infantry. — Hon.  H.  G.  Wells  Commandant  of  Camp  ;  Colonel 
0.  H.  Moore;  In  Kentucky;  Battle  with  General  Morgan;  Touching  inter 
view  between  Union  and  Confederate  Officers;  General  Hartsuff;  Legis 
lature  of  Kentucky  ;  The  Rebel  General  Morgan  on  Colonel  Moore's  Gen 
eralship  ;  Various  Operations  in  Georgia;  Colonel  Benjamin  F.  Orcutt; 
Death  of  Adjutant  E.  M.  Brutzman  ;  With  the  Army  of  General  Sherman,  392 

The  Twenty-Sixth  Infantry.— The  Skirmish  Regiment;  Colonel  Judson  S.  Fnrrar  ; 
Death  of  Captain  John  C.  Culver;  In  the  Army  of  the  Potomac;  Major  L. 
Saviers  ;  A  Tree  cut  down  by  Bullets  at  Spottsylvania  ;  Complimented  by 
Generals  Barlow  and  Miles  ;  at  Cold  Harbor;  Death  of  J.  A.  Lothain  ;  Cap 
tain  A.  G.  Dailey;  Captain  S.  H.  Ives ;  Present  at  Surrender  of  Lee's 
Army  397 

The  Twenty -Seventh  Infantry. — Colonel  D.  M.  Fox  ;  In  Kentucky  and  Tennessee; 
Major  Samuel  Moody;  Services  at  Spottsylvania ;  Death  of  Lieutenants 
Charles  H.  Seymour,  Charles  T.  Miller,  and  Major  Moody;  Captain  E.  S. 
Leadbetter ;  Death  of  Lieutenant  J.  W.  Brennan  ;  Captain  Charles  Wait 
at  Petersburg;  Death  of  Lieutenants  Mason  Vosperand  Theodore  S.  Meade; 
Gallantry  of  Captain  Wait  and  his  War  Cry  of  •'  Fort  or  Nothing;"  Hero 
ism  of  Major  Moody  400 

The  Twenty-Eighth  Infantry. — Hon.  S.  S.  Lacy  Commandant  of  Camp  ;  Colonel 
Delos  Phillips;  Colonel  W.  W.  Wheeler ;  Battle  of  Nashville ;  Joins  the 
Army  of  General  Sherman;  Death  of  Lieutenant  Matthew  Holmes;  Death 
of  Lieutenant  John  E.  Kenyon 405 

The  Twenty-Ninth  Infantry. — Hon.  J.  F.  Driggs ;  Colonel  Thomas  F.  Taylor;  Col 
onel  Charles  C.  Doolittle  in  Command  of  Decatur;  Its  Successful  Defence; 
Nolansville;  Death  of  Lieutenant  F.  Van  Vliet;  Colonel  G.  S.  Wormer ; 
Service  in  Michigan 406 

The  Colored  Regiment — Colonel  Henry  Barns  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel  W  T.  Bennett  ; 
Colonel  H.  S.  Chipman;  In  Florida;  In  South  Carolina;  Death  of  Cap 
tain  A.  E.  Lindsey  ;  Operations  at  Georgetown,  S.  C.;  and  Mustered  out  at 
Charleston 408 

The  Militia  Guards.— The  Scott  Guard ;  The  Detroit  Light  Guard ;  The  Lyon 
Guard  ;  Report  of  the  Adjutant  General  on  the  Militia  of  Michigan,  and 
conclusion  of  the  History  of  Michigan  during  the  Rebellion  410 


THIRD  PART. 

BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 
The  Names  alphabetically  arranged 


xlv  CONTENTS. 

PAOB 

FOURTH  PART. 

MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

The  Census  of  Michigan  in  1870,  (officially  furnished  for  this  work  by  the  Cen 
sus  Bureau) 507 

State  Officers  of  Michigan  from  1836  to  1870 508 

The  Judiciary  of  Michigan  in  1870 509 

Presidential  Electors  of  Michigan  from  1837  to  1869 510 

Officers  of  the  University  of  Michigan  from  1837  to  1870 510 

Trustees  of  Michigan  Colleges  in  1870 515 

Books  connected  with  the  Territory  and  State  of  Michigan 517 

Newspapers  of  Michigan  with  their  Publishers  in  1870 518 

The  Post  Offices  of  Michigan  in  1870 521 

Constitution  of  the  State  of  Michigan 526 

Amendments  to  the  Constitution ,  548 


FIRST   FART. 

| 

CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN 


CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  STATE. 

The  name  of  Michigan  is  derived  from  the  Indian  word  Michsawgyegan, 
the  meaning  of  which  is  the  Lake  Country.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Lake  Superior ;  on  the  east  by  Lakes  Huron,  St.  Glair,  and  Erie ;  on  the 
south  by  Ohio  and  Indiana ;  and  on  the  west  by  Wisconsin  and  Lake 
Michigan ;  and  the  extent  of  its  dominion  is  fifty-six  thousand  two  hun 
dred  and  forty-three  square  miles.*  Along  the  shores  of  Lake  Erie  there 
stretches  a  belt  of  level  and  heavily-timbered  land,  bearing  a  growth  of 
large  and  noble  forest  trees  upon  a  low  and  level  soil.  The  land  gradually 
rises  towards  the  centre  of  the  State,  presenting  a  variegated  scenery  com 
posed  of  tracts  of  dense  wilderness,  alternated  with  prairies,  natural  parks 
or  oak  openings,  copses  of  burr-oak,  marshes,  barrens,  and  pine  groves, 
each  watered  by  small  streams,  lakes,  or  springs.  That  part  of  the  State 
which  borders  Lake  Superior  is  more  bold  and  primitive,  and  is  broken 
by  mountains  and  plains,  hills  and  valleys.  The  Porcupine  Mountains, 
which  are  the  dividing  ridge,  and  separate  the  waters  of  Lake  Superior  and 
Lake  Michigan,  are  about  two  thousand  feet  high  and  abound  in  the 
charms  of  Alpine  and  imposing  coast  scenery.  Many  parts  of  this  northern 
peninsula  exhibit  a  bold,  rocky,  and  sterile  prospect,  which  caused  one  of 
the  early  French  travellers — La  Honton — to  call  this  region  "  the  fag  end 
of  the  world."  It  abounds  with  forests  of  white  and  yellow  pine,  and  will 
probably  never  be  favorable  for  agricultural  production,  although  it  is  a 
rich  mineral  region.  The  northern  part  of  the  lower  peninsula,  generally 
speaking,  is  flat  and  swampy ;  the  central  and  southern  portions  are  gently 
rolling,  covered  with  groves  of  oak,  alternated  with  tracts  of  heavily-tim 
bered  land,  are  peculiarly  favorable  for  the  production  of  wheat,  which  is 
the  staple  product,  and  present  the  most  picturesque  points  of  scenery,  and 
resources  for  even  a  dense  population. 

The  soil  of  Michigan  is  various  in  its  character.  It  is  in  general  much 
more  level  than  that  of  New  York  and  New  England,  being  of  alluvial 
formation,  and  comparatively  free  from  rocks.  The  different  species  of 
soil  consist  of  heavily-timbered  land,  oak  openings,  burr-oak  plains,  prai 
ries,  and  pine  groves,  each  of  which  will  be  considered. 

The  heavily-timbered  land  consists  of  tracts  which  are  densely  wooded 
with  a  variety  of  large  forest-trees,  the  principal  of  which  are  the  black  and 

*  Additional  information  on  the  topography  of  the  State  will  be  found  in  subsequent 
pages  of  this  volume. 


1Q    .  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

white  walnut,  oaks  of  different  species,  maple,  ash,  elm,  linden,  sycamore, 
hackberry,  cottonwood,  aspen,  locust,  butternut,  box  or  dogwood,  poplar, 
whitewood,  beech,  cherry,  sassafras,  white,  yellow,  and  Norway  pine,  hem 
lock,  spruce,  tamerack,  cedar,  chestnut,  and  pawpaw  ;  as  well  as  the  smaller 
trees  and  shrubs,  such  as  willow,  alder,  sumach,  and  honeysuckle,  together 
with  the  different  kinds  of  undergrowth  which  are  found  in  the  Middle 
States.  This  timbered  land  is  often  found  upon  the  borders  of  the  streams, 
upon  what  are  called  bottoms,  and  also  upon  the  ridges  which  border  them. 
It  is  discovered  along  the  shores  of  the  lakes  from  Monroe  to  Detroit,  and 
thence  to  Lake  Michigan,  in  a  belt  varying  from  five  to  fifteen  miles  in 
breadth.  But  a  small  proportion  of  the  peninsular  part  of  the  State  is, 
however,  densely  wooded. 

There  are  various  other  species  of  soil  which  constitute  a  beautiful 
variety,  and  which  will  be  described  in  their  proper  order.  The  heavily- 
timbered  soil  is  generally  composed  of  a  deep  vegetable  mold,  sometimes 
mingled  with  clay,  and  produces  a  dense  and  luxuriant  vegetation.  Com 
pared  with  the  other  sections  of  the  State,  it  is  gloomy,  being  generally 
more  low  and  level,  and  it  is  more  difficult  to  clear  from  the  thick  and 
tangled  mass  of  trees  which  covers  it ;  but  these  disadvantages  are  made  up 
by  its  fertility,  and  it  yields  in  great  abundance  the  grasses,  oats,  buck 
wheat,  potatoes,  rye,  and  large  crops  of  corn.  Perhaps  it  is  not  so  favor 
able  to  wheat,  being  damp,  from  the  fact  that  it  is  shut  out  from  the  sun, 
and  also  cold  in  its  nature. 

In  advancing  into  the  interior  of  the  State,  across  the  narrow  belt  before 
described,  we  arrive  upon  a  more  dry  and  undulating  soil — a  species  of 
land  which  swells  into  little  hills  like  artificial  mounds,  and  is  called  oak 
openings.  This  land  is  composed  of  a  sandy  loam,  mingled  sometimes  with 
limestone  pebbles,  and  appears  light  upon  the  surface,  but,  when  laid  open 
by  the  plough,  turns  black  from  the  intermixture  of  lime  in  its  composi 
tion.  The  trees,  consisting  chiefly  of  whiteoak,  scattered  over  the  ground 
generally  from  ten  to  sixty  feet  apart,  and  extending  for  miles  like  culti 
vated  parks,  now  sweeping  down  to  a  clear  stream,  a  fertile  prairie,  or  the 
brow  of  a  transparent  lake,  impress  one  with  the  idea  that  he  is  travelling 
through  an  old,  rather  than  a  newly-settled  country.  These  openings  con 
stitute  a  feature  which  distinguishes  this  from  most  of  the  adjoining  "States. 
The  land,  although  not  as  productive  as  some  other  kinds  of  soil,  yields 
heavy  crops  of  oats  and  abundant  harvests  of  wheat,  besides  the  ordinary 
products  of  the  Middle  States.  Although  containing  apparently  but  a  thin 
covering  of  decomposed  vegetable  matter,  the  absence  of  that  material  is 
made  up  by  the  admixture  of  lime  in  its  composition,  which  is  favorable  to 
vegetation ;  and  in  summer  the  surface  is  almost  entirely  covered  with  red, 
yellow,  white,  and  purple  flowers,  which,  in  their  richness  and  beauty,  are 
not  known  in  the  older-settled  portions  of  the  country,  spreading  a  gor 
geous  carpet  through  the  forest  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach.  The  surface 
of  the  oak  openings  also  presents  a  turf  of  matted  grass,  which  requires 
three  or  four  yoke  of  oxen  to  break  it  up ;  and,  as  you  can  ride  for  miles 
in  a  carriage  under  the  trees  that  are  thus  widely  separated,  it  does  not 
need  so  great  an  amount  of  labor  in  clearing  it  as  the  timbered  land.  The 
trees,  however,  are  usually  girdled  in  order  to  effect  their  decay.  These 
oak  openings  extend  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  lower  peninsula. 

Another  species  of  soil  of  very  great  value  is  found  in  the  State,  com 
mencing  at  the  county  of  Jackson  and  studding  the  timbered  land  and  oak 
openings  from  the  head  of  the  Kalamazoo  river  to  the  shores  of  Lake 
Michigan.  It  is  called  burr-oak  plains  or  openings ;  a  soil  which  consists 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  STATE.  U 

of  tracts  spread  over  with  groves  of  trees  of  a  small  size,  called  the  burr- 
oak,  with  a  rough  bark  and  deep  green  foliage.  They  closely  resemble 
cultivated  orchards  of  pear  trees,  springing  from  a  soil  which  is  composed 
of  a  brown  loam  mingled  with  clay ;  yet  they  are  highly  productive,  and 
are  deemed  by  the  settlers  of  the  greatest  value,  yielding  in  abundance  the 
crops  of  the  Middle  States— corn,  oats,  potatoes,  buckwheat,  rye,  and  all 
the  products  of  the  other  kinds  of  soil.  As  the  trees,  like  those  of  the 
whiteoak  openings,  are  widely  separated,  this  land  requires  but  little  clear 
ing  ;  but  four  or  five  yoke  of  oxen  are  generally  used  to  break  it  up  for 
seeding.  Corn  to  the  amount  of  forty,  and  sometimes  eighty,  bushels  to 
the  acre  is  produced  from  these  openings,  and  from  forty  to  fifty  bushels 
of  oats.  Thirty  bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre  are  also  frequently  obtained 
from  this  land ;  but  the  average  amount  may  be  placed  at  about  twenty- 
five  bushels. 

Scattered  through  the  south  and  southwestern  part,  particularly  upon 
the  borders  of  the  Kalamazoo,  the  Grand,  and  St.  Joseph  rivers  are,  what 
are  called  prairies.  These  consist  of  a  soil  destitute  of  trees,  and  covered 
with  a  deep  surface  of  black  sand  and  vegetable  mold.  It  is  more  pro 
ductive  than  any  other  species,  yielding  very  large  crops  of  corn  and  pota 
toes,  as  well  as  wheat,  which  is,  however,  apt  not  to  be  as  clean  as  that  on 
the  openings.  All  other  crops  that  are  produced  in  this  climate  it  yields 
in  great  profusion.  These  prairies  throughout  the  State  are  comparatively 
small,  but  in  Illinois  they  stretch  out  beyond  the  horizon  like  a  sea.  Being 
comparatively  easy  to  cultivate,  and  producing  so  abundantly,  they  are 
always  selected  by  the  farmers  before  any  other  kind  of  soil.  The  dry 
prairies  on  the  banks  of  the  Kalamazoo  and  St.  Joseph  rivers  furnish  a 
soil  equal  to  any  other  in  the  West,  and  frequently  from  thirty  to  fifty 
bushels  of  corn  have  been  raised  upon  them  the  first  season,  without  being 
ploughed  or  hoed ;  and  when  the  mold  has  been  once  subdued,  from  thirty 
to  eighty  bushels  of  corn,  or  forty  of  wheat,  have  been  obtained  to  the 
acre ;  they  are  also  very  favorable  for  grass. 

Another  species  of  soil  found  in  the  State  is  called  wet  prairies  or  marshes, 
tracts  which  are  generally  in  part  or  in  whole  covered  with  water;  and 
they  produce  a  long  coarse  grass  that  is  only  favorable  for  winter  stock, 
and  make  a  fine  ranging  ground  for  horses  and  cattle  in  the  spring.  When 
drained,  these  wet  prairies  may  be  converted  into  valuable  meadow  land. 

Another  species  of  soil  that  we  meet  with  in  the  interior  is  termed  bar 
rens.  They  consist  of  tracts  which  are  sparsely  scattered  over  with  stunted 
oaks  or  bushes,  that  would  seem  to  indicate  that  the  land  is  not  favorable 
to  vegetation.  It  is  found,  however,  that  by  cultivation  it  produces  well. 

The  kind  of  soil  which  is  called  swamp  or  marsh  land  is  found  in  consid 
erable  tracts  in  the  greater  part  of  the  State.  It  is  in  winter  covered  with 
water,  and  has  a  deep  mire,  which  is  dangerous  to  the  traveller,  and  is 
sprinkled  here  and  there  with  a  few  scattering  trees  or  groves  of  tamerack, 
which  resemble  pine.  In  many  places  these  marshes  are  caused  by  beaver- 
dams. 

The  mineral  productions  of  the  State  are  various,  and  some  of  greal 
value.     Although  the  soil  of  the  lower  peninsula  is,  as  has  been  before 
remarked,  of  alluvial  formation,  yet  there  are  occasionally  seen  ledges  ot 
sandstone,  which  abounds  in  parts  of  the  counties  of  Hfflsdale,  Jackson,  Cal- 
houn,  Kalamazoo,  Livingston,  Ingham,  Eaton,  Barry,  Shiawassee,  t 
and  other  portions  of  the  State.     Gray  limestone  is  also  found  ;  and  on  tl 
immediate  shore  of  Lake  Huron  a  greenish-colored  clay  has  beendis 
ered.     Indications  of  coal  are  apparent  in  Ue  counties  of  Eaton,  Ingham, 


12  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

and  Shiawassee.  On  the  banks  of  Grand  river,  near  the  Grand  Rapids, 
beds  of  gypsum  or  plaster  occur,  which  are  of  considerable  importance. 
Salt-springs,  used  for  the  manufacture  of  salt,  are  scattered  throughout  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  interior ;  and  clay,  sand,  marl,  bog-iron  ore, 
with  other  kinds,  and  springs  tinctured  with  mineral  qualities,  especially 
sulphur,  have  been  discovered  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  peninsula,  that  will 
be  of  advantage  for  medicinal  purposes. 

The  shores  of  Lake  Superior  are  rich  in  mineral  Avealth,  especially  cop 
per,  and  a  large  mass  of  that  metal,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Ontonagon 
river,  of  many  thousand  pounds'  weight,  excited  the  interest  of  travellers 
from  the  earliest  period.  Among  the  rocks  on  this  part  of  the  coast  are 
to  be  found  iron  ore,  prase,  jaspar,  carnelian,  agate,  sardonyx,  and  other 
rare  stones  of  some  value. 

The  greater  part  of  the  State  is  also  well  watered  by  numerous  rivers 
and  small  streams,  which  variegate  the  landscape,  and  flow  into  the  sur 
rounding  lakes.  The  principal  of  these  are  the  Raisin,  Grand  river,  the 
Kaiamazoo,  the  St.  Joseph,  the  Huron,  the  Clinton,  the  Saginaw,  and  the 
Ontonagon.  The  Detroit,  the  St.  Clair,  and  the  St.  Mary's  cannot  be  prop 
erly  called  rivers,  as  they  are  only  straits  which  connect  the  lakes  in  the 
eastern  and  more  level  portions.  Upon  the  eastern  border  of  the  State  the 
rivers  are  sluggish,  but  as  you  advance  into  the  interior  they  become  more 
clear  and  rapid.  The  St.  Joseph  is  a  transparent  and  beautiful,  though 
shallow  stream,  which  meanders  through  the  western  part  of  the  State  over 
a  bed  of  limestone  rock  and  pebbles,  and  watering  counties  of  great  fer 
tility,  consisting  of  oak  lands  and  prairies,  flows  into  Lake  Michigan.  The 
Kalamazoo  is  also  a  clear  but  narrow  river,  that  runs  over  a  surface  of 
sand,  limestone  rock,  or  pebbles,  and,  watering  extensive  and  productive 
tracts  of  the  State,  empties  into  the  same  lake.  The  Grand  river  is  the 
largest  stream  in  the  interior,  and,  after  furnishing  a  convenient  channel 
for  navigation  and  large  manufacturing  advantages,  empties  into  Lake 
Michigan  at  Grand  Haven.  There  are  various  other  streams  of  less  import 
ance,  which  furnish  sites  for  manufacturing  establishments,  and  eligible 
points  for  settlement  on  their  banks. 

The  little  lakes  scattered  over  the  soil  are  another  peculiar  point  in  the 
scenery.  These  are  clear,  and  abound  with  fish ;  and  in  summer,  when  the 
vegetation  upon  their  banks  is  in  full  bloom,  appear  like  mirrors,  where 
Nature,  dressed  in  green  and  flowery  robes,  may  admire  her  own  beauty 
amid  the  solitude. 

But  the  great  lakes  which  wash  its  shores  are  the  most  prominent  feature 
of  the  State.  These  constitute  much  the  largest  body  of  fresh  water  on  the 
face  of  the  globe.  To  the  eye  they  appear  like  oceans,  and  water  the  bor 
ders  of  the  forest  for  thousands  of  miles,  from  the  State  of  New  York  to 
the  regions  of  Canada  lying  along  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior,  which  are 
now  ranged  chiefly  by  tribes  of  Indians,  fur  traders,  and  miners.  Their 
surges  roll  like  those  of  the  sea,  and  the  mariner  obliged  to  navigate  them 
often  encounters  as  dangerous  storms  as  upon  the  ocean.  Their  waters, 
however,  are  not,  like  those  of  the  open  sea,  of  a  blue  color,  but  have  a 
tinge  of  green,  from  the  fact  that  they  are  fresh.  They  were  formerly 
explored  only  by  the  bark  canoes  of  the  Indians,  and  were  the  theatre  of 
the  fur  trade,  which  will  be  described  hereafter;  but  are  now  crossed  by 
steamboats  of  large  tonnage,  as  well  as  vessels  and  ships  of  all  sizes. 

The  origin  of  the  names  of  the  great  lakes  is  not  wanting  in  interest. 
Lake  Ontario  was  formerly  called  Lake  Frontenac,  while  that  of  Erie  is 
derived  from  a  nation  of  Erries,  who  roamed  along  the  northern  borders 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  STATE.  13 

of  Ohio,  and  were  destroyed  by  the  Iroquois.  Lake  Huron  was  termed 
Karegnondi,  and  also  Lake  of  Orleans.  Lake  Michigan  was  called  Lake 
Michigonong,  and  also  Lake  of  Puans  and  Illinese,  and  Lake  of  the  Dau 
phin.  Lake  St.  Clair  was  named  by  La  Salle's  expedition,  from  the  day 
on  which  he  entered  the  river.  The  length  of  Lake  Superior  is  estimated 
at  five  hundred  miles,  and  its  breadth  at  one  hundred  and  ninety.  This 
lake  is  as  clear  as  crystal,  and  the  polished  stones  upon  the  bottom,  as  well 
as  numerous  shoals  of  fish,  can  be  seen  at  a  great  depth.  Lake  Michigan 
is  believed  to  be  three  hundred  and  thirty  miles  long,  and  sixty  miles  broad. 
Lake  Huron  is  two  hundred  and  sixty  miles  long,  and,  coastwise,  three 
hundred  and  sixty;  its  breadth  is  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles.  Lake  Erie 
is  two  hundred  and  eighty  miles  long,  and  its  widest  part  is  about  sixty- 
three  miles.  Lake  St.  Clair  is  thirty  miles  long  and  twenty-eight  miles 
broad.  It  is  thus  seen  that  this  chain  of  lakes  must  furnish  an  important 
channel  of  navigation  in  the  future  commerce  of  the  country. 

The  wild  animals  of  this  as  well  as  the  other  portions  of  the  Northwest 
are  various.  The  mammoth  or  mastodon  once  roamed  through  its  forests, 
and  its  skeletons  are  now  found  below  the  surface.*  Herds  of  buffaloes 
roved  over  the  prairies  upon  the  borders  of  Lake  Erie  as  late  as  1720,  and 
we  have  a  full  account  of  that  fact  from  the  early  French  travellers ;  but 
these  have  been  driven,  by  the  progress  of  emigration,  to  the  plains  which 
sweep  along  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  elk  and  moose  and 
troops  of  deer  formerly  fed  on  the  green  herbage  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Detroit ;  but  these  have  now  retired  to  the  more  unsettled  portions  of  the 
State.  The  wolverine,  the  black  or  brown  bear,  the  wolf,  the  elk,  the  deer, 
moose,  lynx,  wild-cat,  panther,  fox,  marten,  raccoon,  porcupine,  opossum, 
weasel,  polecat,  gopher,  the  black,  red,  gray,  and  striped  squirrel,  marmot 
or  woodchuck,  rabbit,  hare,  and  various  other  species  of  animals,  are  now 
found  in  the  interior.  The  beaver,  the  otter,  the  muskrat,  and  the  mink 
inhabit  the  rivers  and  small  streams,  and  furnished  a  valuable  article  of  com 
merce  during  the  early  French,  English,  and  American  fur  trade.  Of  birds, 
the  robin,  the  blackbird,  the  thrush,  the  lark,  the  bluebird,  different  species 
of  the  sparrow,  the  wren,  the  woodpecker,  the  brant,  and  the  loon,  the  jay, 
and  the  cuckoo,  are  the  most  common.  The  forests  shelter  flocks  of  the 
wild  turkey  and  the  partridge.  The  grouse  or  prairie-hen  swarms  on  the 
prairies.  Pigeons  appear  in  large  flocks  at  particular  seasons  of  the  year, 
and  the  snipe  and  the  white  partridge  are  not  uncommon.  The  eagle,  the 
brant,  the  buzzard,  and  others  of  the  vulture  kind,  the  crow,  the  raven,  the 
heron,  and  owls  of  different  species,  the  most  distinguished  of  which  is  the 
great  white  owl,  are  among  the  carnivorous  birds.  The  streams  and  lakes 
abound  with  numerous  species  of  wild  ducks,  of  various  and  beautiful 
plumage.  They  fly  in  large  flocks  along  the  shores  of  the  lakes,  and  feed 
in  the  marshes  which  fringe  them,  sometimes  blackening  the  surface  by  their 
numbers.  The  swan  may  sometimes  be  seen  floating  upon  the  waters; 
and  flocks  of  wild  geese,  in  the  season  of  summer,  collect  around  the  small 
interior  lakes,  after  their  winter  migrations,  where  they  obtain  their  food 
from  the  wild  rice,  which  is  the  peculiar  product  of  this  region. 

The  rivers,  interior  lakes,  arid  surrounding  waters  of  the  country  abound 
with  fish.  These  are  of  various  species  and  of  delicious  kinds.  In  the  strait 
of  St.  Mary  and  Lake  Superior  they  are  of  a  more  valuable  sort,  from  the 

*  In  the  collection  of  geological  specimens  owned  by  the  compiler  of  this  volume  is 
a  very  large  and  perfectly-preserved  mammoth  tooth,  which  was  found  near  the  mouth 
of  the  St.  Joseph  river  in  Michigan. 


14  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

fact  that  the  water  of  the  latter  lake  is  clear  and  very  cold.     The  quantity 
in  the  last-named  lake  is  very  great.     The  sisquovette,  which  are  not  found 


principal 

waters  of  the  country  are  the  sturgeon,  whitefish,  Mackinaw  trout,  salmon 
trout,  common  trout,  muskalunge,  pickerel,  pike,  perch,  herring,  the  rock 
bass,  the  white  and  black  bass,  catfish,  pout,  common  eel,  bullhead,  roach, 
suiifisli,  dace,  sucker,  carp,  mullet,  billfish,  swordfish,  bullfish,  stone-carrier, 
sheep's-head,  the  gar,  and  many  other  kinds.  The  muskalunge,  Mackinaw 
trout,  and  whitefish  are  deemed  most  valuable.  The  former  is  sometimes 
caught  weighing  forty  pounds.  The  Mackinaw  trout  resembles  in  lustre 
and  appearance  the  salmon.  The  whitefish,  a  very  delicious  fish,  is  similar 
to  the  shad,  with  brighter  scales,  which  appear  like  burnished  silver.  This 
fish  has  been  celebrated  by  the  French  travellers  from  the  earliest  period, 
and  Charlevoix,  who  travelled  through  this  region  in  1720,  once  declared 
that  "nothing  of  the  fish  kind  could  excel  it."  Great  numbers  of  trout 
and  whitefish  are  taken  upon  the  lakes  and  shipped  to  Ohio,  New  York, 
and  Pennsylvania,  besides  those  which  are  consumed  in  the  State. 

The  northern  part  of  the  lower  peninsula  of  Michigan,  bordering  on 
Lake  Huron,  has  not  yet  been  thoroughly  surveyed  and  brought  into  mar 
ket.  The  soil  of  this  section  of  the  State  is  not  so  favorable  for  agricul 
ture  as  that  of  the  southern  portion.  It  is  more  wet  and  marshy,  abounds 
with  pine,  and  is  broken  by  sandhills  and  swamps.  It  has  been  remarked 
that  the  portion  of  the  State  bordering  on  Lake  Superior  is  broken  and 
rocky ;  and,  although  containing  some  elevated  table-lands  which  may  be 
adapted  to  cultivation,  it  may  be  considered  unfavorable  to  agriculture. 
It  has,  however,  been  ascertained  to  be  a  rich  mineral  region.  The  most 
settled  portion  of  the  State  has  been  organized  into  counties,  as  the  ad 
vance  of  population  has  required. 

From  the  brief  view  which  has  been  taken  of  the  productions  of  the  soil, 
it  is  clearly  perceived  that  it  affords  a  variety  of  resources.  The  low  and 
densely-wooded  land  upon  the  immediate  shore  of  the  lower  lakes,  wrhere 
the  streams  run  sluggishly  over  beds  of  clay,  is  strikingly  contrasted  with 
the  more  rolling  character  of  the  oak  lands,  extending  from  this  belt 
towards  the  centre,  dotted  as  they  are  by  natural  ponds  of  pure  water,  and 
coursed  by  more  rapid  streams,  which  have  their  beds  upon  sand  or  gravel ; 
and  these  in  turn  are  entirely  distinct  from  the  more  primitive,  rocky,  and 
rugged  portion  lying  in  that  part  of  the  upper  peninsula  bordering  on  the 
shores  of  Lake  Superior.  Exhibiting  different  degrees  of  fertility,  the 
southern  part,  from  its  undulating  character  and  its  clear  streams,  affords 
a  greater  inducement  for  present  settlement  than  the  level  strip  to  which 
allusion  has  been  made,  or  the  more  primitive  and  rocky  region  of  the 
north.  It  happens,  accordingly,  that  emigration  has  in  a  great  measure 
crossed  this  strip  and  sought  the  more  rolling  country,  leaving  the  marshes 
and  the  mouths  of  the  streams  which  flow  into  the  eastern  side;  a  section 
of  the  State  somewhat  unfavorable  to  settlement  from  the  configuration 
of  the  land,  but  from  the  fact  that  it  has  been  productive  of  the  class  of 
bilious  disorders  prevailing  in  the  greater  portion  of  our  new  country. 

FIRST  ADVANCE  OF  THE  FRENCH  MISSIONARIES  AND  TRAVELLERS. 

The  wide  region  stretching  away  in  a  luxuriant  expanse  of  forest,  river, 
and  prairie,  from  the  shores  -of  the  great  lakes  westward  to  the  banks  of  the 


THE  FRENCH  MISSIONARIES  AND  TRAVELLERS.  15 

Mississippi,  was  first  explored  and  colonized  by  the  French.  That  portion 
of  the  French  territory  now  comprised  in  the  Canadas,  the  original  point 
of  French  settlement,  was  long  the  centre  of  its  trade,  commerce,  and  re 
ligion  ;  yet  the  government  claimed  the  country,  both  by  right  of  discovery 
and  appropriation,  that  extended  far  beyond  the  boundaries  of  their  actual 
colonization.  Nor  were  the  settlers  who  had  established  themselves  upon 
the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence  at  any  time  wanting  in  zeal  and  enterprise 
in  extending  their  explorations.  It  was  early  the  avowed  object  of  that 
government  to  carry  tjjc  cross  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  to  the  re 
motest  bounds  of  the  Western  territory,  and  thus  to  secure  the  advantages 
of  its  great  resources.  The  principal  directors  of  the  ecclesiastical  estab 
lishments  that  were  collected  at  Quebec,  found  it  their  policy  to  become 
informed  of  the  condition  of  the  domain  upon  the  great  lakes;  and  as  early 
as  1634,  the  Jesuits,  Breboeuf  and  Daniel,  joined  a  party  of  Hurons  who 
were  returning  from  that  walled  city,  and,  passing  through  the  Ottawa 
river,  raised  the  first  hut  of  the  Society  of  Jesus  upon  the  shore  of  Lake 
Iroquois,  a  bay  of  Lake  Huron,  where  they  daily  rang  a  bell  to  call  the 
savages  to  prayer,  and  performed  all  those  kind  offices  which  were  calcu 
lated  to  secure  the  confidence  and  affection  of  the  tribes  on  the  lake  shores. 
In  order  to  confirm  the  missions,  a  college  was  founded  in  Quebec  during 
the  following  year ;  and  a  hospital  was  established  at  the  same  place  for 
the  unfortunate  of  every  class,  both  civilized  and  savage.  Three  nuns  of 
Dieppe,  in  France,  were  selected  to  advance  into  the  Canadian  wilderness 
in  1639 ;  an  Ursuline  convent,  for  the  education  of  girls,  was  also  erected; 
and  at  Silleri  a  small  band  of  the  Hurons  was  trained  to  the  civilization 
and  faith  of  the  French,  for  the  purpose  of  spreading  the  religion  and  influ 
ence  of  their  colonies  through  the  Western  wilderness.  A  plan  for  the 
establishment  of  missions,  not  only  among  the  Algonquins  of  the  North, 
but  also  south  of  Lake  Huron  and  in  Michigan,  was  formed,  indeed,  within 
six  years  after  the  discovery  of  Canada. 

The  French  were  at  this  period  excluded  from  the  navigation  of  Lake 
Ontario  by  the  hostility  of  the  Mohawks,  and  their  canoes  had  never  ruf 
fled  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie.  The  Ottawa,  in  consequence,  was  the  only 
avenue  to  the  West;  and  in  1641,  Pijart  and  Charles  Raymbault  were 
found  roaming  as  missionaries  among  the  tribes  of  Lake  Nipissing. 

In  September,  1641,  the  first  bark  canoe,  laden  with  French  Jesuits,  was 
paddled  through  the  Ottawa  river  for  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary,  and,  passing 
by  the  islands  of  Lake  Huron,  they  reached  these  falls  after  a  navigation 
of  seventeen  days.  At  this  place  they  found  a  large  collection  of  Indians 
from  the  neighboring  tribes,  many  of  whom  had  never  seen  civilized  men 
and  had  never  heard  of  the  true  God.  The  white  men  were  invited  to  dwcl 
amono-  them ;  for,  said  the  savages,  "  We  will  embrace  you  as  brothers ;  we 
will  derive  profit  from  your  words."  Raymbault,  the  first  missionary  to  the 
tribes  of  Michigan,  feeble  with  consumption,  during  the  next  year  returned 
to  Quebec.  Thus  the  French  at  this  early  period  had  advanced  their  mis 
sionary  posts  beyond  the  shores  of  Lake  Huron  and  to  the  outlet  ot  Lake 
Superior.  Father  Jaques  and  Bressani,  Jean  de  Breboeuf,  Chaumonotot, 
Claude  Dablon,  Mesnard,  and  others,  while  carrying  the  cross  through  tl 
forests  of  the  Northwest,  were  not  to  be  impeded  by  tortures  and  burnings, 
nor  death  even,  from  their  darling  projects.  They  toiled  and  suffered  were 
struck  cbwn  with  the  tomahawk;  they  lived  the  life  of  beggars,  and  died 
the  death  of  martyrs;  were  covered  with  burning  bark,  and  scalded  with 
boilin-  water,  and  scarred  with  hot  iron,  until  the  gentle  Lallemand  cried 
out  amid  his  tortures,  "We  are  made  a  spectacle  unto  the  world,  and  to 


16  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

angels,  and  to  men ;"  but  with  the  zeal  of  ancient  martyrdom  the  Jesuits 
pressed  on  from  the  strongholds  of  Quebec,  filling  the  ranks  of  the  dead  as 
one  after  another  fell,  advancing  to  the  remote  boundaries  of  the  lake  shores 
the  cross  and  the  lilies  of  the  Bourbons. 

During  the  month  of  August,  1654,  two  young  fur-traders  having  joined 
a  band  of  the  Ottawas  or  Algonquins,  in  their  bark  canoes,  upon  an  explor 
ation  of  five  hundred  leagues,  reappeared  after  two  years  before  St.  Louis 
with  a  fleet  of  fifty  canoes.  Describing  the  territory  stretching  around  the 
great  lakes  in  glowing  colors,  and  the  savage  hordes  which  were  then  scat 
tered  through  the  forests,  they  sought  to  effect  a  wider  extension  of  French 
commerce  into  that  region.  Their  request  was  granted  ;  and  in  1656,  Gabri- 
elle  Dreuillette  and  Leonard  Garean,  former  missionaries  among  the 
Hurons,  were  selected  for  the  mission ;  but  just  below  Montreal  a  band  of 
Mohawks  attacked  their  fleet,  Gareau  was  mortally  wounded,  and  the  expe 
dition  prevented.  The  traders  of  the  lakes,  seeking  the  furs  which  abounded 
in  those  forests,  and  backed  by  the  Western  Indians,  who  desired  a  league 
by  which  they  might  resist  the  Iroquois,  soon  advanced  to  Green  Bay,  and 
in  1659  two  of  them  passed  the  vanter  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior. 
During  the  following  year  they  returned  to  Quebec,  escorted  by  sixty 
canoes,  laden  with  peltry,  and  paddled  by  three  hundred  Algonquins. 

The  zeal  of  Francis  de  Laval,  the  bishop  of  Quebec,  appears  to  have 
been  kindled,  by  their  accounts  of  the  country,  with  a  desire  to  enter  upon 
the  mission,  but  to  Rene  Mesnard  was  allotted  this  task,  so  full  of  hazard. 
Charged  with  the  duty  of  exploring  the  territory  around  Green  Bay  and 
Lake  Superior,  and  of  establishing  at  some  convenient  point  a  place  for 
the  general  assembly  of  the  neighboring  tribes,  this  aged  man,  in  August, 
1660,  with  but  few  preparations,  departed  on  his  mission,  trusting,  to  use 
his  own  words,  "  in  the  Providence  which  feeds  the  little  birds  of  the  desert, 
and  clothes  the  wild  flowrers  of  the  forest."  During  the  month  of  October 
he  reached  a  bay  on  the  south  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  which  he  named 
St.  Theresa ;  writing  to  a  friend,  "  in  three  or  four  months  you  may  add 
me  to  the  memento  of  deaths."  After  a  residence  there  of  eight  months,  in 
the  year  1661,  he  complied  with  the  invitation  of  the  Hurons,  who  had 
taken  refuge  in  the  isle  of  St.  Michael,  and,  leaving  his  converts,  advanced 
with  one  attendant  to  the  Bay  of  Che-goi-me-gon.  Lost  in  the  forest,  he 
was  never  afterward  seen ;  and  among  the  amulets  of  the  Sioux  were  dis 
covered  his  breviary  and  cassock. 

But  the  rude  missionary  posts  around  the  lakes  struggled  on,  and  were 
in  danger  of  falling,  when  the  Canadian  colonies  were  re-enforced  in  1665 
by  a  royal  regiment,  with  Tracy  as  viceroy,  Courcelles,  a  veteran  officer, 
as  governor,  and  Talon,  a  man  of  business  and  perseverance,  as  intendant, 
and  the  representative  of  the  King  in  civil  matters.  French  enterprise  now 
pressed  forward  to  the  West  with  increased  vigor,  and  in  August,  1 665, 
Father  Claude  Allouez,  following  the  old  course  of  the  Ottawa,  on  the  1st 
day  of  October  reached  the  principal  village  of  the  Chippewas  in  the  Bay 
of  Che-goi-me-gon.  A  chapel  dedicated  to  the  Holy  Spirit  soon  arose 
amid  the  green  luxuriance  of  the  forest,  and  the  passions  of  the  rough 
tribes  were  subdued  by  paintings  which  the  missionary  displayed  of  the 
horrors  of  hell  and  the  terrors  of  the  final  judgment.  The  dwellers  around 
St.  Mary  flocked  to  his  station ;  the  Hurons  and  Ottawas,  upon  the  deserts 
north  of  Lake  Superior,  secured  his  presence  at  their  wigwams ;  and  the 
Pottowatomies,  from  the  borders  of  Lake  Michigan,  invited  him  to  their 
homes,  while  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  travelled  from  their  villages,  and  the  Illi 
nois  came  to  gather  counsel  and  to  describe  the  beauties  of  their  quiet 


THE  FRENCH  MISSIONARIES  AND  TRAVELLERS.  17 

river.  The  Sioux,  also,  from  the  west  of  Lake  Superior,  in  a  land  of  prai 
ries,  living  on  wild  rice  and  skin-covered  cabins,  welcomed  the  stranger. 
After  residing  for  nearly  two  years  upon  the  southern  margin  of  Lake 
Superior,  in  August  of  1667  he  returned  to  Quebec,  and  urged  the  estab 
lishment  of  permanent  missions,  to  be  accompanied  by  colonies  of  French 
emigrants  upon  the  lakes ;  but  in  two  days  after  reaching  that  post,  with 
another  priest,  Louis  Nicholas,  he  returned  to  the  mission  of  Che-goi- 
me-gon. 

The  condition  of  Canada  at  that  time  was  favorable  to  the  progress  of 
the  missions  of  this  portion  of  the  West.  The  monopoly  of  the  West 
India  Company,  organized  for  the  purpose  of  prosecuting  the  fur-trade, 
had  been  yielded  up.  Peace  was  enjoyed,  and  a  new  recruit  of  missionaries 
had  arrived  from  France.  Aided  by  such  advantages,  Allouez,  Claude 
Dablon,  and  James  Marquette  in  1668  repaired  to  the  Chippewas  and  estab 
lished  the  mission  of  St.  Mary,  the  first  settlement  commenced  by  Europeans 
within  the  boundaries  of  Michigan.  During  the  following  years  these  mis 
sionaries  were  employed  in  strengthening  the  power  of  France  over  the  pos 
sessions  wThich  she  claimed,  from  Green  Bay  to  the  head  of  Lake  Superior, 
and  in  collecting  information  respecting  the  region  extending  toward  the 
Mississippi.  They  resolved  in  the  year  1669  to  attempt  its  exploration, 
and  selected  as  a  companion  a  young  Illinois,  for  the  purpose  of  becoming 
acquainted  with  the  dialect  of  that  tribe. 

The  commerce  of  the  fur-trade  between  the  Algonquins  and  the  French 
secured  the  protection  of  their  tribes  and  their  deep  attachment,  while  a 
desire  of  strengthening  the  power  of  France  over  the  Western  territory 
pervaded  the  mind  of  Louis  of  France  and  Colbert,  his  minister.  Talon, 
the  intendant-general,  moreover,  desired  to  advance  the  same  object,  and 
for  this  purpose  despatched  his  agent,  Nicholas  Perrott,  in  order  to  call  a 
general  congress  of  the  lake  tribes  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary.  Procuring  at 
Green  Bay  a  guard  of  Pottowatornies,  he  reached  the  settlement  of  the 
Miamis  at  Chicago,  the  first  of  civilized  men 'who  had  ever  visited  that 

The  desired  Congress  of  the  Indian  tribes  convened  at  the  falls  of  St. 
Mary  in  May  of  1671,  was  composed  of  prominent  delegates  from  the  head 
waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  Mississippi,  the  lakes,  and  even  the  Red 
river ;  and  of  veteran  officers  from  the  armies  of  France,  intermingled  here 
and  there  with  a  Jesuit  missionary.  A  cross  having  been  raised,  and  also 
a  cedar  post  marked  with  the  French  lilies,  the  representatives  of  the  savage 
hordes  were  informed  that  they  were  under  the  protection  of  the  French 
King.  During  that  year  Marquette  gathered  a  branch  of  the  Hurous  at 
Poin°t  St.  Ignace,  upon  the  continent  north  of  the  peninsula  of  Michigan, 
an  establishment  that  was  long  a  convenient  resting-place  for  the  savages 
and  the  fur-trade. 

In  1672,  Allouez  and  Dablon,  who  were  the  active  agents  ol  the  .ti 
Government  in  carrying  the  cross  through  the  eastern  part  of  Wiscousii 
and  the  north  of  Illinois,  seeking  by  mild  means  to  secure  the  good  otiices 
of  the  Kickapoos  upon  the  Milwaukie  and  of  the  Miamis  of  Lake  Michi 
gan  explored  the  countries  to  the  south  of  the  village  that  had  been  thus 
founded  by  Marquette,  and  had  even  extended  their  explorations  to  the 
tribes  of  the  Foxes,  then  scattered  along  the  banks  of  the  *  ox  river.  ^   J 
the  power  of  the  French  in  this  quarter  was  mainly  confined  to  tl 
diate  shores  of  the  lakes  and  their  connecting  waters     Beyond  these  was 
river  flowing  thousands  of  miles  into  the  sea,  which  had  never  been  tram 
to  its  outletf  of  which  Allouez  had  reported  the  name  to  be  Messipi,  or  the 

B 


18  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Great  river.  This  stream,  long  the  object  of  curious  inquiry,  was  now  to 
be  sought,  in  order  that  the  French  power  might  be  spread  along  its  banks. 

Thus  labored  Marquette,  a  solitary  missionary  upon  the  lakes,  until  1673, 
when  M.  Talon,  the  intendant-geueral  of  the  colony,  ambitious  to  close  his 
career  in  that  region  with  something  of  honor,  despatched  M.  Joliet,  a  citi 
zen  of  Quebec,  to  this  man,  and  unfolded,  at  the  same  time,  a  project  for 
the  exploration  of  the  country  along  the  line  of  the  Michwepee,  or  the  Great 
river,  to  its  mouth,  which  current  reports  declared  flowed  into  a  large  sea. 
Nor  was  Marquette  unwilling  to  aid  the  enterprise.  Upon  the  thirteenth 
of  May,  everything  being  ready,  this  adventurer,  together  with  Joliet  and 
five  other  Frenchmen,  left  Michilimackinac  in  two  bark  canoes,  supplied 
with  Indian  corn  and  jerked  meat,  and  commenced  their  voyage  to  the 
unknown  country.  They  soon  arrived  at  an  Indian  village  which  was 
familiar  to  Marquette,  and  made  known  to  the  savages  their  plan.  These 
savages,  however,  seemed  to  be  horror-struck  at  the  boldness  of  the  project 
to  explore  the  great  river.  There  were  Indians  in  that  quarter,  they  told 
the  whites,  who  would  destroy  them ;  monsters  who  would  swallow  up  them 
and  their  canoes ;  a  demon  who  would  ingulf  all  who  ventured  near  his 
watery  and  boiling  domain,  and  heats  that  would  parch  them.  "  I  thanked 
them  for  their  good  advice,"  says  Marquette,  "  but  informed  them  I  could 
not  follow  it,  since  the  salvation  of  souls  was  at  stake,  for  which  I  should  be 
overjoyed  to  give  my  life." 

The  navigators  now  passed  through  Green  Bay,  from  the  mud  of  which 
there  arose,  says  the  voyager,  "  mischievous  vapors,  which  cause  the  most 
grand  and  perpetual  thunders  I  ever  heard."  They  entered  the  Fox  river, 
and,  dragging  their  canoes  through  the  rapids,  and  cutting  their  feet  with 
the  stones,  they  soon  arrived  at  a  village  where  there  lived  together  a  band 
of  the  Miamis,  Mascoutens,  and  Kickapoos.  Here  they  found  a  cross  hung 
with  skins,  because  the  Great  Spirit  had  given  to  the  Indians  a  successful 
chase.  Father  Allouez  had  been  here,  and  had  taught  them  that  the  cross 
was  the  only  visible  emblem  of  the  true  religion.  This  village  was  at  that 
time  the  remote  boundary  of  western  exploration,  and  beyond  it  no  French 
man  had  before  gone.  They  were  now  journeying  through  a  country  before 
unknown  to  white  men.  On  the  10th  of  July  the  adventurers  left  these 
savages  amazed  at  the  hardihood  of  the  whites,  and,  aided  by  two  guides, 
started  for  the  stream,  which  was  believed  to  run  but  three  leagues  distant 
from  the  Mississippi,  and  to  flow  into  that  river.  The  Indian  guides,  hav 
ing  conducted  them  to  the  portage  without  any  mishap,  left  them  "  alone 
amid  that  unknown  country,  in  the  hand  of  God."  Advancing  with 
prayers,  they  soon  arrived  at  the  Wisconsin,  a  stream  abounding  with  sand 
bars,  but  studded  with  islands  and  bordered  by  banks  green  with  vegeta 
tion,  and  variegated  by  groves  and  pleasant  slopes.  Floating  down  the 
stream  in  their  canoes,  they  arrived,  on  the  17th  of  June,  at  the  Mississippi, 
"  with  joy,"  says  Marquette,  "  that  I  cannot  express." 

The  adventurers  had  now  reached  the  main  channel,  which  they  were  to 
explore  to  its  mouth ;  and,  after  having  admired  the  herds  of  buffalo  and 
deer  which  roamed  along  its  borders,  and  the  swans  which  floated  upon  its 
surface,  as  well  as  some  great  fish  which  nearly  dashed  their  canoes  to 
atoms,  they  at  length  came  to  the  footprints  of  human  beings  on  the  sand, 
and  a  trail  leading  to  a  meadow.  Leaving  their  canoes  in  charge  of  the 
crew,  Joliet  and  Marquette  now  advanced  towards  what  seemed  to  them  an 
Indian  village,  sufficiently  near  to  hear  the  voice  of  the  savages.  With 
prayers  they  made  known  their  presence  by  a  loud  cry,  and  were  soon 
received  by  an  embassy  of  four  old  men,  who  presented  them  the  pipe  of 


THE  FRENCH  MISSIONARIES  AND  TRAVELLERS.  19 

peace,  and  informed  them  at  the  same  time  that  they  were  in  a  village  of 
the  Illinois.  The  French  voyagers  were  here  entertained  with  a  grand  feast, 
accompanied  with  much  smoking.  The  feast  consisted  of  four  courses;  the 
first  was  of  hominy,  the  second  of  fish,  the  third  of  dog,  and  the  fourth  of 
roasted  buffalo.  When  the  feast  had  been  concluded,  they  were  marched 
through  the  town  with  much  ceremony;  and,  having  passed  the  night 
quietly,  they  were  escorted  by  six  hundred  Indians  to  their  canoes.  The 
Illinois,  says  Marquette,  were  handsome,  kindly,  and  effeminate.  They 
used  guns,  and  were  feared  by  the  savages  of  the  South  and  West,  where 
they  made  many  prisoners,  and  sold  them  as  slaves. 

Having  left  the  Illinois,  the  voyagers  passed  the  rocks  on  which  were 
painted  the  monsters  of  whose  existence  they  had  heard  at  Lake  Michigan, 
and  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri.  Leaving  the  Missouri,  they  encoun 
tered  the  demon  against  which  they  had  been  warned,  that  was  nothing 
more  than  a  great  rock  in  the  stream,  and  soon  arrived  at  the  Ohio.  From 
the  Ohio,  although  somewhat  troubled  by  the  mosquitoes,  they  passed  in 
safety  to  the  region  of  the  Arkansas. 

At  this  place  they  were  attacked  by  a  crowd  of  warriors,  and  would  have 
been  overpowered  had  not  Marquette  presented  the  pipe  of  peace,  which 
softened  the  rough  savages;  for,  says  the  Jesuit,  "God  touched  their  hearts." 
On  the  succeeding  day  they  proceeded  on  their  way,  and  were  feasted  by 
the  hospitable  savages  upon  corn  and  dogmeat  cooked  in  earthenware,  the 
Indians  being  amiable  and  ceremonious,  passing  the  dish  from  one  to  another. 
Here  the  voyagers  determined  to  return  to  the  North,  as  they  were  now  con 
fident  of  the  place  where  the  Mississippi  was  discharged,  that  being  the 
principal  object  of  the  expedition.  In  consequence,  they  left  Akamsca  on 
the  17th  of  July,  retracing  their  track;  and,  amazed  at  the  numbers  of 
"  grounds,  meadows,  woods,  buffaloes,  stags,  deer,  wildcats,  bustards,  swans, 
ducks,  paroquets,  and  beavers"  upon  the  Illinois  river,  they  arrived  at  Green 
Bay  in  September  of  that  year,  where  they  reported  what  they  had  seen. 

Father  Marquette  returned  to  the  Illinois,  and  performed  his  clerical 
offices  by  their  request  until  the  year  1675.  On  the  18th  of  May,  as  he 
was  passing  through  Lake  Michigan  in  his  canoes,  he  proposed  to  land  at 
the  mouth  of  a  small  stream  running  from  the  peninsula  to  perform  mass, 
and  retired  a  little  distance  to  pray.  Not  returning,  his  men  went  in  pur 
suit  of  him,  and  soon  discovered  the  missionary,  but  he  was  dead  ;  and  they 
made  a  grave  and  buried  him  in  the  sand,  upon  the  western  part  of  the 
peninsula  of  Michigan,  on  the  borders  of  a  stream  which  now  bears  his  name, 
and  where  the  place  of  his  interment  was  recently  to  be  seen.  ^  Thus  passed 
away  this  quiet  man  in  the  wilderness,  after  a  long  life  spent  in  doing  good. 
Yet  he  left  the  impression  of  his  virtues  behind  him,  and  his  name  the  world 
has  embalmed  and  will  perpetuate. 

At  length  the  enterprise  of  Robert  de  la  Salle,  a  native  of  Normandy,  in 
France,  a  young  man  of  strong  passions,  but  great  energy,  entered  upon  a 
project  which  had  for  its  object  the  perpetuation  of  the  power  of  France  by 
the  permanent  colonization  of  the  West.  La  Salle  was,  according  to  Char- 
levoix,  brought  up  among  the  Jesuits,  and,  having  lost  his  patrimony  in 
France,  and  being  of  an  adventurous  and  enterprising  spirit,  he  turned  his 
mind  to  the  French  colonies  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  about  the  year  1670. 
Having  arrived  at  the  Canadian  port,  he  occupied  himself  with  a  project, 
popular  in  that  day,  connected  with  a  short  passage  to  China,  and  had 
already  planned  an  expedition  across  the  great  lakes  to  the  banks  of  the 
Pacific  when  Father  Marquette  returned  from  the  Mississippi.  The  highly 
colored  views  which  this  missionary  gave  of  the  country,  and  its  extensive 


2Q  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

channels  of  interior  communication  westward,  kindled  the  sanguine  mind 
of  La  Salle,  and  induced  him  to  redouble  his  exertions  to  carry  out  his 
object.  With  that  view  he  resorted  to  M.  de  Frontenac,  then  the  governor- 
general  of  Canada,  and  at  once  laid  before  him  the  dim  but  gigantic  outline 
of  his  project,  having  for  its  end  the  extension  of  the  French  power,  by  con 
structing  a  chain  of  fortifications  at  the  most  prominent  points  along  the 
lakes  and  rivers  of  the  West.  The  first  step  towards  this  favorite  scheme 
was  to  rebuild  Fort  Frontenac,  which  lies  on  Lake  Ontario,  of  stone ;  and 
the  politic  adventurer  deemed  this  an  important  point  to  win  the  favor  of 
the  governor-general,  as  that  fort  was  called  after  his  name.  Frontenac 
entered  warmly  into  his  views.  Believing  that  the  French  power  would  be 
greatly  strengthened  by  carrying  out  the  design,  he  advised  La  Salle  to 
apply 'directly  to  the  King  of  France;  and,  to  aid  his  application  for  royal 
patronage,  he  gave  the  adventurer  letters  to  Seigneilay,  who,  as  minister  of 
marine,  had  succeeded  his  father,  the  well-known  Colbert. 

With  glowing  hopes,  La  Salle  now  resorted  to  the  French  King,  and  made 
known  his  wants.  His  plan  was  approved  by  the  minister,  who  received  his 
letter,  and  he  was  invested  with  the  title  of  chevalier,  and  also  with  the  seig- 
nory  of  Fort  Frontenac,  on  the  condition  that  he  would  rebuild  it.  From 
all  the  nobility  of  that  country  he  received  also  assurances  of  full  counte 
nance  and  aid.  Encouraged  by  these  assurances,  La  Salle,  \vith  his  lieu 
tenant,  Tonti,  an  Italian,  and  thirty  men,  sailed  from  Rochelle  on  the  14th 
of  July,  1678,  reached  Quebec  on  the  15th  of  September  of  the  same  year, 
and  soon  after  proceeded  to  Fort  Frontenac.  Here  he  found  laboring  in 
the  missionary  cause  Louis  Hennepin,  a  friar  of  the  Franciscan  order,  daring, 
vain,  and  determined,  ambitious  to  reap  the  glory  of  discovery,  and  not  too 
scrupulous  as  to  the  means.  Hennepin  had  been  appointed  by  his  religious 
superiors  acting  missionary,  to  accompany  the  expedition  of  La  Salle,  and 
arrived  at  this  point,  in  readiness  to  meet  him,  in  October  of  1678. 

The  chevalier  having  no  means  to  carry  out  his  project,  and  being  at  that 
time  somewhat  involved  in  debt,  was  obliged  to  cast  about  for  money  to 
advance  his  enterprise.  He  commenced  operations,  accordingly,  by  sending 
forward  a  party  of  his  men  along  the  shores  of  the  lakes  to  collect  skins,  from 
which  he  might  accumulate  something  to  pay  his  winter  expenses,  for  he  had 
an  exclusive  right  from  the  French  monarch  to  trade  in  that  region.  The 
advantages  of  this  course  were  two-fold :  for,  while  the  Frenchmen  whom 
he  should  despatch  were  collecting  the  furs,  they  could,  at  the  same  time, 
prepare  the  minds  of  the  Indians  for  his  coming.  In  the  first  place  it  was 
made  a  part  of  his  duty  to  alter  and  repair  Fort  Frontenac ;  Lake  Ontario 
was  to  be  navigated ;  a  fort  was  to  be  built  on  Lake  Erie,  and  a  bark  of 
extraordinary  size  for  those  inland  seas  was  to  be  constructed.  All  these 
duties  devolved  upon  himself;  and,  with  the  small  funds  which  he  had  to 
accomplish  them,  they  would,  to  a  man  of  moderate  soul,  have  appeared 
formidable.  But  to  the  stout  heart  of  the  French  chevalier  they  were  as 
nothing,  for  his  perseverance  was  unconquerable,  and  his  ambition  looked 
forward  to  the  time  when  his  name  should  be  covered  with  glory  as  the  bene 
factor  of  France,  and  the  Columbus  of  its  colonies  in  the  West. 

Having  despatched  his  men  for  the  objects  which  have  been  mentioned, 
La  Salle  embarked  upon  Lake  Ontario,  with  his  followers,  on  the  18th  of 
November,  1678,  in  a  little  vessel  of  ten  tons,  "the  first  ship  that  had  ever 
sailed  on  that  fresh-water  sea."  Against  strong  winds  the  vessel  was  finally, 
after  having  occupied  four  weeks  in  beating  up  from  Kingston  to  Niagara, 
pushed  as  near  the  falls  as  could  be  done  with  safety,  and  the  adventurers 
landed.  Here  some  magazines  were  built  with  great  difficulty,  as  the  ground 


THE  FRENCH  MISSIONARIES  AND  TRAVELLERS.  91 

was  frozen,  and  the  posts  could  be  driven  down  only  by  pouring  boiling  water 
upon  the  surface,  and  thus  thawing  the  earth.  Here  also  they  formed  their 
first  acquaintance  with  the  Iroquois  of  Niagara  Village  upon  Lake  Erie,  and 
founded  a  second  fort;  but,  impeded  by  the  jealousy  of  the  Iroquois,  they 
relinquished  the  project,  and  merely  erected  a  temporary  work  to  secure  the 
magazines.  Leaving  orders  for  his  men  to  build  another  vessel,  La  Salle 
returned  to  Fort  Frontenac  to  procure  anchors,  cables,  chains,  and  other 
outfits  for  his  new  ship.  Through  the  winter  days,  when  Lake  Erie  lay 
before  them  covered  with  ice,  like  "a  plain  paved  with  fine-polished  marble," 
his  men  hammered  upon  the  ship,  while  others  gathered  furs  and  peltry  in 
the  forest,  or  strove  to  gain  the  good-will  of  the  Iroquois,  who  claimed  the 
country  through  which  they  were  to  pass,  and  who  had  never  shown  them 
selves  the  special  friends  of  the  French.  On  the  20th  of  January,  1679,  the 
chevalier  returned.  The  vessel  in  which  his  outfits  had  been  embarked  was 
wrecked ;  and,  although  the  most  valuable  part  of  her  cargo  wras  saved,  the 
greater  portion  of  her  provisions  went  to  the  bottom.  This,  however,  did  not 
dishearten  the  stout-hearted  adventurer.  A  considerable  quantity  of  furs 
was  collected  during  the  winter,  with  which  the  commander,  in  the  spring 
of  1679,  returned  to  Fort  Frontenac,  and  Tonti  was  sent  out  upon  the  shores 
of  the  lakes  to  muster  his  men,  who  had  been  before  despatched  into  that 
region.  The  vessel,  however,  was  at  length  built,  in  spite  of  all  these  obsta 
cles,  rigged  and  manned,  and  made  ready  to  sail. 

The  chain  of  fortifications  thus  projected  by  La  Salle  was  afterward  con 
structed  upon  the  water-line  of  the  Northwest,  and  its  remains  are  still  to 
be  seen  stretching  from  the  shores  of  Lake  Ontario  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi. 

On  the  seventh  day  of  the  month  of  August,  1679,  the  bark  of  sixty  tons 
burden  having  at  length  been  built,  she  started  on  the  first  voyage  which 
had  ever  been  made  upon  that  inland  sea,  amid  the  sound  of  Te  Deums  and 
the  discharge  of  arquebuses.  This  vessel  was  named  the  Griffin,  and  the 
image  of  that  animal  was  carved  on  her  prow.  Robert  de  la  Salle  was  her 
commander ;  and  Louis  Hennepin,  the  missionary,  burning  with  ardor  to 
make  new  discoveries,  and  also  the  journalist  of  the  expedition^  was  on 
board.  The  crew  consisted  of  fur-traders  taken  from  the  Canadian  Colo 
nies.  They  sounded  while  they  ploughed  along  the  waves  of  Lake  Erie,  as 
they  did  not  know  the  depth  of  the  water,  and  on  the  tenth  of  the  same 
month  they  arrived  near  the  islands  which  are  grouped  at  the  entrance  of 
the  Detroit  river,  where  they  anchored.  Hennepin  says  of  these  islands : 
"  They  make  the  finest  prospect  in  the  world.  The  strait  (of  Detroit)  : 
finer  than  Niagara,  being  one  league  broad,  excepting  that  part  which  forms 
the  lake  that  we  have  called  St.  Glair" 

The  explorers,  passing  up  the  river  and  advancing  across  Lake  Huron, 
soon  landed  on  the  shore  of  the  northern  part  of  the  peninsula  of  Michigan, 
and  in  August  they  built  the  old  Fort  of  Michilimackinac. 
tions  of  the  country  by  these  early  travellers,  although  not  entirely  accu 
rate,  are  interesting,  and  they  will  be  regarded  as  of  great  value  when 
shores  of  the  lakes  shall  be  crowded  with  a  dense  population, 
ery  Hennepin  remarks :  "  The  country  between  the  two  lakes  (E 
Huron)  is  very  well  situated,  and  the  soil  very  fertile, 
strait  (Detroit)  are  vast  meadows,  and  the  prospect  is  terminated  with 
some  hills  covered  with  vineyards,  trees  bearing  good  fruit,  groves  and 
ests  so  well  disposed  that  one  would  think  Nature  alone  could  not  have 
made,  without  the  help  of  art,  so  charming  a  prospect 
stocked  with  stags,  wild  goats,  and  bears,  which  are  good  for  food,  auc 


22  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

fierce  as  in  other  countries;  some  think  they  are  better  than  our  pork.  Tur 
key-cocks  and  swans  are  there  very  common ;  and  our  men  brought  several 
other  beasts  and  birds,  whose  names  are  unknown  to  us,  but  they  are  extra 
ordinary  relishing. 

"  The  forests  are  chiefly  made  up  of  walnut,  chestnut,  plum,  and  pear 
trees,  loaded  with  their  own  fruit,  and  vines.  There  is  also  abundance  of 
timber  for  building ;  so  that  those  who  shall  be  so  happy  as  to  inhabit  that 
noble  country  cannot  but  remember  with  gratitude  them  who  have  led  the 
way." 

From  Michilimackinac  the  French  explorers  went  to  Green  Bay.  Here 
La  Salle  collected  a  cargo  of  furs,  and  dispatched  them  in  the  Griffin  back 
to  Niagara,  in  order  to  pay  the  debts  which  he  owed  in  that  quarter.  But 
the  vessel  was  never  heard  of  aftenvard.  With  fourteen  of  his  Frenchmen 
he  now  paddled  down  Lake  Michigan  in  canoes,  marking  the  shoals  of  that 
lake  by  bear-skins  stuck  on  poles,  and  feeding  on  the  flesh  of  that  animal. 
On  the  first  of  November,  having  reached  the  St.  Joseph  river  of  Lake 
Michigan,  he  built  another  rude  fort  at  its  mouth,  called  fort  Miami.  Tonti, 
the  Italian,  La  Salle's  lieutenant,  had  been  sent  out  upon  the  borders  of  the 
lake  with  some  of  his  men  to  procure  venison  and  to  collect  the  straggling 
Frenchmen,  and  the  party  remained  at  St.  Joseph  awraiting  the  return  of 
the  Griffin. 

But  winter  now  came  on,  and  the  Griffin  did  not  appear.  The  party  of 
La  Salle,  therefore,  on  the  1st  of  September,  occupied  themselves  in  driving 
palisades  near  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph  river  of  Lake  Michigan,  in 
order  to  warn  off  the  French  bark  from  the  shoals  upon  the  borders  of  that 
lake.  If  the  lakes  should  be  frozen  before  the  vessel  returned  new  obstacles 
would  be  thrown  in  his  way ;  for  the  wilderness  presented  but  few  friendly 
inhabitants  and  cultivated  fields,  the  shores  of  the  lakes  no  hospitable  ports, 
so  that  he  determined  to  proceed  upon  "  his  great  voyage  and  glorious  under 
taking;"  and,  collecting  his  crew,  and  leaving  in  the  rude  fort  of  St.  Joseph 
a  few  men,  he  set  out  with  the  remainder  and  three  monks.  Passing  to  the 
Illinois,  the  party  descended  that  river  "  by  easy  journeys,  the  better  to 
observe  that  country,"  which  abounded  with  marshes,  where  no  safe  footing 
could  be  obtained.  Through  these  swamps  the  adventurers  proceeded  until 
they  arrived  at  a  village  of  the  Illinois  Indians,  wThich  contained  about  five 
hundred  untenanted  cabins.  Here  the  party  of  the  Sieur  de  la  Salle,  being 
worn  down  with  hunger,  provided  themselves  with  a  quantity  of  corn,  which 
was  found  hidden  in  holes  in  the  ground  under  the  Indian  wigwams,  and 
placed  it  on  shipboard.  This  point  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  present 
site  of  Rock  Fort,  upon  the  Illinois. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1680,  the  ship  being  ready  and  the  voyagers  pre 
pared,  they  proceeded  into  a  lake  believed  to  be  Peoria,  where  they  caught 
some  good  fish  with  which  they  might  season  their  corn,  when  bands  of  sav 
ages  appeared  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  to  which  they  had  now  returned. 
When,  however,  the  startled  Frenchmen  supposed  that,  having  been  engaged 
in  depredation,  their  season  of  fighting  had  arrived,  they  were  agreeably 
surprised  by  being  asked  who  they  were,  the  savages  "  being  naturally  in 
clined  to  peace."  The  question  having  been  answered,  they  were  received 
by  the  Indians  writh  much  kindness,  wrho,  not  as  savages  are  used  to  do,  but 
"  as  men  well-bred  and  civilized,"  spread  out  before  the  needy  voyagers  "  beef, 
and  stag,  and  all  sorts  of  venison  and  fowls."  This  hospitable  reception 
was  repaid  by  discharges  of  firearms,  and  by  presenting  them  large  draughts 
of  brandy.  A  feast,  continuing  three  days,  was  at  length  concluded,  and 
the  Frenchmen  discovered  in  the  Illinois  great  humanity,  and  a  "  good  dis- 


THE  FRENCH  MISSIONARIES  AND  TRAVELLERS.  23 

position  to  civil  society."  They  were  "  flatterers  complaisant  and  cunning," 
and,  although  they  paid  a  sort  of  respect  to  virtue,  they  were  still  effeminate 
and  dissolute.  In  the  midst  of  this  nation  La  Salle  concluded  to  build 
another  fort,  for  the  pacific  character  of  the  Indians  in  that  quarter  induced 
him  to  select  this  as  its  most  favorable  site.  A  point  upon  the  rising  ground, 
near  the  river,  was  chosen  for  that  object,  and  here  a  rude  fortification  was 
built,  which  La  Salle  named  Oreve&wr,  the  Broken  Heart:  a  touching 
name,  indicating  his  disappointment,  occasioned  by  the  loss,  of  the  Griffin 
and  the  consequent  wreck  of  his  hopes,  the  jealousy  of  a  portion  of  the  sav 
ages,  who  had  been  persuaded  that  he  was  a  friend  of  the  Iroquois,  and  the 
mutiny  of  his  men,  which  had  already  begun  to  show  itself  by  administer 
ing  to  him  poison :  misfortunes  which  sunk  him  in  poverty,  casting  a  gloom 
over  his  burning  but  iron  heart,  beclouding  his  glorious  vision,  and  plunging 
him  in  doubt  and  despair. 

The  winter  was  passed,  and  La  Salle  remained  in  the  wilderness  until 
the  vegetation  began  to  spring  up  on  the  prairies.  Bereft  of  property,  with 
his  men,  who  even  sought  his  life,  fast  deserting  him,  with  Indians  around 
him,  instigated  by  capricious  and  uncertain  motives,  he  still  had  left  his 
own  determined  spirit:  a  spirit  fearless  of  obstacles,  which  burned  the 
brighter  amid  the  gloom  that  encompassed  it.  He  found  it  necessary, 
therefore,  to  return  to  the  Canadian  colonies  to  raise  men  and  money,  and 
to  prepare  another  outfit,  for  he  was  still  firmly  resolved  to  persevere  in  his 
original  project.  In  accordance  with  this  determination,  he  employed  M. 
Dacan  and  Father  Louis  Hennepin  to  proceed  from  that  point  on  an  expe 
dition  for  the  discovery  of  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi,  with  a  party  con 
sisting  of  eight  persons,  and  on  the  last  day  of  February,  1680,  he  started 
them  on  their  voyage.  At  Fort  Crevecoeur  the  chevalier  remained  until  the 
succeeding  November,  leaving  Tonti  and  his  men  among  the  Illinois,  and 
then  departed  from  that  fort  for  Canada.  On  his  passage  along  the  river, 
being  struck  with  the  position  of  a  high  rock  upon  the  bank,  he  at  once 
determined  to  construct  a  fort  at  that  point,  and,  marking  out  a  plan,  sent 
it  to  Tonti  at  Fort  Crevecoeur.  Tonti  immediately  proceeded  to  the  execu 
tion  of  the  project,  but  had  hardly  commenced  when  a  revolt  broke  out 
among  the  men  whom  he  had  left  at  Fort  Crevecoeur,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
return.  This  new  fort  was  named  St.  Louis,  and  was  placed  under  the  com 
mand  of  Tonti  when  La  Salle  returned  to  France.  Its  site  was  probably  the 
spot  that  is  now  called  Eock  Fort,  in  La  Salle  county,  Illinois. 

Tonti,  thus  left  in  the  woods  with  a  garrison  of  undisciplined  Frenchmen, 
lived  on  with  little  quietude  until  September  of  1681,  when,  to  his  horror,  a 
body  of  the  Iroquois  appeared  in  this  region,  having  been  irritated  during 
a  journey  along  the  borders  of  the  lakes.  What  was  the  policy  of  Tonti  in 
reference  to  these  two  hostile  savage  nations  does  not  clearly  appear,  yet  it 
is  evident  that  he  must  have  preserved  neutral  ground,  acting  as  a  mediator 
between  them.  But  succor  did  not  come ;  and  at  length  he  was  obliged  to 
return  to  Canada  with  five  men,  in  the  middle  of  September  of  the  same 
year,  reaching  Lake  Michigan  in  October,  and  spending  the  winter  upon  its 
borders.  Thus  ended  this  expedition  for  discovery  along  the  shores  of  the 
great  lakes,  under  the  auspices  of  an  individual  who  should  be  known  as 
the  first  navigator  of  Lake  Erie. 

But  let  La  Salle  be  followed  to  the  close  of  his  adventurous  career.  He 
had  returned  to  Canada,  where  he  busied  himself  in  raising  recruits,  con 
structing  vessels,  and  gathering  funds ;  and  the  spring  of  1682  found  him 
again  upon  the  Illinois,  manning  Crevecoeur,  rebuilding  Fort  St.  Louis,  and 
soon  after  returning  to  Fort  Frontenac  to  prepare  for  his  second  voyage, 


94  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

which  commenced  on  the  Illinois  river  in  1683,  when  the  mouth  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  was  descried.  But  La  Salle  soon  departed  for  France,  to  lay  before 
the  throne  the  record  of  what  he  had  done,  and  also  his  project  for  the  explor 
ation  and  settlement  of  the  far-famed  Louisiana.  A  fleet  was  provided  by 
the  agency  of  Seigneilay,  consisting  of  twTenty-four  vessels,  four  of  which 
were  destined  for  Louisiana,  carrying  two  hundred  and  eighty  persons, 
soldiers,  artificers,  and  "  women."  Starting  on  his  voyage  across  the  ocean, 
on  the  24th  of  July,  1684,  he  reached  his  destined  point,  where  he  was  assas 
sinated  by  his  own. men.  Thus  fell  La  Salle;  a  man  of  energy,  accom 
plished,  virtuous,  ardent,  and  self-sacrificing ;  one  of  a  class  who  ruin  them 
selves  while  they  benefit  the  world,  neglect  the  means  of  happiness,  and  raise 
up  for  themselves  a  lasting  remembrance. 

No  settlement  had  at  this  time  .been  made  at  Detroit,  because  the  traders 
and  Jesuit  missionaries  had  a  more  direct  and  safer  route  to  the  upper  lakes, 
from  Montreal  to  Michilimackinac,  by  the  way  of  the  Ottawa  river.  But 
this  point  had  long  been  regarded  an  eligible  position  for  a  settlement,  as  it 
commanded  a  broad  tract  of  country,  and  stood,  as  it  were,  at  the  gate  of 
the  upper  lakes,  in  a  direct  route  from  these  lakes  to  the  English  colonies 
of  New  York,  by  the  way  of  Lake  Erie. 

The  French  and  English  both  desired  to  obtain  possession  of  this  post. 
But  while  the  English  were  looking  to  its  acquisition,  they  were  anticipated 
by  their  rivals.  Taking  counsel  from  the  movements  of  their  opponents, 
the  French  called  a  grand  meeting  of  the  Iroquois,  or  Five  Nations,  at  Mon 
treal.  The  chiefs  of  the  different  tribes  from  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Mis 
sissippi  attended  this  meeting ;  also  the  principal  men  and  the  Governor- 
General  of  Canada.  Here  the  establishment  of  a  post  at  that  place  was 
discussed,  and  the  grounds  on  which  the  two  nations  based  their  claims  to 
it  weighed.  The  Iroquois,  however,  Gaid  that,  understanding  the  French 
were  about  to  make  a  settlement  at  that  point,  they  were  opposed  to  the 
measure,  as  they  had  already  prohibited  the  English  from  doing  the  same. 
The  Governor-General  of  Canada  replied  that  the  land  belonged  neither  to 
the  Iroquois  nor  to  the  English,  but  to  the  King  of  France,  and  that  there 
was  already  an  expedition  on  the  march  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  colo 
nial  establishment  at  that  place.  In  accordance  with  this  plan,  Antoine  de 
la  Motte  Cadillac,  lord  of  Bouaget,  Mont  Desert,  having  been  grante^l  a 
tract  of  fifteen  acres  square  by  Louis  XIV,  left  Montreal,  accompanied  by 
a  Jesuit  missionary  and  one  hundred  men,  and  arrived  at  the  point  of  the 
wilderness  which  is  noAV  the  site  of  Detroit,  in  the  month  of  July,  1701, 
where  they  commenced  the  foundation  of  the  first  permanent  settlement  in 
Michigan.  Before  it  had  only  been  known  by  the  French  missionaries  as  a 
trading-post,  and  in  1620  it  was  occupied  by  an  Indian  village,  which  was 
called  Teuchsa  Grondie.  The  Saute  de  St.  Marie,  as  we  have  seen,  had  at 
that  time  been  founded,  and  a  rude  post  was  also  erected  at  Fort  Gratiot, 
which  was  a  resting  point  for  the  fur-trade. 

This  chain  of  fortifications  was  all  the  defence  which  was  constructed 
upon  the  lake  shores  for  nearly  a  century  and  a  half,  and  it  comprised  a 
part  of  that  line  of  forts  that  was  projected  by  La  Salle,  extending  from 
the  St.  Lawrence  down  the  Mississippi  to  New  Orleans.  Their  object  was 
to  furnish  outposts  by  which  the  territory  of  Canada  on  the  borders  of  the 
lakes  could  be  held,  the  English  settlements  hemmed  in,  the  Jesuit  mission 
aries  and  settlers  protected  against  the  numerous  and  capricious  tribes  of 
savages  in  this  quarter,  and  by  which  the  fur-trade  might  circulate,  with 
full  success,  along  the  lakes  and  streams  of  the  Northwest.  The  forts  of 
Detroit,  Michilimackinac,  St.  Joseph,  and  Green  Bay  were  of  rude  construe- 


THE  FRENCH  MISSIONARIES  AND  TRAVELLERS.  25 

tion,  and  the  chapels  erected  by  their  side  were  used  for  the  religious  assem 
blies  of  the  French  settlers,  who  were  from  that  time  collected  around  the 
posts,  and  also  of  the  Indians  who  were  under  the  special  guardianship  of 
the  Jesuit  missionaries.  These  structures,  minute  points  on  the  borders  of 
the  forest,  were  either  roofed  with  bark  or  thatched  with  straw,  and  on  their 
top  was  generally  erected  the  cross.  Tribes  of  friendly  Indians  that  could 
be  induced  to  settle  near  them  had  their  villages  or  wigwams  around  these 
posts,  and  also  their  planting-grounds,  in  which  they  cultivated  Indian  corn, 
not  only  for  the  French  settlers,  but  also  for  the  persons  connected  with  the 
fur-trade.  They  derive  their  principal  importance  from  the  fact  that  they 
were  the  only  outposts  of  the  French  Government  in  this  country  before  the 
English  conquest,  and,  consequently,  the  theatres  of  the  most  interesting 
frontier  operations. 

About  three  years  after  Detroit  was  founded,  the  Ottawa  Indians  in  that 
vicinity  were  invited  to  Albany,  in  New  York,  upon  what  was  supposed  to 
be  a  friendly  visit.  As  St.  Joseph  was  surrounded  by  villages  of  the  Hu- 
rons,  Pottowatomies,  and  Miamis,  so  also  was  Detroit  at  that  time  guarded 
by  parts  of  the  friendly  tribes  of  the  Hurons  and  Pottowatomies  near  the 
settlements,  and  an  Ottawa  village  had  been  erected  on  the  opposite  bank 
of  the  river.  It  would  appear  that  while  the  Ottawas  were  in  Albany  they 
had  been  persuaded  by  the  English,  who  even  then  wished  to  obtain  pos 
session  of  the  post  of  their  rivals,  that  it  was  the  design  of  the  French  to 
wrest  the  dominion  of  the  country  from  their  hands ;  and  they  accordingly 
set  fire  to  the  town,  but  without  success,  as  the  fire  was  soon  extinguished. 
At  this  time,  also,  groups  of  savages  of  the  same  tribe,  having  made  a  suc 
cessful  expedition  against  their  enemies  the  Iroquois,  and  warm  with  vic 
tory,  were  seen  paraded  in  hostile  array  in  front  of  the  fort ;  but  M.  Tonti, 
who  was  the  commandant  of  the  post,  despatching  the  Sieur  de  Vincennes 
against  them,  he  dispersed  their  bands,  and  rescued  the  Iroquois  prisoners 
whom  they  left  behind  them  in  their  flight. 

The  progress  of  operations  on  the  lake  shores  was  not  at  this  period 
marked  with  any  very  great  interest,  as  the  settlements  were  few ;  but  they 
reflect,  nevertheless,  the  spirit  which  prevailed  in  France  during  their  con 
tinuance.  The  lands  lay  sleeping  in  their  original  silence  and  solitude,  un 
disturbed  by  the  plough.  Occasionally  the  settlers  may  have  been  surprised 
by  their  ancient  enemies  the  Iroquois,  but  the  appearance  of  parts  of  these 
nations  excited  a  surprise  which  soon  settled  down  into  peace.  But  in  1712 
the  Ottagamies  or  Foxes,  who  had  been  before  but  little  known,  but  who 
were  probably  in  secret  alliance  with  the  Iroquois,  projected  a  plan  for  the 
destruction  of  Detroit.  They  made  their  arrangements  in  secret,  and  sent 
their  bands  to  collect  around  the  new  French  settlement,  which  was  then 
garrisoned  by  a  force  of  twenty  soldiers,  of  whom  M.  Du  Buisson  was  the 
commandant.  The  occupation  of  the  three  French  villages  of  Indians,  the 
Ottawas,  Pottowatomies,  and  Hurons,  were  then  absent  on  a  hunting  excur 
sion.  A  converted  Indian,  however,  under  the  influence  of  a  Jesuit  mis- 
sionary,  disclosed  their  plot  before  it  was  ripe  for  execution,  and  Du  Buisson 
immediately  sent  despatches  through  the  forest  to  call  in  the  aid  of  the 
friendly  Indians,  and  prepared  for  an  effective  defence. 

On  the  13th  of  May  of  that  year  the  Foxes  made  their  onset  upon  Detroit 
with  fiendish  yells.  No  sooner,  however,  was  the  attack  commenced,  tiian 
portions  of  the  friendly  Indians  were  seen  through  the  wilderness,  painted 
for  battle  as  is  their  custom,  and  the  gates  of  the  fort  were  opened  to  receive 
them.  A  consultation  was  now  held  at  the  council-house,  and  they  renewed 
their  league  with  Du  Buisson,  and  expressed  their  determination,  if  neces- 

B* 


20  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

sary,  to  die  in  the  defence  of  the  post.  On  the  arrival  of  the  friendly  In 
dians,  the  Foxes  retreated  to  the  forest  which  until  lately  adjoined  the  bound 
ary  of  Detroit,  and  intrenched  themselves  in  their  camp. 

The  French  then  sallied  out  from  the  fort,  and,  backed  by  their  savage 
allies,  erected  a  blockhouse  in  front  of  their  camp,  in  order  to  force  the  en 
emy  from  their  position.  Here  the  latter  were  closely  besieged  ;  being  cut 
off  from  their  supply  of  water,  and,  driven  to  desperation  by  thirst  and  fa 
mine,  they  in  turn  rushed  out  from  their  strongholds  upon  the  French  and 
the  friendly  Indians,  and  succeeded  in  getting  possession  of  a  house  near  the 
village.  This  house  they  fortified,  but  they  were  here  attacked  by  the 
French  cannon,  and  driven  back  to  their  former  iutrenchment. 

Finding  that  their  league  was  likely  to  prove  unsuccessful,  the  Foxes  now 
sent  despatches  to  the  French  commandant  asking  for  peace,  which  was  de 
nied  them.  Upon  this  they  considered  themselves  insulted,  and,  burning 
with  revenge,  they  discharged  showers  of  blazing  arrows  upon  the  fort.  The 
lighted  matches  they  had  affixed  to  their  arrows  coming  into  contact  with 
the  dry  roofs  of  the  houses,  kindled  them  into  flame,  when  the  precaution 
was  taken  to  cover  the  rest  with  wet  skins,  and  by  this  means  they  were 
preserved.  The  desperation  of  the  Foxes  almost  discouraged  the  French 
commandant,  and  he  had  nearly  determined  to  evacuate  Detroit  and  to  re 
tire  to  Michilimackinac,  when  his  Indian  allies  promised  to  redouble  their 
efforts  for  his  defence ;  and  the  war-songs  and  dances  of  their  bands,  heard 
through  the  solitude  of  the  forest,  assured  him  that  a  more  desperate  effort 
was  about  to  be  made  in  his  behalf.  The  preparations  having  been  finished, 
the  French  and  Indians  advanced  upon  the  Foxes  with  more  determined 
courage,  and,  pouring  upon  their  intrenchments  a  deadly  fire,  they  were  soon 
filled  with  the  dying  and  the  dead.  Once  more  the  Foxes  demanded  peace. 
Before  any  capitulation,  however,  was  completed,  the  enemy  retreated  to 
wards  Lake  St.  Clair  during  a  storm  at  midnight,  on  the  nineteenth  day  of 
the  siege. 

The  French  and  their  Indian  allies,  as  soon  as  they  discovered  their  flight, 
prepared  for  a  pursuit,  and  soon  came  upon  their  camps.  An  action  began, 
which  at  the  outset  was  in  favor  of  the  Foxes,  the  French  and  Indians  being 
repulsed.  But  a  different  plan  of  operation  was  soon  after  adopted,  and  with 
better  success.  At  the  end  of  three  days  a  field  battery  was  completed,  and 
the  intrenchment  of  the  Foxes  fell  before  the  French  cannon. 

The  Foxes  may  be  considered  the  Ishmaelites  of  the  wilderness,  for  they 
were  at  enmity  with  all  the  tribes  on  the  lakes.  They  collected  their  forces 
on  the  Fox  river  of  Green  Bay,  where  they  commanded  the  territory  between 
the  lakes  and  the  Mississippi/ so  that  it  was  dangerous  for  travellers  to  pass 
through  that  region  except  in  large  bodies  and  armed,  while  their  warriors 
were  sent[out  to  seek  objects  of  plunder  and  devastation.  So  great  was  the 
danger  apprehended  by  the  missionaries  and  traders  of  passing  through  that 
territory,  as  well  as  by  the  French  settlers,  and  so  great  the  injury  already 
done  by  those  tribes,  that  an  expedition  was  fitted  out  against  them  by  the 
French,  backed  by  their  Indian  allies,  who  were  rankling  under  a  sense  of 
repeated  wrongs.  This  warlike  nation  had  stationed  itself  on  the  banks  of 
the  Fox  river,  at  a  place  then  and  now  called  by  the  French  Butte  des 
Moris,  or  the  Hill  of  the  Dead,  defending  their  position  by  a  ditch  and  three 
courses  of  palisades.  Here  they  collected  their  women  and  children,  and 
prepared  for  a  desperate  resistance.  M.  de  Louvigny,  the  commandant  of 
the  expedition,  perceiving  the  strength  of  their  works,  determined  not  to 
expose  his  men  by  a  direct  attack,  but  entered  upon  a  regular  siege,  and 
was  preparing  for  the  final  crisis  when  the  Foxes  proposed  a  capitulation. 


THE  FRENCH  MISSIONARIES  AND  TRAVELLERS.  27 

This  was  accepted ;  and  the  pride  of  the  Foxes  being  thus  humbled,  they 
sank  into  obscurity  during  the  remainder  of  the  French  war. 

Thus  it  is  seen  that,  although  the  few  French  forts  upon  the  lakes  were 
rudely  constructed,  and  but  poorly  adapted  to  make  a  serious  and  effective 
defence,  they  were  nevertheless  competent,  with  their  small  garrisons,  to 
protect  the  emigrants  against  the  disaffected  tribes  which  were  from  time  to 
time  arrayed  against  them.  The  pickets  which  surrounded  them,  composed 
of  upright  stakes,  furnished  a  line  of  concealment  rather  than  strong  bul- 
works,  and,  together  with  the  light  cannon  with  which  they  were  mcrunted, 
enabled  the  French  to  suppress  the  disturbances  that  occasionally  sprano- 
up  around  their  posts. 

The  early  missionaries  and  French  travellers  who  journeyed  through  the 
region  of  the  lakes  exhibit  a  peculiar  form  of  character.  Tinctured  with 
the  spirit  which  prevailed  in  France  at  the  period  of  their  immigration,  the 
novel  scenes  around  them  impressed  them  with  those  sentiments  of  romance 
so  peculiar  to  the  French.  They  show  the  spirit  under  which  the  missiona 
ries  and  soldiers  travelled,  and  the  eloquence  with  which  the  scenes  around 
them  tended  to  inspire  their  minds. 

The  forests  amid  which  their  lot  was  cast  were  calculated  to  fill  them 
with  wonder  and  admiration.  A  vast  chain  of  inland  seas,  which  appeared 
to  them  like  oceans,  stretched  a  watery  horizon  along  the  borders  of  the 
wilderness.  Flocks  of  water-fowl  of  varied  plumage  streamed  along  the 
shores  of  the  lakes,  and  the  waters  swarmed  with  fish.  The  face  of  nature, 
fresh  in  the  luxuriance  of  a  virgin  soil,  was  everywhere  clothed  with  mag 
nificent  vegetation.  Did  they  travel  through  the  Indian  trails  or  bridle 
paths  which  wound  through  the  forest,  extensive  tracts  of  oaklands,  that 
seemed  like  cultivated  parks,  met  their  eye,  studded  with  little  crystal  lakes 
and  streams  and  covered  with  flowers.  Herds  of  buffaloes  wandered  over 
the  prairies,  trampling  down  the  flowers  which  blushed  in  their  track  as 
they  rushed  on  in  clumsy  motion.  Great  numbers  of  moose  and  elk,  which 
in  the  size  of  their  horns  almost  rivalled  the  branches  of  the  trees,  bounded 
through  the  thickets.  Deer  were  here  and  there  seen  feeding  upon  the  mar 
gin  of  the  water-courses.  Flocks  of  wild  turkeys  and  other  game  filled  the 
woods ;  the  prairies  were  alive  with  grouse,  and  pigeons  swept  along  like 
clouds  above  the  forest,  in  numbers  which  sometimes  almost  hid  the  sun. 

But  more  than  this,  they  beheld  in  the  luxuriance  of  the  soil  a  prize 
which,  if  judiciously  managed,  would  be  a  source  of  inexhaustible  wealth 
to  their  nation.  Rich  clusters  of  grapes  hung  from,  the  trees,  which  re 
minded  them  of  the  champaign  districts  of  France  from  which  they  emi 
grated  ;  and  apples  and  plums,  crude  to  the  taste,  but  that  by  culture  might 
be  much  improved,  abounded  in  the  groves. 

"  Lake  Erie,"  says  La  Honton,  who  commanded  a  fort  upon  it  in  1688, 
"  is  justly  dignified  with  the  illustrious  name  of  Conti ;  for  assuredly  it  is 
the  finest  upon  earth.  You  may  judge  of  the  goodness  of  the  climate  from 
the  latitude  of  the  countries  that  surround  it.  Its  circumference  extends  to 
two  hundred  and  thirty  leagues,  but  it  affords  everywhere  a  charming  pros 
pect,  and  its  shores  are  decked  with  oak  trees,  elms,  chestnut  trees,  walnut, 
apple,  plum  trees,  and  vines  which  bear  their  fine  clusters  up  to  the  very 
tops  of  the  trees,  upon  a  sort  of  ground  that  lies  as  smooth  as  one's  hand. 
Such  ornaments  as  these  are  sufficient  to  give  rise  to  the  most  agreeable  idea 
of  a  landscape  in  the  world.  I  cannot  express  what  quantities  of  deer  and 
turkeys  are  to  be  found  in  these  woods,  and  in  the  vast  meadows  that  lie 
upon  "the  south  side  of  the  lake.  At  the  foot  of  the  lake  we  find  wild 
beeves  (buffaloes,)  upon  the  banks  of  two  pleasant  streams  that  disembogue 


28  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

into  it  without  cataracts  or  rapid  currents.  It  abounds  with  sturgeon  and 
whitefish,  but  trouts  are  very  scarce  in  it,  as  well  as  the  other  fish  that  we 
take  in  the  Lakes  of  Hurons  (Huron)  and  Illinese  (Michigan.)  It  is  clear 
of  shelves,  rocks,  and  banks  of  sand,  and  has  fourteen  or  fifteen  fathoms 
water.  The  savages  assure  us  that  it  is  never  disturbed  by.  high  winds 
except  in  the  months  of  December,  January,  and  February,  and  even  then 
but  seldom,  which  I  am  very  apt  to  believe,  for  we  had  very  few  storms 
when  I  wintered  in  my  fort  in  1688,  though  the  fort  lay  open  to  the  Lake 
of  Hurons.  The  banks  of  this  lake  are  commonly  frequented  by  none  but 
warriors,  whether  the  Iroquese,  the  Illinese,  the  Oumamies,  &c.,  and  it  is 
very  dangerous  to  stop  there.  By  this  means  it  comes  to  pass  that  the  stags, 
roebucks,  and  turkeys  run  in  great  bodies  up  and  down  the  shore  all  around 
the  lake.  In  former  times  the  Errironons  and  the  Andastogueronons  lived 
upon  the  confines  of  the  lake ;  but  they  were  extirpated  by  the  Iroquese,  as 
well  as  the  other  nations  marked  on  the  map." 

Charlevoix,  who  travelled  through  the  region  of  the  lakes  in  1720  as  an 
accredited  agent  of  the  French  government,  gives  an  account  equally  inter 
esting  respecting  the  condition  of  the  country  at  the  time  when  he  wrote. 
"  The  first  of  June  being  the  day  of  Pentecost,"  says  he,  "  after  having  trav 
elled  up  a  beautiful  river  for  the  space  of  an  hour,  which  has  its  rise,  as 
they  say,  at  a  great  distance,  and  runs  between  two  fine  meadows,  we  passed 
over  a  carrying-place  of  about  sixty  paces  in  breadth,  in  order  to  avoid 
turning  round  a  point  which  is  called  the  Long  Point.  It  is  a  very  sandy 
spot  of  ground,  and  naturally  bears  a  great  quantity  of  vines.  The  follow 
ing  days  I  saw  nothing  remarkable,  but  coasted  along  a  charming  country, 
hid  at  times  by  very  disagreeable  prospects,  which,  however,  are  of  no  great 
extent.  Wherever  I  went  ashore  I  was  enchanted  by  the  beauty  and  vari 
ety  of  a  prospect  which  was  terminated  by  the  noblest  forests  in  the  world. 
A'dd  to  this,  that  every  part  of  it  swarms  with  water-fowl.  I  cannot  say 
whether  the  woods  afford  game  in  equal  profusion,  but  I  well  know  that  on 
the  south  side  there  is  a  prodigious  quantity  of  buffaloes.  Were  we  all  to  sail 
as  I  then  did,  with  a  serene  sky,  in  a  most  charming  climate,  and  in  water 
as  clear  as  that  of  the  purest  fountain ;  were  we  sure  of  finding  everywhere 
secure  and  agreeable  places  to  pass  the  night  in,  where  we  might  enjoy  the 
pleasure  of  hunting  at  a  small  expense,  breathe  at  our  ease  the  purest  air, 
and  enjoy  the  prospect  of  the  finest  countries  in  the  universe,  we  might  pos 
sibly  be  tempted  to  travel  to  the  end  of  our  days.  I  recalled  to  mind  those 
ancient  patriarchs  who  had  no  fixed  place  of  abode ;  who  lived  in  tents ; 
who  were,  in  a  manner,  the  masters  of  all  the  countries  they  passed  through  ; 
and  who  enjoyed  in  peace  and  tranquillity  all  their  productions,  without  the 
plague  inevitable  in  the  possession  of  a  real  and  fixed  estate.  How  many 
oaks  represented  to  me  that  of  Mamre !  How  many  fountains  put  me  in 
mind  of  that  of  Jacob !  Each  day  a  new  situation,  chosen  at  pleasure ;  a 
neat  and  commodious  house,  built  and  furnished  with  all  necessaries  in  less 
than  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  and  floored  with  a  pavement  of  flowers  continu 
ally  springing  up  on  a  carpet  of  the  most  beautiful  green ;  on  all  sides  sim 
ple  and  natural  beauties,  unadulterated  and  inimitable  by  any  art." 

Charlevoix  at  that  early  period  visited  Detroit  for  the  purpose  of  viewing 
the  young  colony,  where  he  recommended  that  an  accession  should  be  made 
to  the  strength  of  the  infant  settlement  from  Montreal.  This  addition  to 
their  power  was  approved  of  by  the  French,  on  the  ground  that  it  would 
secure  them  the  fur-trade,  then  too  much  within  reach  of  the  English  of 
New  York.  He  also  attended,  while  here,  a  council  of  the  chiefs  of  the 
three  villages  near  Detroit,  where  the  question  was  discussed  whether  it  was 


THE  FRENCH  MISSIONARIES  AND  TRAVELLERS.  29 

proper  to  introduce  brandy  among  the  Indians,  a  practice  which  the  Jesuits 
finally  succeeded  in  abolishing.  In  alluding  to  Detroit,  he  says,  "It  is  pre 
tended  that  this  is  the  finest  part  of  all  Canada ;  and  really,  if  we  can  judge 
by  appearances,  nature  seems  to  have  denied  it  nothing  which  can  contrib 
ute  to  make  a  country  delightful :  hills,  meadows,  fields,  lofty  forests  rivu 
lets,  fountains,  rivers,  and  all  of  them  so  excellent  in  their  kind,  and  so 
happily  blended  as  to  equal  the  most  romantic  wishes.  The  lands,  however 
are  not  equally  proper  for  every  kind  of  grain ;  but  most  are  of  a  wonderful 
fertility,  and  I  have  known  some  produce  good  wheat  for  eighteen  years 
running  without  any  manure;  and,  besides,  all  of  them  are  proper  for  some 
particular  use.  The  islands  seem  placed  on  purpose  for  the  pleasure  of  the 
prospect,  the  river  and  lake  abound  in  fish,  the  air  is  pure,  and  the  climate 
temperate  and  extremely  wholesome."* 

The  Jesuit  being  requested  by  Tonti  to  visit  the  great  council  at  Detroit, 
consented  to  do  so  on  the  day  of  his  arrival ;  and  his  account  of  that  council 
is  here  transcribed : 

*'  On  the  7th  of  June,  which  was  the  day  of  my  arrival  at  the  fort,  (De 
troit,)  Mons.  de  Tonti,  who  commands  here,"assembled  the  chiefs  of  the  three 
villages  I  have  just  mentioned,  in  order  to  communicate  to  them  the  orders 
he  had  received  from  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil.  They  heard  him  calmly 
and  without  interruption.  When  he  had  done  speaking,  the  orator  of  the 
Hurons  told  him  in  a  few  words  that  they  were  going  to  consult  about  what 
he  had  proposed  to  them,  and  would  give  him  their  answer  in  a  short  time. 
It  is  the  custom  of  the  Indians  not  to  give  an  immediate  answer  on  an  affair 
of  any  importance.  Two  days  afterward  they  assembled  at  the  comman 
dant's,  who  was  desirous  I  should  be  present  at  this  council,  together  with 
the  officers  of  the  garrison.  Sasteratfi,  whom  the  French  call  King  of  the 
Hurons,  and  who  is,  in  fact,  hereditary  chief  of  the  Tionnontatez,  who  are 
the  true  Hurons,  was  also  present  on  this  occasion ;  but  as  he  is  still  a  minor, 
he  came  only  for  form's  sake :  his  uncle,  who  governs  in  his  name,  and  who 
is  called  regent,  spoke  in  quality  of  orator  of  the  nation.  Now  the  honor 
of  speaking  in  the  name  of  the  whole  is  generally  given  to  some  Huron, 
when  any  of  them  happen  to  be  of  the  council.  The  first  view  of  their 
assemblies  gives  you  no  great  idea  of  the  body.  Imagine  to  yourself,  mad- 
ame,  half  a  score  of  savages  almost  stark  naked,  with  their  hair  disposed 
in  as  many  different  manners  as  there  are  persons  in  the  assembly,  and  all 
of  them  equally  ridiculous ;  some  with  laced  hats,  all  with  pipes  in  their 

*  These  travellers  were  not,  nor  could  they  be  expected  to  be,  in  all  cases  accurate, 
from  their  rapid  passage  through  the  Western  territory;  but  in  their  accounts  of  their 
own  experience  we  derive  much  valuable  information  of  its  actual  condition  during  the 
time  when  they  wrote.  Glimpses  of  wild  beasts  which  they  had  never  before  seen, 
vegetable  productions  whose  names  they  did  not  know,  fragments  of  facts  collected 
from  the  accounts  of  the  Indians,  always  exaggerated  and  seldom  authentic,  passed  in 
rapid  succession  before  their  minds,  while  they  journeyed  onward  in  bewildered  amaze 
ment,  through  rivers,  lakes,  forests,  and  Indian  camps ;  and  their  impressions,  thus 
colored  and  distorted,  found  their  way  into  their  books.  But,  taken  as  a  whole,  their 
accounts  are  as  accurate  as  could  be  expected,  considering  the  circumstances  under 
which  they  wrote.  If,  for  example,  the  zealous  Marquette  depicts  "wingless  swans'' 
as  floating  upon  the  Mississippi;  if  Hennepin  describes  "wild  goats"  upon  the  shores 
of  Lake  Erie*:  if  La  Honton  discourses  upon  the  "  Long  River,"  and  Charlevoix  alludes 
to  the  "  citrons  "  as  growing  upon  the  banks  of  the  Detroit,  we  are  disposed  to  attrib 
ute  their  inaccuracies  less  to  intentional  misrepresentation  than  to  natural  and  obvious 
mistake.  Accurate  observation  and  minute  care  are  required  to  establish  with  perfect 
correctness  the  facts  connected  with  any  country,  and  he  who  should  look  to  early 
records  for  historical  matter  will  find  much  chaff  to  be  winnowed  from  the  genuine  and 
golden  wheat. 


30  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

mouths,  and  with  the  most  unthinking  faces.  It  is,  besides,  a  rare  thing  to 
hear  one  utter  so  much  as  a  single  word  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  or  to  hear 
any  answer  made  even  in  monosyllables ;  not  the  least  mark  of  distinction, 
nor  any  respect  paid  to  any  person  whatsoever.  We  should,  however,  be  apt 
to  change  our  opinions  of  them  on  hearing  the  result  of  their  deliberations." 
This,  as  is  described  by  Charlevoix,  was  the  general  mode  in  which  the 
Indian  councils  were  held  with  the  French  upon  the  lakes  when  questions 
of  importance  were  to  be  decided.  It  was  necessary  to  secure  the  concur 
rence  of  the  savages  in  every  measure  of  policy,  so  that  these  tribes  should 
co-operate  with  them  in  carrying  it  into  effect. 

COLONIAL  PIONEERS. 

The  posts  of  the  French  upon  the  lakes,  while  the  Western  Territory  was 
under  their  government,  exhibit  a  peculiar  form  of  character,  combined 
with  institutions  no  less  singular.  The  few  feeble  colonies  that  were  scat 
tered  through  this  territory  had  emigrated  principally  from  Britanny  and 
Normandy,  provinces  of  France.  Working  men,  drawn  from  the  more 
dense  settlements  around  Quebec  and  Montreal,  the  seats  of  the  bishops, 
the  seigneurs,  and  the  Jesuits,  were  sent  out  for  the  purpose  of  build 
ing  up  the  posts,  and  of  protecting  the  fur-trade  carried  on  through  the 
chain  of  the  great  lakes.  Despatched  for  these  objects,  they  were  expected 
to  endure  cheerfully  the  hardships  they  would  be  called  on  to  encounter  in 
their  establishment.  The  population  assembled  at  these  posts  consisted  of 
the  military  by  which  they  were  garrisoned,  Jesuits,  priests,  merchants, 
traders,  and  peasants.  But  a  small  portion  of  this  population,  however, 
was  stationary.  It  was  moved  from  place  to  place,  as  the  interests  of  the 
French  government  seemed  to  require. 

The  French  commandants  at  these  posts  were  the  most  prominent  indi 
viduals,  and,  with  their  garrisons,  constituted  a  little  monarchy  within 
themselves.  Their  power  was  arbitrary,  extending  to  the  right  of  doing 
whatever  they  might  deem  expedient  for  the  welfare  of  the  settlements, 
wrhether  in  making  laws  or  in  punishing  crimes.  Under  this  simple  and 
imperfect  form  of  government,  the  oldest  merchants  residing  at  the  several 
posts  were  reverenced  as  the  head  men  of  their  particular  colony.  Careful 
and  frugal  in  their  habits,  without  much  of  what  we  should  call  rigid 
virtue,  it  was  their  policy  to  exercise  their  influence  among  the  settlers  with 
paternal  mildness,  that  they  might  secure  their  obedience,  to  keep  on  good 
terms  with  the  Indians  in  order  to  retain  their  trade,  and  they  often  fostered 
a  large  number  of  half-breed  children  around  their  posts,  who  were  the 
off-spring  of  their  licentiousness. 

The  Coureurs  des  Bois,  or  rangers  of  the  woods,  were  either  French  or 
half-breeds,  a  hardy  race,  accustomed  to  labor  and  privation,  and  thor 
oughly  conversant  with  the  character  and  habits  of  the  savage  tribes  from 
which  they  obtained  their  furs  and  peltry.  They  could,  with  no  less  skill 
than  the  Indians,  ply  the  oar  of  the  light  canoe  upon  the  waters  of  the 
lakes,  were  equally  dexterous  in  hunting  and  trapping,  and,  as  they 
pointed  their  rifles  at  the  squirrel  on  the  top  of  the  tallest  tree,  they  could 
confidently  say  to  their  ball,  like  the  ancient  warrior,  "  to  the  right  eye." 
These  half-breeds  generally  spoke  the  language  both  of  their  French  and 
Indian  parents,  and  knew  just  enough  of  their  religion  to  be  alike  regard 
less  of  that  of  each.  Employed  by  the  French  companies  as  voyageurs  or 
guides,  their  forms,  which  were  models  of  manly  beauty,  were  developed  to 
great  strength  by  propelling  the  canoe  along  the  lakes  and  rivers,  and  by 


COLONIAL  PIONEERS.  31 

carrying  heavy  packs  of  merchandise  for  the  fur-trade  across  the  portages, 
by  means  of  leather  straps,  suspended  from  their  shoulders  or  resting 
against  their  foreheads.  From  having  travelled  through  numerous  points 
of  the  wilderness,  they  became  familiar  with  the  trails  of  the  most  remote 
Indian  tribes,  and  with  the  depth  of  the  water  in  every  inlet  and  stream 
of  the  lakes,  as  well  as  with  every  island,  rock,  and  shoal.  Their  ordinary 
dress  was  a  "moleton"  or  blanket-coat,  a  red  cap,  a  belt  of  cloth  passed 
around  the  middle,  and  a  loose  shirt.  Sometimes,  in  their  voyages  through 
the  lakes  they  wore  a  brown  coat  or  cloak,  with  a  cape  which  could  be 
drawn  up  from  their  shoulders  over  their  heads  like  a  hood.  At  other 
times  they  had  on  elkskin  trowsers,  the  seams  of  which  were  ornamented 
with  fringes,  a  surtout  of  coarse  blue  cloth  reaching  to  the  calf  of  the  leg, 
a  scarlet-colored  worsted  sash  fastened  about  the  waist,  in  which  was  stuck 
a  broad  knife,  employed  in  dissecting  the  animals  taken  in  hunting,  and 
moccasins  made  of  buckskin.  Affable,  gay,  and  active,  these  men  were 
employed  by  the  French  merchants  either  as  guides,  canoemen,  carriers,  or 
traders,  to  advance  into  the  wilderness  and  procure  their  furs  from  the 
Indians,  to  transport  them  along  the  lakes  and  streams,  and  lodge  them  in 
the  several  depots  or  factories  which  were  established  in  connection  with 
the  French  forts. 

The  peasants,  or  that  class  of  the  lake  settlers  who  cultivated  small  patches 
of  ground  within  the  narrow  circle  of  their  picket-fences,  were  few.  Their 
dress  was  peculiar  and  even  wild.  They  wore  surtouts  of  coarse  blue  cloth, 
fastened  at  the  middle  with  a  red  sash,  a  scarlet  woollen  cap  containing  a 
scalping-knife,  and  moccasins  made  of  deerskin.  Civilization  and  barbar 
ism  were  here  strangely  mingled.  Groups  of  Indians  from  the  remotest 
shores  of  the  lakes,  wild  in  their  garb,  would  occasionally  make  their  ap 
pearance  at  the  settlements  with  numerous  canoes  laden  with  beaver-skins, 
which  they  had  brought  clown  to  these  places  of  deposit.  Among  them  were 
intermixed  the  French  soldiers  of  the  garrison,  with  their  blue  coats  turned 
up  with  white  facings,  and  the  Jesuits,  with  their  long  gowns  and  black 
bands,  from  which  were  suspended  by  silver  chains  the  rosary  and  crucifix, 
who,  with  the  priests,  had  their  stations  around  the  forts,  and  ministered  in 
the  chapels. 

Agriculture  was  but  little  encouraged  by  the  policy  of  the  fur-trade  or  the 
character  of  the  population.  It  was  confined  to  a  few  patches  of  Indian 
corn  and  wheat,  which  they  rudely  cultivated,  with  little  knowledge  of  cor 
rect  husbandry.  They  ground  their  grain  in  windmills,  which  were  scat 
tered  along  the  banks  of  Detroit  river  and  the  St.  Clair  lake.  The  recrea 
tions  of  the  French  colonists  consisted  in  attending  the  religious  services 
held  in  the  rude  chapels  on  the  borders  of  the  wilderness,  in  adorning  their 
altars  with  wild  flowers,  in  dancing  to  the  sound  of  the  violin  at  each  other's 
houses,  in  hunting  the  deer  through  the  oak-land  openings,  and  in  paddling 
their  light  canoes  across  the  clear  and  silent  streams.  The  women  em 
ployed  themselves  in  making  coarse  cotton  and  woollen  cloths  for  the  Indian 
trade.  In  their  cottages  were  hung  rude  pictures  of  saints,  the  Madonna 
and  child,  and  the  leaden  crucifix  supplied  the  place  of  one  of  silver. 
Abundance  of  game  strayed  in  the  woods,  and  the  waters  were  alive  with 
fish. 

As  these  immigrants  were  sent  out  by  the  French  Government,  they  wer 
provided  by  Its  direction,  through  the  commissariat  department,  with  can 
vass  for  tents,  hoes,  axes,  sickles,  guns,  so  many  pounds  of  powder,  and  meat, 
with  the  stipulation  that  these  should  be  paid  for  when  a  certain  quantity 
of  land  had  been  cleared. 


32  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

The  Jesuits,  who  were  the  most  active  agents  in  the  exploration  of  these 
regions,  were,  as  a  class,  persons  of  highly-cultivated  and  intelligent  minds 
and  of  polished  manners.  The  narratives  of  their  wanderings  through  the 
wilderness  throw  a  coloring  of  romance  around  the  prairies,  and  forests,  and 
lakes,  which  amounts  almost  to  a  classic  spirit ;  yet  they  have  left  upon  the 
lake-shores  but  few  monuments  either  of  their  benevolence  or  their  enter 
prise.  The  success  of  the  Jesuits  among  the  Indians  was  small  compared 
with  the  extent  of  their  labors.  By  the  savages  these  Catholic  missionaries 
were  regarded  as  medicine-men  and  jugglers,  on  whom  the  destiny  of  life 
and  death  depended ;  and,  although  they  were  greatly  feared,  they  succeed 
ed  in  making  but  few  converts  to  their  religious  faith,  excepting  young  chil 
dren  or  Indians  just  about  to  sink  into  their  graves. 

The  administration  of  the  law  around  these  scattered  posts  was  founded 
on  no  compact  and  settled  system.  The  Coutwne  de  Paris,  or  custom  of 
Paris,  was  the  law  of  Canada ;  but  this  code,  although  it  was  received  and 
practised  upon  in  the  older  and  more  populous  settlements  of  the  lower  pro 
vince,  wras  not  adopted  and  enforced  with  any  degree  of  uniformity  or  strict 
ness  among  the  more  distant  colonists.  The  commandants  of  the  posts  had 
the  principal  cognizance  of  the  population  around  them,  and  exercised  their 
authority  in  a  mild  though  arbitrary  manner.  Indeed,  such  was  the  feudal 
character  of  this  law,  that  the  French  paid  a  willing  and  implicit  obedience 
to  their  commandants,  who,  being  invested  with  unlimited  power,  were  styled 
the  "  governors  of  the  posts."  A  perfect  system  of  law  can  exist  only  where 
there  is  sufficient  intelligence  to  mark  out  and  determine  the  rule  of  right, 
and  sufficient  moral  power  to  enforce  it.  A  register  was  kept,  in  which  the 
character  and  circumstances  of  the  colonists  were  recorded,  and  in  which 
the  Jesuit  or  the  commandant  of  the  post  might  inspect  the  condition  of  each 
one  as  upon  a  map.  There  was  here  no  system  of  education  like  that  which 
prevailed  in  New  England ;  and  all  the  knowledge  acquired  by  the  chil 
dren  of  the  colonists  wras  obtained  from  the  priests  and  related  to  the  tenets 
of  the  Catholic  Church. 

A  singular  form  of  character  was  also  thrown  around  the  territory  by  the 
mythology  of  the  savages.  The  Indians  had  not  only  their  good  Manitos, 
but  their  evil  spirits ;  and  the  wild  features  of  the  lake  scenery  appears  to 
have  impressed  their  savage  minds  with  superstition.  They  believed  that 
all  the  prominent  points  of  this  wide  region  were  created  and  guarded  by 
monsters ;  and  the  images  of  these  they  sculptured  on  stone,  painted  upon 
the  rocks,  or  carved  upon  the  trees.  Those  who  obeyed  these  supernatural 
beings,  they  thought,  would  after  death  range  among  flowery  fields  filled 
with  the  choicest  game,  while  those  who  neglected  their  counsels  would  wan 
der  amid  dreary  solitudes,  stung  by  "  gnats  as  large  as  pigeons." 

,  The  plan  of  distributing  the  land  was  calculated  to  prevent  the  settlement 
of  the  country.  A  law  was  passed  requiring  the  houses  of  the  inhabitants 
to  be  placed  upon  ground  with  a  front  of  only  one  acre  and  a  half  and  run 
ning  forty  acres  back.  This  kept  the  settlements  in  a  close  line  along  the 
banks  of  the  streams.  A  feudal  and  aristocratic  spirit  also  controlled  the 
grants  of  land.  The  commandants  of  the  forts  had  the  power  to  convey 
lands,  with  the  permission  of  the  governor-general  of  Canada,  subject  to  the 
confirmation  of  the  King  of  France,  the  right  of  shooting  hares,  rabbits,  and 
partridges  being  reserved  to  the  grantor.  The  grantee  was  bound  to  clear 
and  improve  the  land  within  three  years  from  the  date  of  his  deed.  The 
timber  that  might  be  necessary  for  the  construction  of  fortifications  or  ves 
sels  was  reserved ;  and  no  person  was  permitted  to  work  upon  his  land  at 
the  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  gunsmith,  armorer,  or  brewer  but  on  pain  of  for- 


COLONIAL  PIONEERS.  33 

feiture.  He  was  forbidden  the  trafficking  in  spiritous  liquors  with  the  In 
dians  ;  and,  what  was  the  most  singular  requisition  of  all,  he  was  bound  to 
plant  or  assist  in  planting  a  long  Maypole  at  the  door  of  the  principal  manor 
on  the  first  of  May  in  each  year.  Such  were  the  feudal  features  of  this  sys 
tem,  equally  opposed  to  the  increase  of  the  settlements,  to  freedom,  and  in 
dependence.  How  striking  is  the  contrast  between  this  system  and  the  pol 
icy  of  our  American  laws  now  acting  on  the  soil,  which,  by  furnishing  land 
cheap,  offer  every  encouragement  to  agriculture,  and  thus  freely  open  the 
treasures  of  the  earth  to  the  labors  of  our  hardy  and  enterprising  citizens. 

As  early  as  1749,  the  post  of  Detroit  and  the  others  upon  the  Northwest 
ern  lakes,  Michilimackinac,  Ste.  Marie,  and  St.  Joseph,  received  an  acces 
sion  of  immigrants.  The  last  two  were  called  after  the  saints  of  those  names 
in  the  Catholic  calendar.  Michilimackinac  derives  its  name  from  the  In 
dian  words  Michi-mackinac,  meaning  a  great  turtle,  from  its  supposed  resem 
blance  to  that  animal,  or  from  the  Chippewa  words  Michine-maukinonk,  sig 
nifying  the  place  of  giant  fairies,  who  were  supposed  by  Indian  superstition 
to  hover  over  the  wraters  around  that  beautiful  island.  The  origin  of  the 
name  of  Detroit  is  the  French  word  Detroit,  signifying  a  strait,  because  the 
post  was  situated  on  the  strait  connecting  Lake  Erie  with  Lake  St.  Clair. 

During  the  w7hole  period  of  the  French  domination,  extending  from  the 
first  settlement  of  the  country  down  to  the  year  1760,  the  traffic  of  Michigan 
was  confined  principally  to  the  trade  in  furs.  This  interesting  traffic  upon 
the  great  lakes  was  carried  on  by  the  French  under  peculiar  circumstances. 
As  the  forests  of  the  lake  region  abounded  with  furs  \vhich  were  of  great 
value  in  the  mother-country,  it  became  an  important  object  with  the  Cana 
dian  government  to  prosecute  that  trade  with  all  the  energy  in  its  power. 
The  rich  furs  of  the  beaver  and  otter  were  particularly  valuable,  from  the 
great  demand  for  them  in  Europe.  Large  canoes  made  of  bark  and  strong 
ly  constructed  were  despatched  annually  to  the  lakes  laden  with  packs  of 
European  merchandise,  consisting  of  blankets,  printed  calicoes,  ribbons,  cut 
lery,  and  trinkets  of  various  kinds,  which  the  Indians  used,  and  Detroit, 
Michilimackinac,  and  Ste.  Marie  were  their  principal  places  of  deposit. 

To  secure  the  interests  of  the  large  companies,  licenses  for  this  trade  were 
granted  by  the  governor-general  of  Canada  to  the  merchants,  who  sometimes 
sold  them  to  the  coureurs  des  bois.  The  possessor  of  one  of  these  licenses 
was  entitled  to  load  two  large  canoes,  each  of  which  was  manned  by  six 
men.  The  cargo  of  one  of  these  canoes  was  valued  at  about  a  thousand 
crowns.  This  merchandise  was  sold  to  the  traders  on  a  credit,  and  at  about 
fifteen  per  cent,  advance  on  the  price  it  would  command  in  ready  money. 
But  the  voyages  were  very  profitable,  and  there  was  generally  a  gain  of 
about  one  hundred  per  cent,  on  the  sum  invested  in  the  enterprise.  The 
traders  endured  most  of  the  fatigue  and  the  merchants  received  most  of  the 
profit.  On  the  return  of  one  of  these  expeditions,  six  hundred  crowns  were 
taken  by  the  merchant  for  his  license ;  and  as  he  had  sold  the  thousand 
crowns'  worth  of  goods  at  their  prime  cost,  from  this  sum  he  also  deducted 
forty  per  cent,  for  bottomry ;  the  remainder  was  then  divided  among  the 
six  coureurs  des  bois,  who  were  thus  left  with  but  a  small  compensation  for 
all  their  perils  and  hardship. 

The  coureurs  des  bois  were  the  active  agents  of  the  fur-trade.  Thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  navigation  of  the  lakes,  they  fearlessly  swept  along  the 
waters  of  these  inland  seas,  encamping  at  night  upon  its  shores.  Ot  mixed 
white  and  Indian  blood,  they  formed  the  connecting  link  between  civiliza 
tion  and  barbarism.  Their  dress  was  also  demi-savage.  Lively  and  san 
guine,  they  were  at  all  times  ready  to  join  the  Indians  m  the  dance,  or  pay 

C 


34  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

respect  to  their  ceremonies.  Their  French  fathers  had  familiarly  associated 
with  the  native  tribes,  and  their  mothers  and  wives  were  the  inmates  of 
Indian  camps.  In  many  respects  their  character  resembled  that  of  mari 
ners  upon  the  ocean,  for  the  same  general  causes  might  be  said  to  operate 
upon  both.  Instead  of  navigating  the  high  seas  in  ships  tossed  by  storms, 
and  ploughing  the  waves  from  port  to  port,  it  was  their  lot  to  propel  their 
light  canoes  over  the  fresh-water  seas  of  the  forest ;  where,  hurried  from  one 
Indian  village  to  another,  like  the  mariner  on  the  ocean,  they  acquired  all 
those  habits  which  belong  to  an  unsettled  and  wandering  life. 

Advancing  to  the  remote  shores  of  Lake  Superior  or  Lake  Michigan,  and 
following  the  courses  of  the  rivers  which  flow  into  them,  as  soon  as  they 
reached  the  points  where  the  Indians  were  in  the  habit  of  resorting,  they  at 
once  encamped.  Here  they  opened  their  packages  of  goods,  exhibited  them 
to  their  savage  customers,  and  exchanged  them  for  furs ;  and,  having  dis 
posed  of  all  their  merchandise,  and  loading  their  canoes  with  the  peltries  it 
had  procured,  they  bade  adieu  to  their  Indian  friends,  and  started  on  their 
voyage  back,  with  feathers  stuck  in  their  hats,  keeping  time  with  their  pad 
dles  to  the  Canadian  boat-song. 

La  Honton,  in  his  Journal,  which  was  published  in  France,  and  a  trans 
lation  of  which  was  afterward  published  in  this  country,  gives  an  interesting 
account  of  the  fur-trade,  showing  the  general  course  of  that  traffic  while  the 
Canadas  were  under  the  French.  The  author  resided  at  Montreal.  At  this 
time  (1688)  Michilimackinac  was  the  principal  stopping  place  for  the  traders 
on  their  way  from  Montreal  or  Detroit  to  the  forests  bordering  on  Lake  Su 
perior.  Here  their  goods  were  deposited,  and  here  the  furs  were  collected 
for  their  return  freight.  Sometimes,  however,  the  traders,  accompanied  by 
numerous  canoes  of  the  Ottawas,  would  proceed  directly  to  the  older  settle 
ments  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  where  they  supposed  they  might  be  able  to  dis 
pose  of  their  cargoes  to  greater  advantage  than  at  the  interior  posts. 

The  following  is  La  Honton's  account  of  the  fur-trade  at  the  period  re 
ferred  to : 

"Much  about  the  same  day,"  says  he,  "there  arrived  twenty-five  or  thirty 
canoes,  being  homeward  bound  from  the  great  lakes,  and  laden  with  beaver- 
skins.  The  cargo  of  each  canoe  amounted  to  forty  packs,  each  of  which 
weighs  fifty  pounds,  and  will  fetch  fifty  crowns  at  the  farmer's  office.  These 
canoes  were  followed  by  fifty  more  of  the  Ottawas  and  Hurons,  who  come 
down  every  year  to  the  colony  in  order  to  make  a  better  market  than  they 
can  do  in  their  own  country  of  Michilimackinac,  which  lies  on  the  banks  of 
the  Lake  of  Hurons,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Lake  of  Illinese  (Michigan).  Their 
way  of  trading  is  as  follows : 

"Upon  their  arrival  they  encamp  at  the  distance  of  five  or  six  hundred 
paces  from  the  town.  The  first  day  is  spent  in  ranging  their  canoes,  unload 
ing  their  goods,  and  pitching  their  tents,  which  are  made  of  birch  bark. 
The  next  day  they  demand  audience  of  the  governor-general,  which  is 
granted  them  that  same  day,  in  a  public  place. 

"Upon  this  occasion  each  nation  makes  a  ring  for  itself.  The  savages  sit 
upon  the  ground  with  pipes  in  their  mouths,  and  the  governor  is  seated  in 
an  arm-chair ;  after  which  there  starts  up  an  orator  or  speaker  from  one  of 
these  nations,  who  makes  an  harangue  importing  that  his  brethren  are  come 
to  visit  the  governor-general,  to  renew  with  him  their  wonted  friendship ; 
that  their  chief  view  is  to  promote  the  interest  of  the  French,  some  of  whom 
being  unacquainted  with  the  way  of  traffic,  and  being  too  weak  for  the  trans 
porting  of  goods  from  the  lakes,  would  be  unable  to  deal  in  beaver-skins  if 
his  brethren  did  not  come  in  person  to  deal  with  them  in  their  own  colonies. 


STRUGGLE  BETWEEN  FRANCE  AND  ENGLAND.  35 

That  they  knew  very  well  how  acceptable  their  arrival  is  to  the  inhabitants 
of  Montreal,  in  regard  of  the  advantage  they  reap  from  it ;  that,  in  regard 
to  the  beaver-skins,  they  were  much  valued  in  France,  and  the  French  goods 
given  in  exchange  were  of  an  inconsiderable  value;  and  that  they  mean  to 
give  the  French  sufficient  proof  of  their  readiness  to  furnish  them  with  what 
they  desire  so  earnestly. 

"  That,  by  way  of  preparation  for  another  year's  cargo,  they  are  come  to 
take  in  exchange  fusees,  and  powder  and  ball,  in  order  to  hunt  great  num 
bers  of  beavers,  or  to  gall  the  Iroquese  in  case  they  offered  to  disturb  the 
French  settlements ;  and,  in  fine,  in  confirmation  of  their  words,  that  they 
throw  a  porcelain  collar  (belt  of  wampum),  with  some  beaver-skins,  to  the 
kitchi-okima  (so  they  call  the  governor-general),  whose  protection  they  laid 
claim  to  in  case  of  any  robbery  or  abuse  committed  upon  them  in  the  town. 
The  spokesman  having  made  an  end  of  his  speech,  returns  to  his  place  and 
takes  up  his  pipe,  and  the  interpreter  explains  the  substance  of  the  harangue 
to  the  governor,  who  commonly  gives  a  very  civil  answer,  especially  if  the 
presents  be  valuable,  in  consideration  of  which  he  likewise  makes  them  a 
present  of  some  trifling  things.  This  done,  the  savages  rise  up  and  return 
to  their  huts,  to  make  suitable  preparation  for  the  ensuing  truck. 

"The  next  day  the  savages  make  their  slaves  carry  the  skins  to  the  houses 
of  the  merchants,  who  bargain  with  them  for  such  clothes  as  they  want. 
All  the  inhabitants  of  Montreal  are  allowed  to  traffic  with  them  in  any 
commodity  but  rum  and  brandy,  these  two  being  excepted  upon  the  account 
that  when  the  savages  have  got  what  they  want,  and  have  any  skins  left, 
they  drink  to  excess,  and  then  kill  their  slaves ;  for  when  they  are  in  drink 
they  quarrel  and  fight,  and  if  they  were  not  held  by  those  who  are  sober, 
would  certainly  make  havoc  one  of  another.  However,  you  must  observe 
that  none  of  them  will  touch  either  gold  or  silver.  As  soon  as  the  savages 
have  made  an  end  of  their  truck,  they  take  leave  of  the  governor,  and  so 
return  home  by  the  river  Ottawas.  To  conclude,  they  do  a  great  deal  of 
good,  both  to  the  poor  and  rich,  for  you  will  readily  apprehend  that  every 
body  turns  merchant  upon  such  occasions." 

To  the  question  what  was  the  condition  of  the  Northwest  territory  when 
it  was  claimed  and  occupied  by  France,  we  can  furnish  a  ready  answer. 
It  was  a  vast  ranging-ground  for  the  numerous  Indian  tribes,  who  roamed 
over  it  in  all  the  listless  indolence  of  their  savage  independence ;  of  the 
Jesuit  missionaries,  who,  under  the  garb  of  their  religious  orders,  strove  to 
gain  the  influence  of  the  red  men  in  behalf  of  their  Government  as  well  as 
their  Church,  by  their  conversion  to  the  Catholic  faith ;  the  theatre  of  the 
most  important  military  operations  of  the  French  soldiers  at  the  West ;  and 
the  grand  mart  where  the  furs,  which  were  deemed  the  most  valuable  pro 
ducts  of  this  region,  were  collected  for  shipment  to  France,  under  a  com 
mercial  system  which  was  originally  projected  by  the  Cardinal  de  Richelieu. 

The  condition  of  a  country,  although  often  in  some  measure  modified  by 
the  nature  of  the  climate  and  the  soil,  is  more  generally  founded  upon  the 
character  of  the  people  and  that  of  its  laws.  This  is  clearly  exhibited  in 
the  case  of  the  Northwest;  for  while  that  domain  was  rich  m  all  the  natural 
advantages  that  could  be  furnished  by  the  soil,  it  was  entirely  barren  oi  all 
those  moral  and  intellectual  fruits  springing  from  bold  and  energetic  charac 
ter,  directed  by  a  free,  enlightened,  and  wholesome  system  of  jurisprudence. 

STRUGGLE  BETWEEN  FRANCE  AND  ENGLAND  FOR  POSSESSION. 
While  the  forests  were  thus  reposing  in  the  silence  of  nature,  broken  only 
by  the  peaceful  operations  of  the  fur-trade,  more  important  events  were 


3(5  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

transpiring  beyond  their  eastern  boundary.  From  the  Atlantic  to  Quebec, 
France  and  England,  who  seemed  to  have  transferred  their  hereditary 
hatred  from  the  Old  World  to  the  New,  had  been  long  struggling  to  obtain 
undivided  dominion  over  the  northern  portion  of  the  latter.  Backed  by 
Indian  allies,  who  leagued  themselves  with  one  or  the  other,  as  they  were 
influenced  by  caprice  or  a  desire  to  prostrate  some  hostile  tribe,  these  two 
great  powers  engaged  in  a  desperate  struggle  for  supremacy.  The  whole 
of  Canada,  Illinois,  and  the  territory  thence  to  the  borders  of  the  Mississippi 
were  then  claimed  by  the  French,  while  the  English  occupied  most  of  the 
country  east  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains. 

Both  nations  found  efficient  auxiliaries  among  the  Indian  tribes.  On  the 
side  of  the  English  were  the  Iroquois,  called  by  them  the  Six  Nations. 
These  combined  tribes  formed  the  most  powerful  savage  confederacy  then 
existing  on  the  continent.  It  consisted  of  the  Onondagas,  the  Cayugas,  the 
Senecas,  the  Oneidas,  and  the  Mohawks,  and  in  1712  the  Tuscaroras  of 
North  Carolina  were  received  into  the  league.  Their  domain  embraced  a 
very  extensive  tract  of  country,  and  from  time  to  time  it  was  enlarged  by 
new  conquests.  They  were  robust  and  muscular,  and  delighted  in  orna 
menting  their  persons  with  the  finery  so  highly  prized  by  the  Indians,  such 
as  medals,  ribbons,  the  skins  of  wild  beasts,  and  porcupine  quills  dyed  of 
various  colors.  They  possessed  great  energy,  decision,  and  perseverance, 
and,  when  excited,  were  remarkable  for  the  force  and  eloquence  with  which 
they  spoke.  Towards  the  west  they  claimed  supremacy  over  the  country 
as  far  as  the  Mississippi,  and  towards  the  northwest  as  far  as  Hudson's  Bay ; 
in  short,  all  that  was  not  occupied  by  the  Southern  Indians,  the  Sioux,  the 
Knisteneaux,  and  the  Chippevvas.  Their  affairs  were  conducted  with  more 
system  than  those  of  the  more  western  tribes.  Every  year  they  held  a  grand 
council,  consisting  of  representatives  from  each  nation,  at  Onondaga,  in  the 
present  State  of  New  York.  Their  youth  were  taught  to  bend  the  bow 
before  their  muscles  were  sufficiently  strong  to  propel  the  arrow  to  its  mark, 
and  to  grapple  with  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forests  as  they  would  with  the 
French,  or  their  enemies  the  Algonquins.  The  cause  of  their  attachment  to 
the  English  is  not  known ;  but  it  was  probably  in  part  caprice,  and  partly 
a  desire  to  overthrow  the  power  of  their  rivals  who  have  been  mentioned. 
When  their  naked  and  painted  warriors  appeared  on  the  edge  of  the  forest, 
it  was  always  a  signal  that  mischief  was  at  hand.  "We  are  born  free:  we 
neither  depend  on  Onondio  nor  Corlaer"  (France  nor  England),  said  Haas- 
kouan  to  De  la  Barre  in  1684,  and  the  course  they  pursued  was  the  per 
formance  of  this  declaration. 

The  Algonquins,  on  the  other  hand,  were  the  allies  of  the  French.  The 
territory  of  this  nation  extended  from  Lake  Erie  along  the  whole  chain  of 
the  upper  lakes  to  Lake  Winnepeg  and  Hudson's  Bay  on  the  north,  and  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  river  on  the  south.  They  were  connected  with  the 
tribes  immediately  east  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  with  those  in  the  interior 
of  New  England.  There  were  two  powerful  tribes,  however,  which  were 
not  connected  with  this  league,  the  Hurons  and  the  Foxes.  The  Hurons 
were  of  Iroquois  origin ;  but,  from  causes  which  are  not  known,  they  had 
severed  from  that  confederacy,  and  taken  part  with  the  French ;  while  the 
Foxes,  who  were  of  the  Algonquin  race,  sided  with  the  English.  The  causes 
of  the  Friendship  entertained  by  the  Algonquins  residing  on  the  borders  of 
the  lakes  for  the  former  are  obvious.  The  French  mingled  familiarly  with 
them,  and  endeavored  by  all  possible  means  to  secure  their  good-will.*  The 
traders  visited  their  villages  and  took  to  themselves  Indian  wives.  The 
Jesuit  missionaries  erected  chapels  in  their  camps,  presented  to  them  sculp- 


STRUGGLE  BETWEEN  FRANCE  AND  ENGLAND. 


37 


tured  images,  styling  them  their  patron  saints,  held  the  crucifix  before  the 
dying,  offered  up  their  devotions  with  them  before  the  picture  of  the  Virgin, 


forbidding  in  their  man 
ners  :  now,  then,  could  the  Algonquins  be  friendly  to  them,  or  how  the  ene 
mies  of  the  French  ? 

For  a  long  time  these  savages  had  been  sent  out  into  the  neighboring 
wilderness  to  attack  the^  feeble  settlements  upon  their  borders,  and  to  bring 
back  the  scalps  of  their  murdered  victims.  Many  a  spot  was  made  wet 
with  the  blood  of  its  unfortunate  inhabitants,  and  many  a  red  column  of  Brit 
ish  regulars  wavered  before  the  rifles  of  the  combined  French  and  Indians, 
covered  by  some  swamp,  or  fighting  from  behind  a  breastwork  of  fallen 
trees.  The  forests  were  often  lighted  up  by  the  conflagration  of  burnino- 
villages,  and  the  midnight  solitude  was  startled  by  the  "shrieks  of  females 
under  the  tomahawk  or  scalping-knife,  and  mocked"  by  human  fiends,  whose 
horrid  thirst  for  blood  was  no  less  insatiable  than  that  of  the  wolves  which 
howled  about  their  camps. 

It  was  at  length  determined  by  the  British  Government  to  make  a  pow 
erful  effort  to  possess  themselves  of  the  French  colonies.  Both  France  and 
England,  it  will  be  recollected,  claimed  these  countries  on  the  same  grounds : 
that  is,  original  discovery,  conquest,  and  appropriation. 

In  1757  the  Earl  of  Chatham  projected  a  campaign  of  a  very  formid 
able  character  against  the  French  colonies,  and  the  last  great"  struggle 
soon  commenced.  Twelve  thousand  British  solders  arrived  in  this  country, 
under  the  command  of  General  Amherst ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  bodies  of 
rangers,  trained  to  the  mode  of  fighting  peculiar  to  the  French  and  Indians, 
and  also  to  the  hardships  of  the  forest,  or  what  was  called  the  "  woods  ser 
vice,"  were  brought  into  the  field  under  the  command  of  a  citizen  of  New 
Hampshire,  Major  Robert  Rogers,  to  co-operate  with  the  British -regulars 
and  the  colonial  troops. 

Numerous  positions  having  been  occupied  along  the  lake  shores  and  the 
borders  of  the  French  colonies,  in  1759  it  was  determined  to  bring  the 
question  to  a  speedy  and  decisive  issue.  It  was  proposed  to  divide  the 
English  army  into  three  parts,  and  to  penetrate  to  the  very  heart  of  Canada 
in  three  different  directions,  with  a  view  to  overthrow  the  French  power  at 
a  single  blow.  Brigadier  General  Wolfe,  a  young  and  gallant  officer,  was 
ordered  to  ascend  the  St.  Lawrence  and  lay  siege  to  Quebec.  The  duty 
assigned  to  General  Amherst  was  to  seize  on  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point, 
and  thence  to  proceed  by  the  way  of  Lake  Champlain  and  the  St.  Law 
rence  river  to  Quebec,  to  co-operate  with  General  Wolfe  in  the  siege  of  that 
place.  The  third  division  of  the  army,  under  the  command  of  General 
Prideaux,  was  destined  to  attack  Niagara,  and,  after  obtaining  possession 
of  it,  to  be  embarked  on  Lake  Ontario,  and  proceed  against  Montreal.  If 
that  city  should  surrender  before  Quebec,  General  Prideaux  was  to  unite 
his  forces  with  those  of  General  Wolfe,  under  the  walls  of  the  latter.  Gen 
eral  Amherst,  after  making  great  exertions,  was  obliged  to  retire  into 
winter  quarters  without  accomplishing  his  object.  General  Prideaux,  as 
he  had  been  directed,  advanced  against  Niagara,  which  was  garrisoned  by 
a  body  of  French  troops  from  Detroit,  Venango,  and  Presque  Isle,  and 
succeeded  in  capturing  that  post. 

The  most  difficult  and  important  branch  of  the  attack  had  been  entrusted 
to  Wolfe.  The  English  fleet,  having  on  board  eight  thousand  men,  under 
the  command  of  this  general,  soon  reached  the  Island  of  Orleans,  opposite 


gg  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

to  Quebec,  in  the  St.  Lawrence  river.  The  French  force  amounted  to  nine 
thousand  men.  The  English  were  led  on  by  a  young  officer,  whose  war- 
cry,  like  that  of  Nelson  at  a  later  period,  was  "  Victory  or  Westminster 
Abbey."  The  first  attack  made  by  him  was  upon  Montmorenci,  where  his 
troops  were  landed  under  cover  of  a  fire  from  the  ships-of-war.  Here  at 
last,  then,  on  the  broad  St.  Lawrence,  were  unfurled  the  hostile  banners  of 
these  great  rival  nations.  The  glory  of  the  two  crowrns  was  at  stake.  The 
cross  of  England  glowed  brightly  upon  its  crimson  ground,  amid  martial 
music,  and  floating  above  thousands  of  muskets  glittering  in  the  beams  of 
the  morning  sun.  Nor  was  the  French  force  wanting  in  the  gallantry 
which  distinguished  their  opponents.  The  lilies  embroidered  upon  the  folds 
of  their  flag  were  borne  aloft  in  triumph  above  hearts  as  brave  as  ever  beat 
in  human  bosoms.  Tribes  of  savages  were  seen  armed  and  painted  for  the 
struggle  which  was  to  decide  the  destinies  of  these  mighty  rivals.  The 
French  force  was  commanded  by  a  gallant  and  chivalrous  officer,  the 
Marquis  de  Montcalm.  Before  them  lay  the  great  river  of  Canada  ;  beside 
them  were  the  walls  of  Quebec,  the  stronghold  of  their  power ;  and  at  a 
distance  were  seen  the  Falls  of  Montmorenci,  glittering  like  a  sheet  of 
molten  silver  as  they  tumbled  from  the  cliffs. 

The  effective  force  under  Montcalm  consisted  of  about  ten  thousand  men, 
and  his  position  wras  defended  by  floating  batteries  and  armed  vessels. 
Wolfe,  by  way  of  stratagem,  sailed  nine  miles  up  the  river,  in  order  to  dis 
tract  the  attention  of  the  French  army :  when  the  French  commander  de 
tached  M.  Bougainville  with  a  strong  force  to  that  point  to  prevent  the 
English  from  landing.  But  about  midnight  the  boats  of  the  British  ships 
floated  silently  down  the  St.  Lawrence,  and,  being  hailed  by  the  French 
sentinels  who  were  stationed  on  its  banks  with  the  cry  of  "  Who  comes 
there?"  the  English,  who  knew  their  watchword,  replied  "La  France"  and 
were  suffered  to  proceed  unmolested  to  their  point  of  debarcation. 

At  about  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  British  troops  began  to  land, 
not  having  been  discovered  in  their  progress  down  the  river.  Soon  after 
they  commenced  ascending  the  precipitous  declivity  which  leads  to  the 
Heights  of  Abraham.  They  were  protected  by  two  field-pieces,  and  their 
front  was  covered  by  the  Royal  Americans,  a  corps  raised  in  New  York  and 
New  England,  as  also  by  a  reserve  of  one  regiment  and  the  light  infantry. 
They  soon  gained  the  heights  and  prepared  for  battle.  The  Marquis  de 
Montcalm,  the  moment  he  discovered  the  English  troops  in  possession  of 
these  important  heights,  sallied  from  Beauport  with  only  a  single  field-piece. 
The  two  hostile  armies  soon  met.  The  Canadian  marksmen  and  Indian 
allies,  no  less  expert  with  the  rifle,  were  detached  by  the  French  commander 
to  conceal  themselves  among  the  bushes  and  corn-fields,  from  which  they 
could  most  effectually  annoy  the  enemy.  The  French  troops  advanced  with 
great  firmness,  although  composed  for  the  most  part  of  raw  and  undisciplined 
militia.  As  soon  as  they  had  reached  within  about  two  hundred  yards  of 
the  British  line,  they  commenced  a  sharp  but  irregular  fire,  supported  by 
the  Indians  and  the  Canadian  marksmen,  who  with  their  rifles  did  great 
execution.  But  they  were  met  by  that  unshaken  courage  and  obstinate  de 
termination  which  are  characteristic  of  British  soldiers:  and  the  Scotch 
Highlanders,  with  their  broadswords,  making  terrible  havoc  in  their  ranks, 
the  French  columns  began  to  waver.  General  Wolfe,  in  the  commencement 
of  the  action,  received  a  bullet  in  his  wrist  while  gallantly  leading  his  men 
to  the  charge ;  but,  winding  a  handkerchief  about  the  wound,  he  continued 
to  fight  on  as  though  nothing  had  occurred.  A  second  ball  soon  after  struck 
him  in  the  breast,  and  he  fell.  While  leaning  his  head  on  the  shoulder  of 


STRUGGLE  BETWEEN  FRANCE  AND  ENGLAND.  39 

his  officers,  he  was  startled  from  the  lethargy  of  death  by  shouts  from  his 
ranks:  "They  fly!  they  fly!"  "Who  fly?"  he  faintly  inquired.  "The 
French,"  was  the  reply.  "  Then,"  said  he,  "  I  die  happy ;"  and  his  spirit 
departed  amid  the  thunders  of  the  battle.  The  Marquis  de  Montcalm,  the 
commander  of  the  French  army,  was  also  mortally  wounded,  and  died  a  few 
days  after  the  engagement.  Monuments  have  been  erected  to  these  two 
heroes  in  the  city  of  Quebec.  The  remains  of  the  French  army,  retiring  to 
Montreal,  demanded  a  capitulation,  which  was  granted.  Accordingly,  in 
November,  1760,  articles  of  agreement  were  entered  into  between  General 
Amherst  and  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil,  by  which  the  latter  surrendered  to 
the  Crown  of  England  Detroit,  Michilimackinac,  and  all  the  posts  within 
the  government  of  Canada  that  were  in  possession  of  the  French. 

A  few  days  after  the  signing  of  this  capitulation,  Major  Rogers  was  de 
tached  by  General  Amherst,  at  the  head  of  a  competent  force,  to  take  posses 
sion  of  the  distant  posts  on  the  frontier,  to  administer  to  the  French  inhab 
itants  there  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  effectually  to  establish  the  power  of 
England  in  place  of  that  of  France.  He  was  ordered  to  embark  his  troops 
in  boats,  on  Lake  Erie,  stopping  on  his  way  at  Presque  Isle,  to  make  known 
to  the  officer  of  that  post  the  instructions  he  had  received.  He  was  also  the 
bearer  of  despatches  to  Brigadier  General  Monkton,  which  he  was  to  deliver 
and  receive  from  that  officer  his  final  orders  as  to  the  manner  in  which  he 
should  proceed  to  take  possession  of  Detroit,  Michilimackinac,  and  the  other 
French  posts.  Having  accomplished  the  objects  of  the  expedition,  he  was 
to  return  in  compliance  with  the  orders  that  might  be  given  him  by  General 
Monkton,  transport  his  boats  across  the  portage  of  Niagara  Falls  into  Lake 
Ontario,  where  they  were  to  be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  his  commanding 
officer,  and  thence  he  was  to  march  his  detachment  by  land  to  Albany. 

In  obedience  to  these  instructions,  Major  Rogers  embarked  the  force 
assigned  him  in  fifteen  whale-boats  at  Montreal.  On  arriving  at  Fort  Fron- 
tenac  he  met  with  a  party  of  Indians  who  were  out  upon  a  hunting  excur 
sion,  and  communicated  to  them  the  first  news  of  the  capitulation.  They 
found  these  savages  friendly,  arid  were  supplied  by  them  with  wild  fowl  and 
venison.  Soon  after  they  fell  in  with  another  body  of  about  fifty  Indians, 
on  a  stream  which  flows  into  Lake  Ontario,  where  they  were  taking  salmon. 
They  all  appeared  to  be  gratified  with  the  intelligence  that  the  French  had 
surrendered  the  country.  After  arriving  at  Toronto,  the  detachment  were 
not  long  in  reaching  Niagara,  where  they  provided  themselves  with  mocca 
sins,  blankets,  and  such  other  articles  as  were  necessary  for  the  expedition. 
Proceeding  on  their  way  to  Detroit  they  soon  reached  Presque  Isle,  from 
which  point  Rogers  embarked  in  a  canoe  and  proceeded  to  the  old  site  of 
Fort  Duquesne,  now  called  Pittsburg.  Here  he  found  Brigadier  General 
Monkton,  and  delivered  to  him  the  despatches  he  had  brought  from  General 
Amherst.  A  detachment  of  Royal  Americans,  or  colonial  troops,  under 
Captain  Campbell,  were  marched  from  this  post  for  the  purpose  of  aiding 
him  in  so  hazardous  an  expedition.  At  the  same  time  an  officer  was  ordered 
to  drive  forty  fat  cattle  from  Presque  Isle  to  Detroit,  where  it  was  supposed 
they  would  be  wanted  by  the  troops.  Captain  Wait  was  also  sent  back  to 
Niagara  for  provisions,  and  directed  on  his  return  to  coast  along  the  north 
ern  shore  of  Lake  Erie  and  encamp  about  twenty  miles  east  of  Detroit. 
Thus  started  the  first  English  military  expedition  that  had  ever  ventured 
upon  the  western  shore  of  Lake  Erie  for  the  purpose  of  wresting  from  the 
French  their  possessions  in  these  distant  regions. 

At  this  time  appeared  Pontiac,  a  chief  who  was  destined  to  figure  largely 
in  the  history  of  this  territory  at  a  subsequent  period.  His  residence  was 


40  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Pechee  Island,  which  looks  out  upon  the  waters  of  Lake  St.  Clair,  about 
eight  miles  above  the  city  of  Detroit.  An  Ottawa  by  birth,  and  belonging 
to  a  tribe  which  claimed  to  be  the  oldest  in  this  quarter,  he  was  greatly 
esteemed  both  by  the  English  and  French.  Thus  his  influence  was  greater 
than  that  of  any  other  individual  among  the  lake  tribes.  His  personal 
qualities,  indeed,  were  such  as  to  ensure  respect;  and  he  possessed,  more 
over,  hereditary  claims  to  authority,  according  to  the  customs  of  the  Indians. 
His  form  was  cast  in  the  finest  mould  of  savage  grace  and  strength,  and  his 
eye  seemed  capable  of  penetrating  at  a  glance  the  secret  motives  which 
actuated  the  tribes  around  him.  Such  was  Pontiac,  the  daring  chief  who 
was  about  to  dispute  the  English  claims  to  the  territory  of  the  lakes.  He 
could  not  endure  the  sight  of  this  people  driving  the  game  from  his  hunting- 
grounds,  and  his  old  friends  and  allies,  the  French,  from  the  lands  they  had 
so  long  possessed.  Accordingly,  when  he  was  apprized  that  an  English 
detachment  was  advancing  along  the  lakes  to  take  possession  of  the  country, 
he  could  not  restrain  his  indignation.  Forthwith  he  despatched  a  body  of 
Ottawas  from  Detroit,  with  a  message  to  the  English,  who  were  then  en 
camped  at  the  mouth  of  Chogage  river,  informing  them  that  Pontiac,  the 
King  of  the  country  where  they  were,  was  approaching,  and  requesting  them 
to  stop  until  he  should  arrive.  Pontiac,  on  reaching  the  English  camp, 
demanded  of  Rogers  the  business  on  which  he  had  come,  and  how  he  dared 
to  enter  his  country  without  his  permission.  Major  Rogers  replied  that  he 
had  no  designs  against  the  Indians,  and  that  his  only  object  was  the  removal 
of  the  French,  who  had  hitherto  been  the  means  of  preventing  all  friendly 
relations  between  his  tribes  and  the  English.  Pontiac  then  gave  him  to 
understand  that  he  should  stand  in  his  path  until  the  morning,  and  at  the 
same  time  presented  him  with  a  small  string  of  wrampum,  signifying  that  he 
forbade  the  English  detachment  from  advancing  any  farther  without  his 
permission.  He  also  told  Major  Rogers  that  if  he  was  in  want  of  any  food 
he  would  send  his  warriors,  and  they  should  procure  it  for  him. 

A  council  having  in  the  meantime  been  held,  Pontiac  made  his  appear 
ance  in  the  English  camp  the  next  morning,  saying  that  he  had  the  most 
friendly  disposition  towards  the  English,  and  he  smoked  the  pipe  of  peace 
with  their  commander.  At  the  same  time,  he  informed  Rogers  that  he  would 
protect  him  against  a  party  of  Indians  who  had  stationed  themselves  at  the 
month  of  the  Detroit  river;  and  he  sent  also  several  of  his  warriors  to  assist 
Captain  Brewer  in  bringing  on  the  cattle  which  he  wras  driving  to  Detroit. 
In  addition  to  this,  he  despatched  messengers  to  the  Indians  encamped  on 
the  Detroit  river,  and  to  those  on  the  north  and  west  shores  of  Lake  Erie, 
to  inform  them  that  he  had  given  the  English  permission  to  pass  through 
his  territory;  and,  still  farther  to  evince  his  friendship,  he  supplied  them 
with  venison,  wild  turkeys,  and  several  bags  of  parched  corn. 

Encamping  at  some  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  Detroit  river,  Rog.:. ., 
despatched  the  following  letter  to  M.  Bellestre,  the  French  commandant  at 
Detroit : 

"  To  Captain  Bellestre,  or  the  Officer  Commanding  at  Detroit: 

"  SIR  : — That  you  may  not  be  alarmed  at  the  approach  of  the  English 
troops  under  my  command  when  I  come  to  Detroit,  I  send  forward  this  by 
Lieutenant  Brheme,  to  acquaint  you  that  I  have  General  Amherst's  orders 
to  take  possession  of  Detroit  and  such  other  posts  as  are  in  that  district, 
which,  by  capitulation  agreed  to  and  signed  by  Marquis  dc  Vaudrcuil  and 
General  Amherst,  the  8th  of  September  last,  now  belong  to  Great  Britain. 
I  have  with  me  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil's  letters  to  you,  directed  for  your 


STRUGGLE  BETWEEN  FRANCE  AND  ENGLAND.          41 

guidance  on  this  occasion,  which  letters  I  shall  deliver  you  when  I  am  at 
or  near  your  post,  and  shall  encamp  the  troops  I  have  with  me  at  some  dis 
tance  from  the  fort,  till  you  have  reasonable  time  to  be  made  acquainted 
with  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil's  instructions  and  the  capitulation,  a  copy 
of  which  I  have  with  me  likewise. 

"  I  am,  sir,  your  humble  servant, 

"  EGBERT  ROGERS." 

After  this  he  encamped  with  his  detachment  on  a  stream  which  empties 
into  Lake  Erie.  Here  he  found  a  number  of  Huron  chiefs,  who  inquired 
of  him  whether  the  reports  which  they  had  heard  in  regard  to  the  surren 
der  of  the  territory  were  true ;  apprizing  him,  at  the  same  time,  that  they 
had  been,  sent  out  by  M.  Bellestre  for  the  purpose  of  defending  the  country, 
and  to  obtain  information  as  to  the  events  which  had  transpired  below. 
Rogers  confirmed  the  fact  of  the  capitulation,  and  made  a  speech  to  the 
Hurons  of  the  most  conciliatory  character ;  after  which  he  encamped  at 
the  west  end  of  Lake  Erie  with  his  detachment.  The  next  day  he  met  with 
a  party  of  Indians,  who  told  him  that  Bellestre  was  "  a  strong  man,"  and 
that  he  intended  to  fight  the  English.  Not  long  after,  sixty  Indians,  who 
said  that  they  had  come  from  Detroit  the  previous  day,  arrived  at  his  camp. 
They  offered  to  conduct  the  English  detachment  to  that  place,  and  informed 
Rogers  that  M.  Brheme,  who  had  been  sent  by  him  with  the  letter,  had 
been  imprisoned  by  the  French  commandant. 

While  the  English  were  thus  advancing  towards  Detroit,  the  French 
commandant  was  not  idle.  He  had  collected  round  his  post  numerous 
tribes  of  savages,  and,  knowing  that  they  were  strongly  impressed  by  symbols, 
he  had  caused  a  pole  to  be  erected,  with  the  image  of  a  man's  head  on  the 
top,  and  upon  this  was  placed  a  crow.  He  told  the  Indians  that  the  head 
represented  the  English,  and  the  crow  himself,  and  that  the  meaning  of  it 
all  was,  that  the  French  would  scratch  out  the  brains  of  their  enemies. 
The  Indians,  however,  would  not  believe  it,  and  expressed  their  apprehen 
sions  that  the  reverse  would  be  the  fact,  and  that  the  English  at  Detroit 
would  scratch  out  the  brains  of  the  French. 

About  this  time  Rogers  received  the  following  letter  from  the  com 
mandant  of  Detroit : 

"  SIR  : — I  received  the  letter  you  wrote  me  by  one  of  your  officers,  but, 
as  I  have  no  interpreter,  cannot  fully  answer  it.  The  officer  that  delivered 
me  yours  gives  me  to  understand  that  he  was  sent  to  give  me  notice  of  your 
'  arrival  to  take  possession  of  this  garrison,  according  to  the  capitulation 
made  in  Canada  ;  that  you  have  likewise  a  letter  from  Monsieur  Vaudreuil 
directed  to  me.  I  beg,  sir,  you  will  halt  your  troops  at  the  entrance  of  the 
river  till  you  send  me  the  capitulation  and  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil's 
letter,  that  I  may  act  in  conformity  thereto. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c.,  &c., 

"DE  BELLESTRE." 

Shortly  after,  on  the  25th  of  November,  the  English  commander  received 
the  letter  inserted  below  from  M.  Bellestre  : 

"  DETROIT,  25th  Nov.,  1760. 

«  gIR  :_I  have  already,  by  Mr.  Barrager,  acquainted  you  with  the  reasons 
why  I  could  not  answer  particularly  the  letter  which  was  delivered  me  the 
2?d  instant  by  the  officer  you  sent  to  me.  I  am  entirely  unacquainted  with 
the  reasons  of  his  not  returning  to  you.  I  sent  my  Huron  interpreter  to 
that  nation,  and  told  him  to  stop  them  should  they  be  on  the  road,  not 


42  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

knowing  positively  whether  they  were  inclined  to  favor  you  or  us ;  and  to 
tell  them  from  me  they  should  behave  peaceably ;  that  I  knew  what  I 
owed  to  my  general,  and  that,  when  the  capitulation  should  be  settled,  I 
was  obliged  to  obey.  The  said  interpreter  has  orders  to  wait  on  you  and 
deliver  you  this. 

"  Be  not  surprised,  sir,  if  along  the  coast  you  find  the  inhabitants  upon 
their  guard.  It  was  told  them  you  had  several  Indian  nations  with  you,  to 
whom  you  had  promised  permission  to  plunder  ;  nay,  that  they  were  even 
resolved  to  force  you  to  it.  I  have  therefore  allowed  the  said  inhabitants 
to  take  to  their  arms,  as  it  is  for  your  safety  and  preservation  as  well  as 
ours ;  for,  should  those  Indians  become  insolent,  you  may  not,  perhaps,  in 
your  present  situation,  be  able  to  subdue  them  alone. 

"  I  natter,  myself,  sir,  that,  as  soon  as  this  shall  come  to  hand,  you  will 
send  me,  by  some  of  the  gentlemen  you  have  with  you,  both  the  capitula 
tion  and  Monsieur  de  Vaudreuil's  letter. 
"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

"  Your  very  humble  and  obedient  servant, 

"  DE  BELLESTRE." 

After  advancing  five  miles  farther  up  the  Detroit  river,  Rogers  the  next 
day  sent  a  second  letter,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy,  by  Captain  Camp 
bell: 

"  SIR  : — I  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  two  letters,  both  of  which  were 
delivered  to  me  yesterday.  Mr.  Brheme  has  not  yet  returned.  The  enclosed 
letter  from  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  will  inform  you  of  the  surrender  of 
all  Canada  to  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  and  of  the  great  indulgence  granted 
to  the  inhabitants,  as  also  of  the  terms  granted  to  the  troops  of  his  most 
Christian  majesty.  Captain  Campbell,  whom  I  have  sent  forward  with  this 
letter,  will  show  you  the  capitulation.  I  desire  you  will  not  detain  him,  as 
I  am  determined,  agreeable  to  my  instructions  from  General  Amherst,  speed 
ily  to  relieve  your  post.  I  shall  stop  the  troops  I  have  with  me  at  the 
hither  end  of  the  town  till  four  o'clock,  by  which  time  I  expect  your  answer. 
Your  inhabitants  will  riot  surprise  me :  as  yet  I  have  seen  no  other  in  that 
position  but  savages  waiting  for  my  orders.  I  can  assure  you,  sir,  the  inhab 
itants  of  Detroit  shall  not  be .  molested,  they  and  you  complying  with  the 
capitulation,  but  be  protected  in  the  quiet  and  peaceful  enjoyment  of  their 
estates;  neither  shall  they  be  pillaged  by  my  Indians,  nor  by  yours  that 
have  joined  me. 

"I  am,  &c.,  ROBERT  ROGERS. 

"To  Captain  Bellestre, 

Commanding  at  Detroit." 

After  despatching  this  letter  he  pushed  his  boats  up  the  Detroit  river  to 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  fort,  and  encamped  his  detachment  in  a  field. 

The  English  camp  was  soon  visited  by  Captain  Campbell  and  a  French 
officer,  who  presented  to  Major  Rogers  M.  Bellestre's  compliments,  stating 
that  he  was  instructed  by  that  officer  to  inform  him  that  the  post  had  been 
surrendered.  Lieutenants  Lefflie  and  McCormick  were  then  sent  with  thirty- 
six  Royal  Americans,  who  immediately  took  possession  of  the  fort ;  when 
the  Indians,  to  the  number  of  seven  hundred,  who  had  been  collected  there 
by  the  French  commander,  set  up  a  tremendous  yell,  exulting  that  their 
prophecy  concerning  the  crow  had  been  verified. 

Major  Rogers  now  formally  took  possession  of  this  important  post,  receiv 
ing  at  the  same  time  a  plan  of  the  fort,  and  a  list  of  the  warlike  and  other 


CONDITION  OF  THE  COUNTRY  UNDER  THE  ENGLISH.       43 

stores.  The  French  commandant  and  the  troops  forming  the  garrison  were 
placed  under  the  charge  of  Lieutenant  Holmes,  with  thirty  Hangers,  to  be 
conducted  to  Philadelphia,  Twenty  men  were  also  sent  to  escort  the  French 
soldiers  from  the  posts  of  Miami  and  Gatanois,  and  the  command  of  the  fort 
was  given  to  Captain  Campbell.  Rogers,  having  made  a  treaty  with  the 
neighboring  Indians,  set  out  with  a  party  to  Lake  Huron  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  possession  of  Michilimackiuac ;  but  the  ice  in  the  lake  so  obstructed 
his  passage  that  he  could  not  proceed  by  water,  and  the  Indians  told  him 
that  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to  reach  that  place  by  land  without 
snow-shoes.  Accordingly,  having  replaced  the  ammunition  and  stores  which 
he  had  taken  with  him  at  Detroit,  he  left  that  post  on  the  21st  of  Novem 
ber,  1760,  after  intrusting  to  Captain  Campbell  its  command.  With  the 
change  of  jurisdiction  thus  effected,  a  new  scene  will  now  open  upon  us. 

CONDITION  OF  THE  COUNTRY  UNDER  THE  ENGLISH. 

No  material  change  took  place  in  the  condition  of  the  country  in  conse 
quence  of  its  surrender  to  the  English.  The  capitulation  of  Montreal  per 
mitted  the  French  emigrants  to  remain  in  the  territory  and  to  enjoy  undis 
turbed  their  civil  and  religious  rights.  Agriculture  was  no  more  encouraged 
than  before,  and  the  same  general  plan  continued  to  be  pursued  in  conduct 
ing  the  fur-trade.  No  land  was  allowed  to  be  purchased  directly  of  the 
Indians,  nor  were  the  English  commandants,  styled  governors,  permitted  to 
make  any  grants  of  land  except  within  certain  prescribed  limits.  The  set 
tlements  of  the  French,  however,  continued  to  extend,  and  their  long,  nar 
row  farms,  surrounded  by  pickets  and  fronted  by  houses  of  bark  or  logs  and 
their  roofs  thatched  with  straw,  were  seen  stretching  along  the  banks  of  all 
the  principal  streams.  There  were  as  yet  no  schools,  and  the  instruction  of 
the  children  continued  to  be  confided  entirely  to  the  Catholic  priests.  Be 
fore  that  time  peltries  had  constituted  almost  the  only  medium  of  traffic,  but 
now  English  coin  began  to  be  introduced.  Horses  were  for  a  long  time 
unknown  at  Detroit,  the  first  having  been  brought  there,  it  is  said,  from  Fort 
Duquesne  after  Braddock's  defeat. 

Although  the  English  had  acquired  possession  of  the  country,  it  had  been 
against  the  will  of  the  Indians.  The  design  of  Pontiac  probably  was  to  lead 
the  English  into  his  territory  only  that  he  might  have  a  better  opportunity 
to  destroy  them.  He  believed  that  it  was  their  intention  to  drive  him  from 
his  lands,  and  he  therefore  considered  them  as  dangerous  intruders.  His 
spacious  domain,  its  waters  abounding  with  fish  and  its  woods  with  game, 
had  now  fallen  into  the  hands  of  a  people  whom  he  had  always  looked  upon 
as  his  enemy.  Some  of  the  Indians  had  been  struck  by  the  British  officers 
in  the  garrison,  an  indignity  which  their  savage  natures  could  not  endure, 
and  they  readily  joined  with  their  chief  to  expel  these  hated  strangers  from 
their  country.  .  . 

Pontiac  was  not  long  in  circulating  war-belts  among  all  the  principal 
tribes  on  the  borders  of  the  lakes,  and  he  formed  a  chain  of  operations  ex 
tending  more  than  a  thousand  miles  along  their  waters.  He  flattered  him 
self  that  if  the  British  garrisons  could  be  destroyed  or  driven  away  he  should 
afterward  be  able  effectually  to  defend  the  country  against  farther  intrusion 
by  means  of  his  own  strength  combined  with  that  of  his  savage  allies.  A 
grand  council  of  the  Indians  was  accordingly  soon  assembled  at  the  Kiver 
Aux  Ecorce,  and  Pontiac  addressed  them  in  person.  He  told  them  that  it 
was  the  design  of  the  English  to  drive  the  Indians  from  their  country,  and 
that  they  were  their  natural  and  inveterate  enemies.  He  also  assured  them 


44  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

that  the  Great  Spirit  had  appeared  to  a  Delaware  Indian  in  a  dream  and 
thus  addressed  him :  "  Why  do  you  suffer  these  dogs  in  red  clothing  "  (the 
English)  "  to  enter  your  country  and  take  the  land  I  gave  you  ?  Drive 
them  from  it :  and  then,  when  you  are  in  distress,  I  will  help  you."  He 
also  exhibited  to  them  a  war-belt,  which  he  said  the  French  King  had  sent 
over  from  France,  ordering  them  to  drive  out  the  British  and  make  way  for 
the  return  of  the  French. 

The  shores  of  the  lakes  were  soon  alive  with  bodies  of  Indian  wTarriors, 
who  had  abandoned  their  hunting-grounds  and  camps  and  were  repairing 
to  the  posts  on  the  frontier.  Among  these  were  seen  the  Ottawas,  the  Chip- 
pewas,  the  Miamis,  the  Pottowatomies,  the  Missisagas,  the  Shawanese,  the 
Ottagamies,  and  the  Winnebagoes,  besides  parties  from  numerous  other 
tribes.  At  about  the  same  time  they  attacked  the  Forts  of  Le  Boeuf,  Vc- 
nango,  Presque  Isle,  Michilimackinac,  St.  Joseph,  Miami,  Green  Bay,  Ouia- 
tonon,  Pittsburg,  and  Sandusky.  Their  military  operations,  indeed,  extended 
along  the  entire  line  of  the  waters  of  the  lower  lakes. 

This  general  and  simultaneous  attack  was  made  in  the  month  of  May, 
1763,  and  was  so  sudden  and  wholly  unexpected  that  the  garrisons  were 
all  taken  by  surprise.  Detroit  was  then  the  most  important  station  upon 
the  lakes,  and  was  garrisoned  by  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  men  and 
eight  officers,  Major  Gladwin  being  the  commandant.  Three  rows  of 
pickets  surrounded  the  fort  in  the  form  of  a  square.  Most  of  the  houses  of 
the  French  were  situated  within  these  pickets,  that  they  might  be  pro 
tected  by  the  guns  of  the  fort.  The  inhabitants  were  provided  with  arms 
and  ammunition.  Within  the  pickets  there  was  also  a  circular  space,  which 
was  named  by  the  French  Le  chemin  du  Ronde,  from  its  being  a  place  of 
deposit  for  arms ;  and  over  the  gates  of  the  fort,  and  at  each  of  its  corners, 
there  were  small  dwellings.  The  town  was  defended  in  front  by  an  armed 
schconer  named  the  Beaver,  moored  in  the  river,  which  at  this  point  is 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  wide.  The  post  commanded  the  great  chan 
nel  of  communication  from  Lake  Michigan  to  Buffalo  and  Pittsburg  ;  its 
possession,  therefore,  was  an  object  of  great  importance ;  and  Pontiac,  who 
was  the  chief  director  of  the  confederacy,  undertook  its  reduction  in  per 
son. 

His  plan  was  one  which  strikingly  exhibits  the  cunning  which  is  so 
characteristic  of  the  Indians.  He  intended  to  take  the  fort  by  surprise ; 
and  for  this  purpose  he  ordered  a  party  of  his  warriors  to  saw  off  their 
rifles  so  short  that  they  could  conceal  them  under  their  blankets,  and, 
under  a  feigned  pretence,  to  gain  admission  into  the  fort,  and  massacre  the 
garrison.  To  carry  out  his  design,  he  encamped  at  a  short  distance  from 
the  post,  and  sent  word  to  the  commandant  that  he  was  desirous  of  holding 
a  council  with  him,  that  "  they  might  brighten  the  chain  of  peace."  On 
the  evening  of  that  day,  an  Indian  woman,  by  the  name  of  Catharine, 
brought  to  Major  Gladwin  a  pair  of  moccasins  which  she  had  been  em 
ployed  to  make  for  him,  and  he  was  so  much  pleased  with  them  that  he 
gave  her  an  elk-skin,  and  told  her  to  take  it  home  and  make  from  it  several 
pairs  more.  She  took  the  skin,  but  continued  to  linger  about  the  gate  of 
the  fort  as  if  her  business  were  unfinished  ;  and  the  singularity  of  her  con 
duct  attracted  attention.  Major  Gladwin  accordingly  ordered  her  to  be 
called  back,  and  inquired  of  her  why  she  did  not  hasten  home,  that  she 
might  finish  the  moccasins  by  the  time  he  had  required  them  to  be  done. 
The  woman  remarked  that  she  did  not  like  to  take  the  skin  away,  as  he 
seemed  to  prize  it  so  much,  since  she  feared  "  she  could  never  bring  it  back." 
Her  mind  seemed  to  be  struggling  Avith  some  secret,  and,  after  being  pressed, 


CONDITION  OF  THE  COUNTRY  UNDER  THE  ENGLISH.       45 

she  developed  the  whole  plot.     Major  Gladwin  immediately  ordered  the 
guards  to  be  doubled,  and  sentinels  to  be  stationed  on  the  ramparts. 

As  night  approached,  fires  were  seen  in  the  Indian  camp,  and  their  war- 
songs  were  distinctly  heard,  so  that  the  English  commandant  was  convinced 
that  something  important  was  contemplated  by  them,  and  that  the  woman 
had  told  the  truth,  as  the  savages  always  excite  themselves  in  this  manner 
preparatory  to  any  great  enterprise  they  are  about  to  undertake. 

The  next  morning,  according  to  previous  arrangement,  Pontiac  and  his 
warriors  repaired  to  the  fort.  As  he  was  advancing,  he  noticed  that  there 
was  an  unusual  number  of  soldiers  upon  the  ramparts,  and  that  the  officers 
all  had  pistols  in  their  belts.  Having  entered  the  council-house,  or  the 
place  assigned  for  the  meeting,  he  opened  the  discussion  with  a  speech,  in 
which  he  made  great  professions  of  friendship  for  the  English.  As  the 
time  approached  when,  as  the  woman  had  stated,  the  belt  was  to  be  deliv 
ered  and  a  fire  upon  the  garrison  commenced,  his  gestures  became  more 
vehement.  At  this  moment  the  governor  and  his  officers  drew  their  swords, 
and  the  English  soldiers  made  a  clattering  upon  the  ground  with  their 
muskets.  Pontiac  himself  was  now  the  party  surprised,  but  he  continued 
perfectly  calm  and  unmoved. 

The  commandant  soon  commenced  his  reply,  but,  instead  of  thanking  the 
chief  for  his  professions  of  friendship,  he  charged  him  with  being  a  traitor, 
and,  to  convince  him  of  his  knowledge  of  the  plot,  he  stepped  forward  to 
the  Indian  who  sat  on  his  skin  nearest  to  him,  and,  opening  his  blanket, 
exposed  the  shortened  rifle.  At  the  same  time,  addressing  himself  to  the 
warriors,  he  told  them  instantly  to  leave  the  fort,  as  his  men,  should  they 
discover  their  treachery,  would  show  them  no  mercy.  He  also  assured 
them  that  they  would  be  permitted  to  go  out  in  safety,  as  he  had  promised 
them  his  protection. 

The  warriors  accordingly  sallied  out  of  the  fort ;  but,  as  soon  as  they  had 
passed  the  gates,  they  turned  about  and  fired  upon  the  garrison.  They 
then  proceeded  to  the  commons,  where  they  murdered  an  English  woman 
who  resided  there,  and,  horrid  to  relate,  cooked  and  feasted  upon  her 
remains.  After  this  they  went  to  Isle  de  Cochon,  (Hog  Island,)  and  bar 
barously  destroyed  a  wrhole  family. 

The  savages  had  now  sufficiently  evinced  their  hostile  intentions.  Col 
lecting  around  the  fort,  they  fired  upon  the  garrison  from  the  nearest  houses, 
and  even  from  behind  the  pickets.  Measures  were  soon  taken,  however,  to 
burn  such  buildings  as  they^ould  avail  themselves  of  for  this  purpose,  by 
throwing  shells.  But,  as  soon  as  the  shells  fell,  the  savages  ran  up  to  them, 
with  loud  yells,  and  extinguished  the  matches  before  they  had  time  to 
explode.  Still,  in  spite  of  all  their  efforts  to  prevent  it,  the  buildings  were 
soon  demolished,  and  the  Indians  then  withdrew  to  a  low  ridge  which  over 
looked  the  pickets,  and  from  this  they  kept  up  a  constant  fire  upon  the  fort. 

Although  Pontiac,  as  the  acknowledged  head  of  the  confederacy,  was  the 
leader  in  the  attack  upon  Detroit,  he  was  aided  by  several  chiefs,  who  had 
placed  themselves  under  his  direction.  Among  these  were  the  Ottawa  chiefs 
Mahigam,  or  the  Wolf,  Wabunemay,  or  the  White  Sturgeon,  Kittacomsi,  and 
Arjouchiois;  and  the  Chippewa  chiefs  Pashquois,  Gayashque,  Wasson,  and 
Macatay-wasson. 

The  influence  of  Pontiac  had  for  a  long  time  been  very  great,  not  only 
with  the  French,  but  also  with  the  remotest  tribes  upon  the  borders  of  the 
lakes.  In  1746  he  defended  Detroit  against  a  combined  force  under  Mack- 
inac,  the  Turtle,  aided  by  a  portion  of  his  own  tribe,  the  Ottawas.  While 
he  was  thus  assisting  the  French,  they  were  no  less  warm  m  their  attach- 


46  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

merit  to  their  allies.  "  When  the  French  arrived  at  these  falls  "  (the  Saute 
de  Ste.  Marie),  said  a  Chippewa  chief,  "they  came  and  kissed  us.  They 
called  us  children,  and  we  found  them  fathers.  We  lived  like  brethren  in 
the  same  lodge.  They  never  mocked  our  ceremonies;  they  never  molested 
the  places  of  our  dead.  Seven  generations  have  passed  away,  but  we  have 
not  forgotten  it.  Just,  very  just,  were  they  towards  us." 

The  siege  of  Detroit  by  Pontiac  continued.  Sometimes  blazing  arrows 
were  launched  from  the  bows  of  his  warriors  upon  the  chapel  for  the  pur 
pose  of  burning  it ;  and  this  they  would  have  effected  had  they  not  been 
deterred  from  farther  attempts  by  a  Jesuit,  who  persuaded  them  that  such 
an  act  would  call  down  the  vengeance  of  the  Great  Spirit.  A  breach  was 
now  attempted  to  be  made  in  the  pickets,  and  in  this  Major  Gladwin  co-op 
erated  with  them,  by  ordering  his  men  to  cut  them  away  from  the  inside,  so 
that  it  was  soon  accomplished ;  but  no  sooner  was  it  filled  with  the  Indians 
than  a  small  brass  cannon,  which  had  been  brought  to  bear  upon  this  point, 
was  discharged  upon  them,  and  made  terrible  havoc.  After  this  the  fort 
was  simply  blockaded  and  its  supplies  cut  off,  by  which  means  great  suffer 
ing  was  occasioned  to  the  garrison.  Among  the  killed  on  the  side  of  the 
English  was  Sir  Kobert  Devers,  whose  body  was  boiled  and  eaten  by  the 
savages.  Captain  Robertson  experienced  a  similar  fate,  and  ofl  the  skin  of 
one  of  his  arms  a  tobacco-pouch  was  made. 

Major  Campbell,  it  will  be  recollected,  had  been  appointed  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  fort  by  Major  Rogers,  and  it  was  a  great  point  with  the  savages 
to  get  possession  of  the  person  of  this  officer,  as  he  was  much  esteemed,  not 
only  by  the  French  and  English,  but  by  the  Indians  also,  for  his  chivalrous 
character,  and,  therefore,  the  more  valuable  as  a  hostage.  Pontiac  accord 
ingly  solicited  an  interview  with  this  officer,  that,  as  he  stated,  "they  might 
smoke  the  pipe  of  peace  together."  Two  French  citizens  recommended  this 
interview,  and  were,  in  fact,  made  the  agents  of  Pontiac  to  effect  it.  The 
Indian  chief,  in  the  meantime,  solemnly  promised  that  the  English  com 
mandant  should  be  permitted  to  return  in  safety  to  the  fort.  The  proposal 
was  acceded  to;  but  no  sooner  had  Pontiac  got  his  enemy  into  his  hands, 
than  his  promise  was  entirely  forgotten,  and  he  told  him  that  his  life  even 
should  not  be  spared  but  on  the  condition  that  the  fort  was  surrendered. 
The  conduct  of  Pontiac  in  this  transaction  had  been  such  as  to  destroy  all 
confidence  in  his  word.  The  fate  of  this  brave  and  generous  officer  was 
truly  melancholy.  An  Ottawa  chief  had  been  killed  in  the  siege  of  Michil- 
imackinac,  and  his  nephew  hastened  to  Detroit  to  seek  for  revenge.  Here 
meeting  with  Major  Campbell,  he  instantly  killed  him  with  a  blow  of  his 
tomahawk.  The  murderer  fled  to  Saginaw  to  escape  the  vengeance  of  Pon 
tiac. 

The  Beaver,  the  armed  vessel  to  which  allusion  has  been  made,  had  been 
sent  to  Niagara  for  the  purpose  of  hastening  the  arrival  of  a  re-enforcement 
of  men,  and  to  procure  a  supply  of  provisions.  Lieutenant  Cuyler,  with 
ninety-seven  men,  was  sent  from  that  post  with  supplies,  and,  apprehend 
ing  no  danger,  they  had  landed  at  Point  Pelee  and  encamped.  Here  they 
were  discovered  by  the  Indians,  and  at  dawn  the  next  morning  they  were 
attacked,  and  the  whole  party  either  cut  off  or  taken  prisoners,  with  the 
exception  of  one  officer  and  thirty  men,  who  succeeded  in  gaining  a  barge, 
in  which  they  crossed  Lake  Erie  and  reached  Sandusky  Bay.  The  savages 
placed  their  prisoners  on  board  the  boats,  and  compelled  them  to  manage 
them,  escorting  them  in  triumph  to  Detroit,  along  the  Canadian  bank  of  the 
river.  When  they  were  near  this  place,  four  British  soldiers  determined  to 
make  their  escape,  and  for  this  purpose  changed  the  course  of  the  boat  they 


CONDITION  OF  THE  COUNTRY  UNDER  THE  ENGLISH.       47 

were  in,  setting  up  at  the  same  time  a  loud  cry.  After  some  resistance  their 
Indian  guards  leaped  overboard,  one  of  them  dragging  a  soldier  along  with 
him,  and  they  both  were  drowned.  The  remaining  three  were  now  fired  on 
by  the  Indians  in  the  other  boats,  and  also  by  those  on  the  bank  of  the 
river,  though  without  any  other  effect  than  wounding  one  of  their  number. 
In  the  meantime  the  armed  schooner  on  the  Detroit  side  opened  a  fire  upon 
the  savages,  which  dispersed  their  boats,  and  likewise  the  guard  upon  the 
opposite  shore.  The  rest  of  the  prisoners  were  taken  by  the  Indians  to  Hog 
Island,  and  there  put  to  death. 

The  French  residents  themselves  did  not  escape  wholly  unharmed  amid 
these  scenes  of  savage  violence.  Maintaining  a  neutral  position  in  the  war, 
they  were  regarded  with  no  little  jealousy  by  their  former  allies  of  the 
Algonquin  race.  Their  houses  were  in  several  instances  broken  open,  and 
their  cattle  plundered  by  Pontiac's  warriors,  though  the  Ottawa  chiefs  gave 
to  the  sufferers  certificates  of  indemnity  for  all  such  losses,  formed  of  pieces 
of  bark,  on  which  was  drawn  the  figure  of  an  otter,  the  emblem  of  his 
tribe,  and  these  pledges  were  all  faithfully  redeemed  at  a  subsequent 
period. 

The  savages,  finding  that  all  their  attempts  to  destroy  the  fort  were 
unavailing,  endeavored  to  engage  the  French  in  the  alliance  ;  and  for  this 
purpose  Pontiac  assembled  a  council  of  his  warriors  and  of  the  French 
inhabitants  at  the  river  Aux  Ecorce,  on  which  occasion  he  addressed  to 
them  the  following  speech : 

"  My  Brothers : — I  have  no  doubt  that  this  war  is  very  troublesome  to 
you,  and  that  my  warriors,  who  are  continually  passing  and  repassing 
through  your  settlements,  frequently  kill  your  cattle  and  injure  your  prop 
erty.  I  am  sorry  for  it,  and  hope  you  do  not  think  I  am  pleased  with  this 
conduct  of  my  young  men ;  and,  as  a  proof  of  my  friendship,  remember 
the  war  you  had  seventeen  years  ago,  (1746,)  and  the  part  I  took  in  it. 
The  Northern  nations  combined  together  and  came  to  destroy  you.  Who 
defended  you  ?  Was  it  not  myself  and  my  young  men  ?  The  great  chief 
Mackinac  (the  Turtle)  said  in  council  that  he  would  carry  to  his  native 
village  the  head  of  your  chief  warrior,  and  that  he  would  eat  his  heart  and 
drink  his  blood.  Did  I  not  then  join  you,  and  go  to  his  camp  and  say  to 
him,  that  if  he  wished  to  kill  the  French,  he  must  pass  over  my  body  and 
the  bodies  of  my  young  men  ?  Did  I  not  take  up  the  tomahawk  with  you  ? 
aid  in  fighting  your  battles  with  Mackinac,  and  in  driving  him  home  to  his 
country  ?  Why  do  you  think  I  would  turn  my  arms  against  you  ?  Am  I 
not  the  same  French  Pontiac  who  assisted  you  seventeen  years  ago  ?  I  am 
a  Frenchman,  and  I  wish  to  die  a  Frenchman. 

"  My  brothers,"  continued  Pontiac,  throwing  a  war-belt  into  the  midst  of 
the  council,  "  I  begin  to  grow  tired  of  this  bad  meat  which  is  upon  our 
lands,  but  I  see  that  this  is  not  your  case ;  for,  instead  of  assisting  us  in 
our  war  with  the  English,  you  are  actually  assisting  them.  I  have  already 
told  you,  and  I  now  tell  you  again,  that  when  I  undertook  this  war,  it  was 
only  your  interest  I  sought,  and  that  I  knew  what  I  was  about.  I  yet 
know  what  I  am  about.  This  year  they  must  all  perish ;  the  Master  of 
Life  so  orders  it.  His  will  is  known  to  us,  and  we  must  do^  as  He  says. 
And  you,  my  brothers,  who  know  Him  better  than  we  do,  wish  to  oppose 
His  will.  Until  now  I  have  avoided  urging  you  upon  this  subject,  in 
the  hope  that,  if  you  could  not  aid,  you  would  not  injure  us.  I  did  not 
wish  to  ask  you  to  fight  with  us  against  the  English,  and  I  did  not  believe 
that  you  would  take  part  with  them.  You  will  say  you  are  not  with  them. 
I  know  it ;  but  your  conduct  amounts  to  the  same  thing.  You  tell  them  all 


48  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

we  do,  and  you  carry  our  counsels  and  plans  to  them.  Now,  take  your 
choice.  You  must  be  entirely  French,  like  ourselves,  or  entirely  English. 
If  you  are  French,  take  this  belt  for  yourselves  and  for  your  young  men, 
and  join  us.  If  you  are  English,  we  declare  war  against  you." 

Previous  to  this,  and  on  the  third  of  June,  1763,  news  had  been  received  of 
the  conclusion  of  peace  between  France  and  England  ;  and  one  of  the 
French  inhabitants,  holding  up  a  copy  of  the  treaty  in  answer  to  this 
harangue,  replied :  "  My  brother,  you  see  that  our  arms  are  tied  by  our 
great  father,  the  King  of  France ;  untie  this  knot,  and  we  will  join  you ; 
but,  till  that  is  done,  wre  shall  sit  quietly  on  our  mats." 

The  vessel  which  had  been  despatched  to  Niagara  now  returned  with  a 
supply  of  provisions  and  arms.  To  prevent  her  reaching  the  fort,  a  great 
number  of  Indians  had  left  the  siege  and  repaired  to  Fighting  island,  a  short 
distance  below.  After  annoying  her  from  their  canoes  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  they  at  length  resolved  to  get  possession  of  her  by  boarding,  and  were 
approaching  her  with  all  their  force  for  that  purpose,  when  she  opened  upon 
them  a  destructive  fire,  which  wounded  and  killed  a  large  number,  and  put 
the  rest  to  flight.  She  then  dropped  down  the  river  to  wait  for  a  fair  wind, 
and  a  few  days  afterward  reached  Detroit  without  farther  molestation. 

Pontiac  now  endeavored  to  destroy  the  vessels  Avhich  were  anchored  oppo 
site  to  the  fort,  as  they  greatly  aided  in  its  defence.  He,  for  this  purpose, 
demolished  the  barns  of  several  of  the  French  settlers,  and  from  the  mate 
rials,  which  were  of  a  resinous  nature  and  perfectly  dry,  he  constructed  rafts, 
and,  setting  them  on  fire,  committed  them  to  the  current  of  the  river,  which 
is  here  quite  rapid,  in  the  expectation  that  they  would  float  down  against 
them  and  burn  them.  The  English,  however,  perceiving  his  object,  anchored 
small  boats  above  the  vessels,  fastened  to  each  other  with  iron  chains,  to 
intercept  and  turn  away  these  dangerous  masses,  in  which  they  were  per 
fectly  successful,  and  the  blazing  rafts  passed  harmlessly  by. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  efficient  aid  was  received  by  the  English 
garrison.  A  fleet  of  gun-boats  made  its  appearance,  strongly  armed,  and 
having  on  board  a  detachment  of  three  hundred  regular  troops,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Dalyell,  one  of  the  aids  of  Sir  Jeffry  Amherst.  Sup 
posing  that  Pontiac  might  be  surprised  in  his  camp,  they  landed  a  force  of 
two  hundred  and  forty-seven  men,  and  marched  up  the  river  with  that  object. 
But  this  chief,  apprised  of  their  intentions,  had  removed  his  women  and 
children,  and  prepared  for  a  vigorous  defence.  A  party  of  his  warriors  were 
concealed  behind  the  pickets  of  the  neighboring  farms,  others  lay  hid  in  the 
long  prairie  grass,  which  grew  here  to  a  great  height,  and  others  again  were 
concealed  behind  heaps  of  wood.  The  British  force  had  no  sooner  reached 
the  point  now  called  Bloody  Bridge,  than  they  received  a  destructive  fire 
from  the  rifles  of  the  savages.  -  For  a  moment  their  columns  wavered,  as 
their  commander,  Captain  Dalyell,  had  fallen  at  the  first  discharge ;  but, 
soon  rallying,  they  fought  with  great  bravery,  and  charged  upon  the  enemy 
with  the  bayonet.  The  Indians,  however,  without  being  seen,  continued  to 
pour  forth  a  destructive  fire  upon  the  English,  and  could  only  be  dislodged 
from  their  places  of  concealment  by  driving  them  from  house  to  house,  and 
from  field  to  field.  Perceiving  that  their  numbers  were  diminishing,  and 
that  they  were  fighting  under  great  disadvantages,  the  English  now  com 
menced  a  retreat  to  the  fort,  protected  by  the  'armed  gun-boats,  after  a  loss 
of  nineteen  men  killed  and  forty-two  wounded. 

While  these  scenes  were  passing  at  Detroit,  events  of  a  still  more  tragical 
character  were  taking  place  on  the  upper  lakes.  Michilimackinac,  which 
is  distant  nearly  four  hundred  miles  from  Detroit,  has  been  already  described. 


CONDITION  OF  THE  COUNTRY  UNDER  THE  ENGLISH.       49 

This  fort  was  surrounded  with  pickets  of  cedar,  and  its  stockade  was  washed 
by  the  waves  of  the  strait.  At  that  time  the  fort  was  protected  by  several 
pieces  of  brass  cannon,  taken  from  the  trading-posts  of  Hudson's  Bay.  There 
was  a  chapel  in  which  mass  was  regularly  performed  by  a  Jesuit  missionary. 
At  this  post  there  were  about  thirty  families,  and  it  was  garrisoned  by  ninety- 
three  men.  The  savages  here  were  still  more  inveterate  in  their  hostility  to 
the  English  than  at  Detroit.  Alexander  Henry,  the  English  trader,  had 
been  obliged  to  wear  the  garb  of  a  coureur  des  bois  on  his  way  to  that  post, 
where  there  were  then  but  four  English  merchants  residing.  The  hostile 
disposition  of  the  savages  was,  indeed,  clearly  manifested  on  his  first  arrival. 
He  had  been  there  but  a  very  short  time  when  he  was  visited  by  a  body  of 
Chippewas,  painted  and  dressed  in  the  most  warlike  style,  with  feathers 
thrust  through  their  noses.  Their  chief,  Minavavana,  thus  addressed  him : 

"Englishman,  it  is  to  you  that  I  speak,  and  I  demand  your  attention. 

"Englishman,  you  know  that  the  French  King  is  our  father;  he  promised 
to  be  such,  and  we,  in  return,  promised  to  be  his  children:  this  promise  we 
have  kept. 

"  Englishman,  it  is  you  that  have  made  wrar  with  this  our  father.  You 
are  his  enemy,  and  how  then  could  you  have  the  boldness  to  venture  among 
us,  his  children?  You  know  that  his  enemies  are  ours. 

"  Englishman,  we  are  informed  that  our  father,  the  King  of  France,  is  old 
and  infirm,  and  that,  being  fatigued  with  making  war  upon  your  nation,  he 
has  fallen  asleep.  During  this  sleep  you  have  taken  advantage  of  him,  and 
possessed  yourselves  of  Canada.  But  his  nap  is  almost  at  an  end :  I  think 
I  hear  him  already  stirring,  and  inquiring  for  his  children,  the  Indians ; 
and  when  he  does  awake,  what  must  become  of  you?  He  will  destroy  you 
utterly. 

"Englishman,  although  you  have  conquered  the  French,  you  have  not 
yet  conquered  us.  We  are  not  your  slaves.  These  lakes,  these  woods  and 
mountains,  are  left  to  us  by  our  ancestors ;  they  are  our  inheritance,  and  we 
will  part  with  them  to  none.  Your  nation  supposes  that  we,  like  the  white 
people,  cannot  live  without  bread,  and  pork,  and  beef,  but  you  ought  to 
know  that  He,  the  Great  Spirit  and  Master  of  Life,  has  provided  food  for 
us  in  these  spacious  lakes,  and  on  these  wooded  mountains. 

"Englishman,  our  father,  the  King  of  France,  employed  our  young  men 
to  make  war  upon  your  nation.  In  this  war  many  of  them  have  been  killed, 
and  it  is  our  custom  to  retaliate  until  such  time  as  the  spirits  of  ^the  slain 
are  satisfied.  But  the  spirits  of  the  slain  are  only  to  be  satisfied  in  one  of 
two  ways :  the  first  is  by  spilling  the  blood  of  the  nation  by  which  they  fell; 
the  other,  by  covering  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  and  thus  allaying  the  resent 
ment  of  their  relations.  This  is  done  by  making  presents. 

"  Englishman,  your  King  has  never  sent  us  any  presents,  nor  entered  into 
any  treaty  with  us,  wherefore  he  and  we  are  still  at  war ;  and,  while  he  does 
these  things,  we  must  consider  that  we  have  no  other  father  or  friend  among 
the  white  people  than  the  King  of  France.     But  for  you,  we  have  taken  into 
consideration  that  you  have  ventured  among  us  in  the  expectation  that  we 
should  not  molest  you.     You  do  not  come  armed  with  an  intention  to  make 
war.     You  come  in  peace  to  trade  with  us,  and  supply  us  with  necessaries 
of  which  we  are  much  in  want.     We  shall  regard  you,  therefore,  as  a  br 
ther,  and  you  may  sleep  tranquilly,  without  fear  of  the  Chippewas.     As 
token  of  our  friendship,  we  present  you  this  pipe  to  smoke. 

But,  although  no  attack  was  made  upon  him,  it  was  perceived  that  th 
spirit  of  the  savages  was  anything  but  friendly.     He  was  afterward  visited 
by  a  chief  who  was  at  the  head  of  a  party  of  Ottawa  warriors,  who  als( 

D 


50  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

made  him  a  speech,  and  compelled  him  to  deliver  a  part  of  his  goods  to  the 
Indians  on  a  credit. 

Thus  affairs  were  here  speedily  coming  to  a  crisis.  The  warriors  in  the 
wilderness  around  this  post  had  also  received  from  Pontiac  the  war-belt, 
and  were  now  busy  in  collecting  their  bands  for  the  purpose  of  joining  his 
confederacy,  the  object  of  which  was  to  blot  out  the  English  power  from  the 
territory  bordering  on  the  lakes.  No  serious  suspicions  were  awakened  at 
Michiliinackinac,  although  large  bodies  of  Indians  had  been  noticed  collect 
ing  around  the  post,  some  of  them  apparently  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing 
European  merchandise,  trinkets,  and  silver  ornaments  which  Henry  had  for 
sale,  but  for  the  most  part  without  any  apparent  object. 

On  the  seventh  of  June,  Wawatam,  a  Chippewa  chief,  called  on  this 
trader,  who  had  recently  come  from  the  Saute  de  Ste.  Marie,  telling  him  that 
he  was  sorry  that  he  had  left  the  Saute,  and  requesting  that  he  would  go 
back  with  him  to  that  post  the  following  day.  He  also  desired  to  know  if 
Major  Etherington  had  not  received  some  bad  news ;  for,  said  he,  "  I  have 
been  disturbed  with  the  noise  of  evil  birds."  The  following  day  he  repeated 
his  request,  and  urged  his  suspicions  anew.  The  trader  conceived  it  to  be  his 
duty  to  inform  Major  Etheriugton  of  what  had  taken  place :  but,  unfor 
tunately,  this  officer  paid  no  attention  to  it,  considering  it  as  mere  idle  ap 
prehension. 

The  number  of  savages  having  greatly  increased,  it  was  proposed  the 
next  day  to  celebrate  the  anniversary  of  the  King's  birth  by  a  game  which 
is  called  Bayrjatiway.  This  is  a  common  game  among  the  Indians,  and  is 
played  with  bats  and  ball.  A  ball  is  placed  in  the  centre  of  an  open  piece 
of  ground :  the  players  divide  themselves  into  two  parties,  and  a  struggle 
then  takes  place  between  them  to  knock  the  ball  to  the  post  of  the  opposite 
party.  It  had  been  agreed  among  the  savages  to  throw  the  ball,  as  if  by 
accident,  over  the  pickets ;  and,  when  this  had  been  done,  to  rush  after  it, 
possess  themselves  of  the  fort,  and  massacre  the  garrison. 

The  game  was  accordingly  commenced,  and  Major  Etherington,  who  was 
present  as  a  spectator,  laid  a  wager  on  the  success  of  the  Chippewas,  the 
greater  part  of  the  garrison  being  at  the  same  time  collected  outside  the  fort 
to  witness  the  sport.  Suddenly  the  ball,  according  to  their  previous  under 
standing,  was  thrown  over  the  pickets,  and,  as  appeared  very  natural,  the 
Indians  all  rushed  after  it.  But  almost  instantly  the  war-cry  of  the  savages 
rose  from  the  interior  of  the  fort,  and  a  dreadful  scene  commenced.  The 
trader,  who  had  been  prevented  from  being  present  at  the  game,  hearing  the 
tumult  without,  and  finding  the  savages,  about  four  hundred  in  number,  in 
possession  of  the  post,  crawled  over  a  low  fence  which  separated  his  house 
from  that  of  M.  Langlade,  a  French  Canadian,  and  entreated  him  to  afford 
him  some  place  of  concealment.  But  Langlade,  shrugging  up  his  shoulders, 
hastily  turned  away  from  the  window  where  he  had  been  looking  out,  coolly 
saying  that  he  knew  of  no  such  place.  At  this  moment  a  Pawnee  slave  be 
longing  to  Langlade  beckoned  to  Henry  to  come  to  a  door  which  she  pointed 
out  to  him,  conducted  him  to  the  garret  of  the  house,  and,  having  concealed 
him  there,  locked  the  door  and  took  away  the  key. 

Henry  gazed  through  the  crevices  of  the  wall  upon  the  scene  below,  and 
it  was  a  scene  of  horror.  A  great  number  of  the  English  soldiers  lay  dead 
around  the  fort ;  some  were  seen  struggling  between  the  knees  of  the  sav 
ages,  who  were  scalping  them  while  yet  alive.  Others  were  cut  in  pieces, 
and  their  blood  was  drank  by  the  warriors  from  the  hollows  of  their 
hands  joined  together,  while  they  were  shrieking  most  hideously,  like  so 
many  demons.  At  length  there  was  a  profound  silence,  an  awful  sus- 


CONDITION  OF  THE  COUNTRY  UNDER  THE  ENGLISH.       51 

pense,  which  denoted  that,  for  want  of  more  victims,  the  work  of  death  was 
done. 

The  Indians  now  gathered  about  the  house  of  Langladc,  and  asked  him 
if  any  of  the  English  had  taken  shelter  there.  Langlade  replied  that 
none  had  to  his  knowledge,  but  that  they  might  examine  for  themselves. 
Two  or  three  of  the  savages  coming  to  the  garret  door,  demanded  the  key, 
and,  unlocking  it,  went  in. 

By  this  time  Henry  had  concealed  himself  behind  a  heap  of  birch-bark 
vessels  which  were  used  in  the  making  of  maple-sugar,  where  the  dark 
color  of  his  clothes,  aided  by  the  absence  of  light  in  the  room,  prevented 
him  from  being  seen,  so  that  the  Indians,  satisfying  themselves  that  there 
was  no  one  there,  soon  went  away.  There  was  a  mat  in  the  room,  and 
Henry,  laying  himself  down  on  it,  soon  fell  asleep.  It  was  not  long,  how 
ever,  before  he  was  awakened  by  the  wife  of  Langlade,  who  informed  him 
that  most  of  the  English  had  been  despatched,  but  that  he  might  hope  to 
escape.  The  shades  of  night  now  came  on,  and  the  trader  sought  again  in 
slumber  to  forget  the  horrors  of  the  scene. 

He  was  not,  however,  so  easily  to  escape.  Langlade's  wife,  notwith 
standing  the  encouragement  she  had  held  out  to  him,  determined  to  make 
known  his  place  of  concealment,  saying  that  the  Indians  would  murder  her 
if  the  trader  was  found  secreted  in  her  house.  Accordingly,  she  took  the 
key  and  gave  it  to  Wenniway,  a  chief  of  the  most  hideous  appearance. 
This  warrior  was  more  than  six  feet  in  height,  and  his  naked  body  was 
painted  all  over  with  a  mixture  of  grease  and  charcoal,  as  was  his  face, 
with  the  exception  of  a  circular  ring  around  each  of  his  eyes.  Accom 
panied  by  a  body  of  savages,  he  entered  the  garret,  and  approaching  the 
trembling  trader,  grasped  him  by  the  collar,  and  fixing  his  eyes  steadfastly 
upon  him,  raised  his  knife,  as  if  about  to  plunge  it  into  his  breast ;  but, 
suddenly  checking  himself,  he  dropped  the  fatal  weapon  and  said,  "  I  won't 
kill  you.  I  have  lost  a  brother,  whose  name  is  Musinigon.  You  shall  be 
called  after  him." 

But  the  sufferings  of  the  trader  were  not  yet  at  an  end.  He  was  stripped 
of  his  clothes  and  carried  to  L'Arbre  a  Croche  as  a  prisoner.  Here,  how 
ever,  his  friend  Wawatam,  faithful  to  his  promise  of  protection,  appeared 
in  his  behalf,  ransomed  him,  and  accompanied  the  trader  to  the  island  of 
Mackinaw,  where  he  concealed  him  from  a  band  of  drunken  savages  in 
what  is  now  called  the  Scull  Rock. 

The  fort  of  Michilimackinac  was  now  burned  to  the  ground.  Seventy  of 
the  English  soldiers  had  been  massacred,  and,  to  complete  the  sanguinary 
deed,  the  bodies  of  many  of  them  were  boiled  and  eaten  by  the  savages. 
The  lives  of  the  remainder,  as  well  as  of  the  prisoners  taken  at  St.  Joseph 
and  Green  Bay,  were  spared,  and  on  the  return  of  peace  they  were  all  re 
leased,  either"  with  or  without  ransom.  At  the  close  of  these  tragical 
events  a  number  of  Indian  canoes  arrived  with  English  traders,  who  were 
beaten,  insulted,  and  marched  to  the  prison  lodge. 

After  the  work  of  devastation  had  been  finished,  many  of  the  Indians 
retired  to  the  island  of  Mackinaw,  while  others  repaired  to  Detroit,  to  aid 
Ponliac  in  the  siege  of  this  post.  This  chief,  however,  soon  found  that  his 
enemies  were  too  formidable  for  him.  General  Bradstreet  now  arrived  to 
relieve  the  fort,  at  the  head  of  an  army  of  three  thousand  men.  On 
his  way  he  had  destroyed  the  villages  of  the  hostile  savages,  laid  wast, 
their  corn-fields  along  the  rich  bottoms  of  the  Maumee,  dispersed  the 
natives  in  every  direction,  and  reached  Detroit  without  opposition. 
Indians,  perceiving  that  they  could  no  longer  contend  against  so  power- 


52  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

ful  a  foe,  laid  down  their  arms,  and  thus  the  war  was  brought  to  a  close. 
Of  Pontiac,  after  his  discomfiture,  but  little  is  certainly  known.  Disap 
pointed  and  mortified  at  the  failure  of  his  plans,  he  retired  to  Illinois, 
where  he  was  assassinated  about  the  year  1767  by  an  Indian  of  the  Peoria 
tribe.  The  character  of  this  chief  was  bold  and  strongly  marked.  Excelled 
by  none  of  his  race  in  courage,  strength,  and  energy,  he  possessed  traits 
which  pointed  him  out  for  a  leader.  To  have  had  sufficient  influence  to 
bring  the  numerous  tribes  of  the  West,  along  a  frontier  of  a  thousand 
miles,  to  co-operate  with  him  in  his  desperate  undertaking,  must  have 
required  much  more  than  ordinary  talents.  Although  destitute  of  those 
principles  of  honor  which  prevail  among  civilized  nations  in  the  operations 
of  war,  he  possessed  a  larger  share  of  humanity  than  is  commonly  found 
among  savages.  Undismayed  by  difficulties,  and  far-seeing  and  compre 
hensive  in  his  plans,  he  fought  from  a  sense  of  justice  and  in  defence  of  the 
rich  domain  which  had  been  bequeathed  to  him  by  his  ancestors. 

THE  FUR-TRADE  AND  AMERICAN  INDEPENDENCE. 

From  the  year  1679,  when  La  Salle  and  Hennepin  crossed  Lake  Erie 
with  the  first  vessel  that  had  ever  disturbed  the  waters  of  that  lake,  the  face 
of  the  country  had  been,  down  to  the  time  of  the  English  occupation,  but 
little  changed.  During  the  period  of  the  French  power  in  this  quarter,  the 
fur-trade  had  been  vigorously  carried  on  along  the  great  chain  of  lakes,  and 
through  every  channel  in  which  it  could  be  made  to  circulate,  either  by 
companies  chartered  for  that  object,  or  by  individual  enterprise.  The  cou- 
reurs  des  bois,v?\io  acted,  says  La  Honton,  "like  East  Indiamen  and  pirates," 
returning  periodically  from  their  inland  voyages  to  swell  the  population  at 
the  different  posts,  brought  with  them  in  bark  canoes  the  furs  and  peltry 
which  they  had  collected,  and  deposited  them  at  the  factories  erected  to 
receive  them;  from  thence  they  were  at  regular  seasons  transported  to  the 
headquarters  of  the  trade  at  Montreal  and  Quebec,  where  they  were  shipped 
for  Europe. 

The  principal  channels  through  which  this  traffic  was  carried  on  between 
the  upper  and  lower  provinces  continued  to  be  the  Ottawa  river  or  Lake 
Erie,  the  packs,  when  the  latter  course  was  adopted,  being  transported  across 
the  portage  of  Niagara  Falls  upon  the  backs  of  the  traders. 

The  condition  of  this  trade  under  the  French,  although  depending  much 
on  the  peculiar  character  of  the  people,  was  essentially  modified  by  the  pos 
itive  operation  of  the  laws.  The  government  of  the  colony  was,  it  is  true, 
exercised  with  apparent  mildness,  but  still  it  was  impressed  with  those  harsh 
principles  which  characterized  the  most  aristocratic  period  of  the  Bourbons. 
Even  the  form  of  land  distribution,  founded  on  the  Coutume  de  Paris,  was 
extended  to  the  French  colonies  of  the  West.  Its  operation  was  exceedingly 
oppressive,  and  greatly  retarded  the  growth  of  the  settlement,  It  confined 
the  energies  of  the  people  to  narrow  tracts  of  land,  granted  under  burden 
some  conditions,  placing  them  in  the  power  of  seigneurs,  which  was  but 
another  name  for  masters,  instead  of  opening  the  broad  and  fertile  bosom 
of  the  West  to  free  and  unencumbered  industry,  such  as  is  now  effecting 
such  extraordinary  changes  in  that  region  under  the  equal  laws  of  our  own 
Republic.  The  people  under  this  system  were  but  the  mere  appendages  of 
large  corporations,  parts  of  a  vast  machine  which  was  planned  and  kept  in 
motion  solely  for  the  benefit  of  royal  monopolies. 

It  has  been  remarked  that  the  aspect  of  things  in  these  remote  regions 
was  but  little  changed  after  they  came  into  the  possession  of  the  English 


THE  FUR-TRADE  AND  AMERICAN  INDEPENDENCE.  53 

The  ch.apels  and  the  forts  continued  in  much  the  same  state;  the  little  farms 
of  the  French,  surrounded  by  pickets,  stretched  along  the  banks  of  the 
streaiiis  as  before;  and  the  country  presented  a  variegated  aspect  of  French, 
English,  and  Indian  manners.  The  red  coats  of  the  British  regulars  con 
trasted  very  strikingly  with  the  peasant  garb  of  the  French  farmers,  and 
with  the  wild  and  fantastic  dress  of  the  natives. 

The  insurrection  being  quelled,  a  system  of  conciliatory  measures  was 
adopted  to  secure  the  good- will  of  the  disaffected  tribes ;  small  grants  of 
land  were  made  around  the  posts,  and  the  Indians  themselves  were  induced 
to  cede  portions  of  their  territory  for  a  trifling  consideration  to  the  French 
colonists.  These  grants  were  made,  however,  without  any  authority  from 
the  British  Government.  The  French  settlements  extended  along  the  banks 
of  the  Detroit  and  St.  Clair  rivers  to  the  distance  of  about  twenty  miles 
above  and  below  the  town,  with  here  and  there  a  lonely  hut  of  some  trench 
trader  at  a  favorable  point  in  the  interior.  Detroit  continued  to  be  the  most 
prominent  post,  and  three  years  after  the  Pontiac  wTar  the  town  contained 
not  less  than  a  hundred  houses,  independent  of  the  barracks.  On  the  west 
side  of  the  town  lay  the  commons,  which  received  the  name  of  the  King's 
Garden.  The  fort  was  surrounded  by  pickets  and  mounted  with  small  can 
non,  was  garrisoned  by  two  hundred  men,  and  the  commandant  exercised  a 
sort  of  arbitrary  power  under  the  general  supervision  of  the  governor-gen 
eral  of  Canada. 

Meanwhile  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  which  had  been  long  a  rival  of 
the  old  French  companies,  extended  its  operations  through  the  wilderness 
which  had  been  the  ranging  ground  of  the  French  traders.  This  company 
had  been  chartered  in  1669  by  Charles  II.  That  charter,  granted  to  a  com 
pany  of  English  merchants,  authorized  them  to  occupy  a  very  extensive 
region  north  of  Canada  for  the  prosecution  of  the  fur-trade,  to  establish  mil 
itary  posts  for  the  defence  of  their  persons  and  property,  and  to  traffic  with 
the  native  tribes. 

From  1763  to  the  close  of  the  three  following  years,  the  trade  from  Mon 
treal  with  the  interior  had  been  greatly  diminished,  the  Indians  carrying 
on  most  of  their  traffic  with  the  agents  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  In 
1766  individual  adventurers  began  to  extend  their  operations  along  the  lake 
shores  in  the  same  track  that  had  formerly  been  pursued  by  the  French, 
and  soon  came  in  collision  with  the  large  companies  which  were  striving  to 
occupy  for  their  exclusive  benefit  this  extensive  region.  Thus  the  course  of 
the  trade  continued  to  present  the  same  wild  features  which  had  character 
ized  it  under  the  former  regime. 

The  English  made  but  little  change  either  in  the  laws  or  in  their  admin 
istration,  and  pursued  the  same  general  policy  as  had  their  predecessors  the 
French.  The  commandants  of  the  posts,  although  responsible  to  the  gover 
nor-general  at  Quebec,  were  still  possessed  of  a  discretionary  power  which 
was  all  but  absolute,  and  which  they  exercised  in  a  highly  arbitrary  man 
ner,  as  perhaps  was  necessary  among  such  a  population  as  they  had  to  deal 
with.  Whenever  any  crime  was  committed,  however,  which  required  a 
formal  trial,  it  was  customary  for  these  officers  to  summon  a  jury  of  the 
most  respectable  inhabitants,  and  to  abide  by  their  decision. 

A  semblance  of  the  criminal  laws  of  England  was,  it  is  true,  introduced, 
but  these  laws  were  administered  without  any  regard  to  fixed  principles  or 
to  established  rules.  A  single  example  will  suffice  to  show  the  manner  m 
which  legal  proceedings  were  conducted  in  1776. 

Governor  Hamilton,  at  that  time  the  commanding  officer  at  Detroit,  be 
ing  informed  of  a  theft  committed  by  a  Canadian  Frenchman,  directed 


54  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Philip  Dejean  and  twelve  jurors  to  hear  and  adjudge  the  case :  they  accord 
ingly  proceeded  to  the  trial,  and  convicted  the  individual  of  the  crime 
alleged  against  him.  The  record  of  this  trial  has  come  down  to  us,  and  it 
is  a  most  singular  document.  Lord  Dorchester,  however,  then  governor  of 
Canada,  was  no  sooner  made  acquainted  with  the  proceedings  in  this  case, 
so  contrary  to  every  principle  of  law,  than  he  issued  a  warrant  for  the  arrest 
of  Hamilton  and  Dejeau,  though,  unfortunately,  they  had  both  previously 
left  the  country. 

In  1774  an  act  was  passed,  called  the  Quebec  Act,  establishing  the 
boundaries  of  Canada,  including  Michigan,  and  extending  thence  to  the 
Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers  on  the  south,  and  north  from  the  St.  Lawrence 
to  the  latitude  of  52°,  or  to  the  lands  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  This 
act  granted  to  the  Catholic  inhabitants  the  free  exercise  of  their  religion, 
the  undisturbed  possession  of  their  Church  property,  and  the  right  in  all 
matters  of  litigation  to  demand  a  trial  according  to  the  former  laws  of  the 
province.  But  this  right  was  not  extended  to  the  settlers  on  lands  granted 
by  the  English  crown.  The  criminal  laws  of  England  were  introduced  into 
Canada,  and  the  crown  reserved  to  itself  the  right  of  establishing  courts  of 
civil,  criminal,  and  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction.  ' 

The  enterprise  of  the  people  wras  not  W7holly  confined  to  the  fur-trade. 
The  mineral  region  upon  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior  had  been  visited  as 
early  as  1773;  a  project  was  formed  for  working  the  copper  ore  discovered 
there,  and  a  company  in  England  had  obtained  a  charter  for  that  object. 
This  company  consisted  of  the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  Mr.  Secretary  Town- 
shend,  Sir  Samuel  Tutchet,  Bart.,  Mr.  Baxter,  consul  of  the  Empress  of 
Russia,  Mr.  Cruikshank,  Sir  William  Johnston,  Bart.,  Mr.  Bostwick,  and 
Alexander  Henry,  the  English  fur-trader  who  figured  so  conspicuously  in 
the  fall  of  Michilimackinac.  A  sloop  was  accordingly  purchased,  and  the 
miners  commenced  their  operations.  They  soon  found,  however,  that  the 
expenses  of  blasting  and  of  transportation  were  too  great  to  warrant  the 
prosecution  of  the  enterprise,  and  it  was  abandoned.  Previous  to  this,  a 
company  of  English  adventurers  had  embarked  in  the  same  project,  but 
they  also  gave  it  up  on  account,  as  they  said,  "  of  the  distracted  state  of 
affairs  in  America." 

In  1783  several  influential  merchants,  who  had  been  individually  engaged 
in  the  fur-trade,  entered  into  partnership  for  its  more  vigorous  prosecution, 
though  without  any  charter,  and  established  what  was  styled  the  Northwest 
Company.  The  stock  of  this  company  was  divided  into  sixteen  shares.  No 
money  was  paid  in,  but  each  of  the  partners  engaged  to  furnish  his  propor 
tion  of  the  goods  necessary  to  carry  on  the  trade. 

In  1787  the  shareholders  appointed  from  their  number  special  agents  to 
import  from  England  such  goods  as  might  be  required,  and  to  store  them  at 
Montreal.  The  plan  they  adopted  for  conducting  the  trade  was  similar  to 
that  which  had  been  pursued  by  the  French.  The  European  goods  were, 
by  the  orders  of  the  agents,  made  into  such  articles  as  were  wanted  by  the 
traders  and  Indians,  and  packed  up  and  forwarded,  and  the  money  for  the 
outfits  was  also  supplied  by  them. 

Storehouses  were  erected  in  convenient  and  accessible  situations  on  the 
borders  of  the  lakes,  and  the  posts  formerly  occupied  by  the  French  were 
employed  for  the  same  purpose.  Connected  writh  these  there  were  also 
trading-houses  and  places  where  the  various  persons  employed  in  carrying 
on  the  trade  might  be  accommodated.  Agents  were  sent  to  Detroit,  Mack 
inaw,  the  Saute  de  Ste.  Marie,  and  the  Grand  Portage  near  Lake  Superior, 
where  the  furs  were  deposited  when  brought  from  the  interior,  and  whose 


THE  FUR-TRADE  AND  AMERICAN  INDEPENDENCE.  55 

business  it  was  to  have  them  packed  and  sent  to  Montreal  for  shipment  to 
England. 

the  most  important  point  of  the  fur-trade  was  the  Grand  Portage  of 
Lake  Superior,  situated  in  a  remote  region  to  the  northwest,  where  the 
greatest  quantity  of  furs  could  be  collected.  Here  the  proprietors  of  the 
establishment,  the  guides,  clerks,  and  interpreters,  messed  together  in  a 
large  hall  hung  round  with  elk-horns,  ornamented  pipes,  hatchets,  and 
other  implements  used  by  the  Indians  in  war  and  peace,  while  the  canoe- 
men,  or  coureurs  des  bois,  were  allowed  nothing  but  a  dish  which  they  called 
"  hommony,"  consisting  of  Indian  corn  boiled  in  a  strong  alkali  and  sea 
soned  with  fat. 

The  persons  employed  in  this  traffic  were  a  motley  and  very  peculiar  race. 
Besides  the  clerks,  interpreters,  and  guides,  there  was  a  numerous  body, 
half  Indian  and  half  French,  which  had  been  constantly  increasing  in  this 
quarter  from  the  frequent  intermarriages  between  the  traders  and  the 
native  women.  The  canoes  employed  by  them  were  of  large  size,  each  one 
being  capable  of  containing  ten  men  and  about  sixty-five  packages  of  furs. 

The  European  goods  purchased  for  this  traffic  consisted  of  blankets, 
cutlery,  glass  beads,  and  other  trinkets,  besides  different  articles  that  were 
obtained  at  Montreal. 

These  goods  were  ordered  from  England  the  season  before  they  were 
wanted,  shipped  from  London  the  following  spring,  and  arrived  in  Canada 
early  in  the  summer.  Here  they  were  made  up  into  packages  of  a  conve 
nient  size,  weighing  each  about  ninety  pounds,  sent  to  the  interior  the  next 
spring,  exchanged  for  furs  during  the  succeeding  winter,  and  the  following 
autumn  these  furs  were  received  at  Montreal  and  shipped  for  London. 

Thus  this  interesting  trade,  which  had  been  carried  on  for  more  than  a 
century,  still  continued  to  circulate  in  its  ordinary  channels  along  the 
waters  of  the  lakes.  But  the  spirit  of  mercantile  rivalry  was  carried  to  a 
great  extent,  and,  unhappily,  excited  all  the  worst  passions  in  the  human 
breast.  The  Hudson's  Bay  and  Northwest  Companies,  the  respective  bound 
aries  of  which  were  not  very  clearly  defined,  came  into  active  and  desper 
ate  collision,  and  made  repeated  attacks  upon  the  trading-posts  of  each 
other.  Lord  Selkirk,  however,  having  -placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  succeeded  at  length  in  uniting  the  stock  of  the 
two  companies,  and  thus  put  an  end  to  the  strife.  These  two  companies 
held  dominion  over  the  territory  bordering  on  the  lakes,  and  studied  only 
to  keep  it  a  barren,  howling  waste,  that  they  might  the  better  fill  their  own 
coffers. 

The  American  Kevolution  was  now  about  to  break  forth.  The  people  of 
the  English  colonies  at  the  East  had  declared  that  they  would  not  submit 
to  be  taxed  by  the  mother-country  unless  they  were  represented  in  the 
British  Parliament.  A  duty  having  been  imposed  upon  tea,  a  vessel  lying 
in  Boston  harbor  with  a  quantity  of  it  on  board  had  been  taken  possession 
of  by  a  party  of  the  inhabitants,  and  the  obnoxious  article  was  thrown  into 
the  sea.  From  this  may  be  dated  the  commencement  of  a  struggle  which, 
in  the  desperation  with  which  it  was  fought  and  the  magnitude  of  its 
results,  is  scarcely  paralleled  in  history. 

During  this  eventful  struggle,  the  wilderness  then  comprising  the  terri 
tory  of  the  present  State  of  "Michigan,  with  but  a  small  population,  con 
sisting  principally  of  British  soldiers  and  persons  connected  with  the  fur- 
trade,  from  its  remote  situation  was  but  little  affected  by  the  war,  though 
the  Indians  within  its  borders  were  employed  to  harass  the  American  set 
tlements  upon  the  frontiers  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  V  irgmia, 


56  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Detroit  and  Michilimackinac  were,  during  this  period,  the  points  of 
greatest  interest.  At  these  posts  the  Indian  warriors  were  assembled  and 
furnished  with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  from  thence  they  were  despatched 
against  the  nearest  American  settlements,  to  pillage,  burn,  and  destroy,  and 
to  massacre  and  scalp  the  defenceless  inhabitants.  On  their  return  from 
their  murderous  expeditions,  these  savage  allies  were  met  by  the  British 
commanders  in  the  council-houses  of  Mackinaw  and  Detroit,  and  there 
received  the  stipulated  price  for  the  scalps  which  they  brought. 

It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  European  inhabitants  of  Michigan  and 
Canada  should  have  been  opposed  to  the  doctrines  of  the  American  Revo 
lution.  The  French  population  had  been  accustomed  to  a  despotic  govern 
ment,  and  from  habit  were  little  inclined  to  any  other ;  while  the  English 
colonists  were  mere  adventurers,  and  had  come  to  the  country  for  no  other 
reason  than  to  benefit  their  fortunes  by  its  trade.  They  were,  therefore, 
actuated  by  a  totally  different  spirit  from  that  which  animated  the  inhabi 
tants  of  the  original  English  colonies,  who  were  fixed  in  their  habits,  and 
who  had  fled  from  the  persecutions  of  the  people  of  England,  that  they 
might  enjoy,  undisturbed,  the  right  of  self-government  in  matters  of  re 
ligion. 

Not  only  were  parties  of  Indians  sent  out  against  the  American  settle 
ments,  but  in  some  instances  they  were  supported  by  the  regular  troops  and 
the  local  militia.  One  of  these  joint  expeditions,  commanded  by  Captain 
Byrd,  set  out  from  Detroit  to  attack  Louisville.  It  proceeded  in  boats  as 
far  as  it  could  ascend  the  Maumee  river,  and  from  thence  crossed  over  to 
the  Ohio  ;  but  the  high  water  here  preventing  them  from  reaching  the  place 
for  which  they  started,  they  marched  to  what  is  called  Ruddle's  Station. 
The  formidable  force  which  they  presented  intimidated  the  garrison  at  this 
post,  and  it  immediately  surrendered,  under  the  promise  of  being  protected 
from  the  Indians.  This  promise,  however,  was  violated,  and  the  prisoners 
were  all  massacred.  A  small  stockade,  called  Martin's  Station,  was  like 
wise  taken  by  the  same  commander,  and  his  advance  threw  the  whole 
region  into  the  utmost  consternation,  when  he  suddenly  withdrew. 

Another  expedition  started  from  Detroit  under  the  command  of  Henry 
Hamilton,  the  commandant  of  the  post.  At  that  time  the  feeble  settlements 
in  what  now  comprises  Kentucky  were  much  exposed  to  the  hostile  inroads 
of  the  savages,  and  General  Clarke,  an  officer  of  great  bravery  and  expe 
rience,  had  been  sent  by  the  Governor  of  Virginia  for  their  defence.  Sup 
posing  that  he  could  better  accomplish  his  object  by  reducing  Kaskaskia, 
Kahokia,  and  other  small  French  settlements  in  this  region,  which  were 
believed  to  be  friendly  to  the  British  cause,  he  descended  the  river  and  took 
possession  of  them. 

Governor  Hamilton  was  no  sooner  informed  of  these  proceedings  than  lie 
collected  a  force  of  regulars,  militia,  and  Indians  and  proceeded  to  St.  Vin 
cent,  where  he  halted  to  make  arrangements  for  active  operations  as  soon 
as  the  season  would  permit.  His  design  was  to  recover  the  posts  which  had 
been  captured  by  General  Clarke,  to  attack  and  defeat  the  force  under  his 
command,  and  destroy  the  infant  settlements  of  the  Americans  in  this 
region. 

General  Clarke  was  soon  advised  of  the  movements  of  Hamilton.  A 
Spanish  merchant  informed  him  that  this  officer  was  extremely  careless  in 
his  operations,  and  that  he  had  sent  a  part  of  his  force  to  the  Ohio  river  to 
destroy  the  settlements  along  its  banks.  The  American  general  accord 
ingly  despatched  an  armed  boat  to  the  Wabash,  with  orders  to  her  com 
mander  not  to  permit  anything  to  pass  that  river,  while  he  himself  set  out 


THE  FUR-TRADE  AND  AMERICAN  INDEPENDENCE.  57 

with  one  hundred  and  thirty  men  for  the  same  point,  although  in  the  depth 
of  winter.  Sixteen  days  were  occupied  in  crossing  the  country,  the  soldiers 
sometimes  marching  up  to  their  breasts  in  water  along  the  shores  of  the 
Wabash,  that  stream  having  overflowed  its  banks.  As  soon  as  they  arrived 
at  St.  Vincent,  the  soldiers  were  drawn  up  in  order  of  battle,  and,  with  the 
trunk  of  a  tree  formed  in  the  shape  of  a  cannon,  they  boldly  advanced  to 
attack  the  British  post.  Governor  Hamilton,  supposing  that  he  was  about 
to  be  assailed  by  artillery,  immediately  surrendered.  The  British  were  suf 
fered  to  return  to  Detroit ;  but  their  commander,  who  was  known  to  have 
been  active  in  instigating  the  Indians  to  commit  the  greatest  barbarities, 
was  placed  in  irons  and  sent  to  Virginia  as  a  prisoner  of  war. 

Still  some  of  the  savages  were  not  well  affected  to  the  British  cause.  As 
early  as  1776  the  Delawares  had  received  a  message  from  the  Hurous 
of  Detroit,  requesting  them  to  "  keep  their  shoes  in  readiness  to  unite  with 
their  warriors."  Netawatwees,  however,  the  chief  of  the  Delawares,  who 
wished  to  remain  neutral,  would  not  listen  to  this  proposal,  but  sent  to  the 
Huron  chief  in  return  several  belts  of  \vampum,  admonishing  him  at  the 
same  time  to  keep  quiet,  and  to  remember  the  misery  which  the  Hurons  had 
formerly  brought  upon  themselves  by  engaging  in  wars  on  the  side  of  the 
French.  The  reply  of  the  Delawares  was  delivered  in  the  presence  of  De 
Peyster,  the  English  commandant,  who  cut  the  belts  of  wampum  in  pieces, 
threw  them  on  the  ground,  and  commanded  the  messengers  who  brought 
them  instantly  to  quit  the  country. 

Certain  Moravian  missionaries,  who  were  engaged  in  their  peaceful  and 
pious  labors  on  the  banks  of  the  Muskingum,  did  not  escape  the  suspicions 
of  the  English  in  this  quarter.  These  disinterested  and  charitable  men  were 
accused  of  holding  a  secret  correspondence  with  the  Congress  at  Philadel 
phia,  and  of  contributing  their  influence,  as  well  as  that  of  their  Indian  con 
gregation,  to  aid  the  American  cause. 

The  Indian  agent  was  therefore  sent  to  Niagara,  and  a  grand  council  of 
the  Iroquois  was  assembled,  at  which  those  tribes  were  urged  to  break  up 
the  Indian  congregation  collected  by  the  Moravians.  Not  wishing,  how 
ever,  to  have  anything  to  do  with  it,  they  sent  a  message  to  the  Chippewas 
and  Ottawas,  with  a  'belt,  stating  that  they  gave  the  Indian  congregation 
into  their  hands  "  to  make  soup  of." 

In  1781  the  Moravian  missionaries  arrived  at  Detroit,  where  they  were 
immediately  brought  before  De  Peyster,  the  English  commandant.  A  war 
council  was  held  at  the  same  time,  when  the  council-house  was  completely 
filled,  the  different  tribes  being  arranged  on  either  side.  The  assembly  was 
addressed  in  a  long  speech  by  Captain  Pipe,  the  principal  chief  of  the  Wolf 
tribe,  who  had  committed  the  most  savage  barbarities  upon  the  scattered 
American  settlements.  He  told  the  commandant  "  that  the  English  might 
fio-ht  the  Americans  if  they  chose :  it  was  their  cause,  and  not  his ;  that  they 
had  raised  a  quarrel  among  themselves,  and  that  it  was  their  business  to 
fight  it  out.  They  had  set  him  on  the  Americans,"  he  said,  "  as  the  hunter 
sets  his  doo-  upon  the  game."  By  the  side  of  the  British  commander  stood 
a  war-chief,  with  a  stick  in  his  hand  four  feet  in  length  strung  with  Ameri 
can  scalps.  "Now,  father,"  said  he,  presenting  the  stick  and  addressing 
himself  to  the  commandant,  "here  is  what  has  been  done  with  the  hatchet 
you  gave  me.  I  have  made  the  use  of  it  that  you  ordered  me  to  do,  an 
found  it  sharp."  .  . 

It  was  by  such  influences  that  these  savage  tribes  were  instigated  to  com 
mit  the  most  atrocious  cruelties  against  the  defenceless  American  settle 
ments  on  the  frontiers  during  the  whole  course  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 

D  * 


58  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Every  avenue  was  closed  whereby  a  different  influence  might  be  introduced 
among  them,  and  they  were  made  to  believe  that  the  Americans  were  only 
seeking  to  possess  themselves  of  their  lands,  and  to  drive  them  away  from 
the  territory  they  had  inherited  from  their  forefathers. 

But,  after  the  country  from  Maine  to  Florida  had  been  drenched  with 
blood  in  this  great  contest  for  freedom,  the  American  cause  was  at  last  tri 
umphant;  and  by  the  treaty  of  peace  concluded  at  Versailles  in  1783,  an 
end  was  at  last  temporarily  put  to  these  barbarities ;  the  distant  settlers 
were  permitted  once  more  to  resume  their  labors  and  to  sleep  without  alarm. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  NORTHWESTERN  TERRITORY. 

But,  although  the  war  was  at  an  end,  the  posts  and  trading  stations  along 
the  lakes,  within  the  acknowledged  limits  of  the  United  States,  were  not 
given  up.  Of  the  real  causes  which  induced  the  British  Government,  in 
violation  of  all  the  principles  of  good  faith,  to  retain  these  posts,  we  have 
no  means  of  judging.  It  may,  however,  be  fairly  inferred  from  the  conduct 
of  individuals,  that  if  that  Government  did  not  actually  and  by  direct  means 
promote  the  Indian  war  which  broke  out  at  this  time,  it  did  not,  to  say  the 
least,  discountenance  it. 

There  is  ample  evidence  to  show  that  British  emissaries  were  sent  to  the 
remote  Indian  tribes  on  the  borders  of  the  lakes  to  instigate  them  to  take  up 
arms,  and  that,  after  they  had  done  so,  they  looked  for  aid  from  the  English 
garrisons  within  the  American  territory.  In  the  treaty  of  peace  of  1783, 
there  was  no  express  stipulation  in  regard  to  the  surrender  of  the  northwest 
ern  posts;  but  by  the  second  article  of  Jay's  treaty,  in  1794,  it  was  agreed 
that  the  British  troops  should  be  withdrawn  from  all  the  posts  assigned  to 
the  United  States  by  the  former  treaty  (of  1783)  on  or  before  the  first  day 
of  June,  1796. 

The  conduct  of  England  in  so  long  persisting  in  retaining  possession  of  a 
country  which  did  not  belong  to  her,  we  shall  not  pretend  to  account  for ; 
but  the  value  of  this  country,  from  the  richness  of  its  soil  and  its  other 
advantages,  soon  began  to  attract  attention. 

Measures  were  accordingly  taken  for  its  temporary  government.  The 
circumstance  which  had  more  particularly  directed  the  public  attention  to 
this  western  domain  was  a  memorial  from  the  soldiers  and  officers  of  the 
Revolutionary  army,  presented  to  General  Washington  in  1783,  setting  forth 
their  claims  to  a  portion  of  the  public  lands.  Nothing,  however,  was  granted 
to  them  at  that  time. 

The  country  had  been  completely  exhausted  by  the  terrible  struggle  in 
which  it  had  been  so  long  engaged,  and,  heavily  burdened  with  debt,  it  was 
now  seeking  for  some  means  by  which  it  could  secure  its  liquidation ;  and, 
as  the  war  had  been  prosecuted  for  the  general  good,  it  was  held  that  the 
States  claiming  lands  in  this  quarter  were  bound  to  grant  portions  of  them 
for  this  object.  The  territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio  was  claimed  by  several 
of  the  Eastern  States,  on  the  ground  that  it  was  included  within  the  limits 
indicated  by  their  charters  from  the  English  Crown.  In  answer  to  the 
wishes  of  the  Government  and  people,  these  States,  in  a  patriotic  spirit,  sur 
rendered  their  claims  to  this  extensive  territory,  that  it  might  constitute  a 
common  fund  to  aid  in  the  payment  of  the  national  debt. 

To  prepare  the  way  for  this  cession,  a  law  had  been  passed  in  October, 
1780,  that  the  territory  so  to  be  ceded  should  be  disposed  of  for  the  common 
benefit  of  the  whole  Union ;  that  the  States  erected  therein  should  be  of 
suitable  extent,  not  less  than  one  hundred  nor  more  than  one  hundred  and 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  NORTHWESTERN  TERRITORY.  59 

fifty  miles  square;  and  that  any  expenses  that  might  be  incurred  in  recov 
ering  the  posts  then  in  the  hands  of  the  British  should  be  reimbursed. 

New  York  released  her  claims  to  Congress  on  the  1st  of  March,  1781; 
Virginia  on  the  1st  of  the  same  month,  1784;  Massachusetts  on  the  19th  of 
April,  1785;  and  Connecticut  on  the  4th  of  September,  1786. 
_  Meanwhile,  the  Iroquois,  in  1784,  conveyed  to  the  United  States  all  their 
right  to  any  lands  west  of  Pennsylvania;  and  on  the  1st  of  January,  1785, 
by  the  treaty  of  Fort  Mclntosh,  the  Ottawas,  Chippewas,  Delawares,  and 
Wyandots  surrendered  all  the  lands  claimed  by  them  south  of  the  Ohio,  a 
belt  of  territory  six  miles  broad,  commencing  at  the  River  Raisin  and  extend 
ing  along^the  strait  to  Lake  St.  Clair,  a  tract  of  twelve  miles  square  at  the 
Rapids  of  the  Maumee,  together  with  the  Islands  of  Bois  Blanc  and  Mack 
inaw,  and  also  a  tract  six  miles  by  three  on  the  mainland,  to  the  north  of 
the  last-mentioned  island.  These*  different  cessions  having  been  obtained 
from  the  native  tribes,  in  1787  a  government  was  organized  for  this  exten 
sive  region,  which  received  the  name  of  the  Northwest  Territory. 

It  is  unnecessary  here  to  examine  particularly  the  details  of  this  ordin 
ance  :  it  was  based  on  the  principles  of  civil  liberty  maintained  in  the  Magiia 
Charta  of  England,  re-enacted  in  the  Bill  of  Rights,  and  incorporated  into 
our  different  State  constitutions.  This  ordinance,  it  is  well  known,  was 
drawn  up  by  Nathan  Dane,  of  Beverly,  Massachusetts,  a  benevolent  and 
excellent  man,  and  a  distinguished  lawyer,  who  was  the  compiler  of  a  very 
valuable  abridgment  of  American  Law,  and  the  founder  of  the  Dane  Law 
School  in  the  University  of  Cambridge. 

On  the  7th  of  April,'  1788,  a  company  of  forty-seven  individuals  landed 
at  the  spot  where  Marietta  now  stands,  and  there  commenced  the  settlement 
of  Ohio.  The  first  code  of  laws  for  this  territory  was  published  by  nailing 
them  to  the  body  of  a  tree  upon  the  banks  of  the  Muskiugum,  and  Return 
Jonathan  Meigs  was  appointed  to  administer  them,  the  Governor,  Arthur 
St.  Clair,  not  having  yet  arrived. 

We  have  seen  that  the  Western  posts  were  still  retained  by  the  British 
Government,  notwithstanding  the  peace  concluded  in  1783.  Several  ques 
tions  of  no  little  interest  had  sprung  up,  which  excited  unfriendly  feelings 
between  the  two  nations  and  governed  their  policy.  Debts  due  by  Ameri 
cans  to  British  subjects,  the  payment  of  which  had  been  guaranteed  by  the 
treaty,  were  not  paid ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  the  slaves  belonging  to 
American  citizens,  and  who  had  been  taken  away  by  the  British  officers, 
were  not  restored.  In  consequence  of  this  unsettled  state  of  things,  when 
the  Baron  Steuben  was  sent  by  General  Washington  to  Sir  Frederic  Haldi- 
mand  at  Quebec  to  arrange  matters  for  the  occupation  of  these  posts,  with 
instructions  to  proceed  to  Michigan  and  along  the  line  of  the  lake  frontier 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  possession  of  them,  he  was  informed  that  they 
would  not  be  given  up,  and  was  refused  passports  to  Niagara  and  Detroit. 

Combined  with  the  retention  of  the  posts,  a  new  confederacy  among  the 
savages  was  evidently  organizing  in  the  West.  As  early  as  December, 
1780,  a  grand  council  of  the  different  tribes  was  held  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Detroit  river.  At  this  council  were  delegates  from  the  Six  Nations, 
from  the  Ilurons,  the  Ottawas,  the  Miamis,  the  Shawanese,  the  Chippewas, 
the  Cherokees,  the  Delawares,  the  Pottowatamies,  and  from  the  confederates 
of  the  Wabash.  The  principal  subject  of  discussion  at  this  council  appears 
to  have  been  a  question  of  boundary.  It  was  contended  by  the  Indians  that 
the  United  States  had  no  right  to  cross  the  Ohio  river,  but  they  advised  a 
pacific  line  of  policy  so  long  as  there  was  no  actual  encroachment  upon  their 
territory  The  design  of  this  discussion  undoubtedly  was  to  create  a  behet 


(JO  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

that  the  Americans  intended  to  drive  them  from  their  lands,  and,  as  was 
said,  to  "  kindle  their  council  fires  wherever  they  thought  proper,  without 
consulting  the  Indians."  The  American  Government,  indeed,  considered 
that  the  treaty  of  1783  vested  in  them  jurisdiction  over  the  Indian  territory, 
a  claim  which  the  native  occupants  were  by  no  means  disposed  to  admit. 
At  this  time,  also,  the  United  States  were  at  issue  with  a  foreign  Power 
respecting  the  right  of  navigating  the  Mississippi. 

Among  other  things,  as  a  plea  for  still  retaining  the  Western  posts,  it  was 
pretended  by  the  English  that  the  extensive  and  valuable  country  in  which 
they  were  situated  had  been  ceded  away  through  some  oversight  on  the  part 
of  the  commissioners,  or  from  their  ignorance  of  the  geography  of  the  coun 
try.  But  the  real  motives  by  wrhich  they  were  actuated  are  sufficiently 
manifest.  They  had  already  succeeded  in  exciting  hostile  feelings  among 
the  Indian  tribes,  and  this  they  were  determined  to  take  advantage  of  for 
the  purpose  of  preventing  this  broad  and  fertile  region  from  passing  out  of 
their  hands. 

Many  of  the  half-breeds  were  also  active  in  seconding  the  views  of  the 
English,  not  only  by  inflaming  the  minds  of  the  Indians,  but  by  promising 
to  take  up  arms  in  their  cause,  from  a  belief  that  if  they  did  not  thus  side 
with  them  they  would  not  afterward  be  suffered  to  trade  in  their  territory. 
Meanwhile  Alexander  McKenzie,  an  agent  of  the  British  Government, 
visited  Detroit,  painted  like  a  savage,  and  stated  that  he  had  just  returned 
from  the  remote  tribes  of  the  tipper  lakes,  who  were  all  in  arms,  and  pre 
pared  to  oppose  the  claims  of  the  Americans  to  the  Western  lands ;  that 
large  bodies  of  warriors  had  already  assembled,  and  that  they  were  about 
to  attack  the  infant  settlements  of  Virginia  and  Ohio.  The  artifice  prac 
tised  by  McKenzie  succeeded  to  his  wish  ;  and  he  could  the  better  operate 
upon  the  prejudices  and  passions  of  the  Indians  as  he  spoke  their  language 
perfectly  well.  Elliot  and  the  notorious  Simon  Girty  were  no  less  active  in 
exciting  the  savages  to  war. 

In  1794  an  agent  was  sent  from  the  Spanish  settlements  on  the  banks  of 
the  Mississippi  for  the  same  object,  and  to  hasten  the  organization  of  the 
Indian  confederacy  against  the  United  States.  "  Children,"  said  he  to  his 
savage  auditors,  "  you  see  me  on  my  feet  grasping  the  tomahawk  to  strike 
them,  (the  Americans.)  We  will  strike  together.  I  do  not  desire  you  to 
go  before  me  in  the  front,  but  to  follow  me.  Children,  you  hear  what  these 
distant  nations  have  said  to  us,  so  that  we  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  put  our 
designs  into  immediate  execution,  and  to  forward  this  pipe  to  the  three  war 
like  nations  who  have  been  so  long  struggling  for  their  country.  Tell  them 
to  smoke  this  pipe,  and  to  forward  it  to  all  the  lake  Indians  and  to  their 
Northern  brethren.  Then  nothing  will  be  wanting  to  complete  our  general 
union  from  the  rising  to  the  setting  of  the  sun,  and  all  the  nations  will  be 
ready  to  add  strength  to  the  blow  we  are  going  to  strike."  Excited  by  these 
various  means,  bands  of  savage  warriors,  armed  with  the  tomahawk  and 
seal  ping-knife,  were  seen  hastening  towards  the  lake  posts,  and  another  great 
Indian  confederacy  was  formed,  consisting  of  the  Ottawas,  the  Pottowata- 
mies,  the  Wyamlots,  the  Miamis,  the  Chippewas,  and  the  Delawares. 

As  early  as  1785  and  178H  the  hostile  Indians  had  occasionally  sent  their 
war-parties  against  the  feeble  frontier  settlements  in  Kentucky  and  along 
the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  where  a  few  enterprising  emigrants  from  Virginia 
and  New  England  had  erected  their  little  clusters  of  log-cabins. 

These  border  incursions,  which  most  clearly  appear  to  have  been  counte 
nanced  by  the  British,  induced  the  American  Government  in  1790  to  send 
into  that  quarter  General  Josiah  Harmar,  an  accomplished  and  abJe  officer, 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  NORTHWESTERN  TERRITORY.  Ql 

to  put  a  stop  to  them.  He  advanced  against  the  hostile  tribes  with  a  force 
amounting  to  fourteen  hundred  men ;  but,  imprudently  dividing  his  army 
he  was  taken  by  surprise  and  defeated  by  a  body  of  Indians  led  on  by  that 
sanguinary  and  desperate  warrior,  the  Little  Turtle. 

^  General  Harmar,  having  failed  in  his  enterprise,  was  succeeded  by  Major 
General  St.  Glair,  the  Governor  of  the  Northwestern  Territory  ;  and  in  Octo 
ber,  1792,  this  officer  advanced  into  the  Indian  country  with  a  force  of  about 
two  thousand  men.  Warned  as  he  was  by  the  disaster  that  had  proved  so 
fatal  to  his  predecessor,  he  fell  into  an  ambuscade  that  had  been  laid  for 
him,  where  the  Indians,  firing  from  behind  their  breastwork  of  fallen  trees, 
carried  destruction  into  the  American  ranks,  and  soon  covered  the  ground 
with  their  dead.  So  sudden  and  unexpected  was  the  attack,  and  so  mur 
derous  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  that  the  general  was  compelled  to  order  a 
retreat,  leaving  his  artillery  in  the  hands  of  the  savages. 

On  account  of  these  repeated  disasters,  it  became  necessary  to  increase 
the  army  by  enlistments,  and  to  push  a  still  stronger  force  against  the  hos 
tile  Indian  tribes.  General  Washington  therefore  made  the  most  strenuous 
efforts  to  effect  this  object ;  but,  owing  to  the  panic  produced  by  the  disas 
trous  defeats  of  Harmar  and  St.  Clair,  with  but  little  success.  There  was, 
moreover,  no  small  opposition  to  the  war ;  and  additional  measures  were 
deemed  necessary  to  bring  it  to  a  close. 

In  1793  General  St.  Clair  was  succeeded  by  General  Anthony  Wayne  in 
the  command  of  the  Western  army.  Advancing  through  the  forests  to 
the  spot  which  had  been  rendered  memorable  by  the  defeat  of  St.  Clair,  he 
there  constructed  a  fort  upon  the  site  of  the  old  fortification,  and  called  it 
Fort  Recovery.  Situated  in  the  midst  of  the  scene  of  former  carnage,  there 
might  then  have  been  seen  around  it,  under  the  trees  and  amid  the  fallen 
logs,  the  bleached  bones  of  those  who  had  been  slain. 

General  Wayne  soon  reached  the  confluence  of  the  Au  Glaze  and  Mau- 
mee  rivers,  and  found  the  villages  spread  along  the  bottoms  of  the  latter 
completely  deserted.  A  short  time  afterward  he  arrived  at  the  Rapids  of 
the  Maumee,  and  erected  there  a  fort  about  four  miles  above  the  British 
post,  which  he  called  Fort  Deposite,  in  which  he  placed  his  stores  and  bag 
gage.  This  British  post,  established  on  American  ground,  had  been  fortified 
by  a  detachment  sent  from  Detroit  the  preceding  spring,  and  the  Indians 
appeared  to  look  upon  it  as  their  last  refuge  in  case  they  were  attacked. 

The  British  Government  had  demanded,  before  the  treaty  of  1783,  as  one 
of  the  conditions  of  peace,  the  complete  independence  of  the  savage  tribes, 
with,  of  course,  the  power  to  grant  their  lands  to  whomsoever  they  pleased. 
The  Americans  having  refused  to  accede  to  this  condition,  that  post  was 
established  on  the  banks  of  the  Miami  for  the  purpose,  it  was  believed,  of 
countenancing  the  Indians,  and  of  actively  supporting  them  should  they 
gain  the  ascendancy.  General  Wayne  therefore  felt  it  necessary  to  advance 
with  the  utmost  caution,  as  everything  depended  not  only  upon  his  courage, 
but  his  prudence.  He  had  been  directed,  however,  in  case  he  was  opposed 
by  the  British,  to  treat  them  according  to  the  usages  of  war. 

*  The  American  commander  was  not  long  in  coming  up  with  his  savage  foe. 
The  Indians  regarding  him  with  great  fear  from  his  supposed  cunning,  call 
ing  him  the  Blacksnake  on  that  account ;  while  the  American  army,  con 
sisting  of  three  thousand  men,  no  doubt  presented  a  truly  formidable  appear 
ance  to  them. 

The  Indian  force,  their  whole  strength  being  collected  at  this  point,  was 
in  point  of  numbers  about  the  same.  Most  of  the  savages  were  naked  and 
painted  for  battle.  Stationed  in  a  dense  forest,  and  protected  by  the  rocky 


02  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

bank  of  the  river  and  a  breastwork  of  fallen  trees,  they  were  disposed  in 
three  lines  within  supporting  distance  of  each  other. 

Wayne's  Legion  consisted  of  two  thousand  regulars  and  one  thousand 
mounted  militia,  under  General  Scott,  of  Kentucky.  The  right  flank  of  his 
army  rested  on  the  river,  a  brigade  of  mounted  volunteers  under  General 
Todd  occupied  the  left,  and  General  Babee,  with  his  division,  formed  the 
rear.  Major  Price  was  ordered  to  advance  with  a  select  battalion  of  rifle 
men  to  reconnoitre,  and,  if  attacked,  to  retreat  in  pretended  confusion,  in 
order  to  entice  the  enemy  towards  the  main  body.  The  stratagem  proved 
successful ;  and  while  the  savages  were  rushing  forward  and  startling  the 
wilderness  with  their  yells  of  triumph,  the  American  army  advanced  against 
them  with  trailed  arms,  being  ordered  to  press  them  with  the  bayonet,  to 
rouse  them  from  their  lurking-places,  and  deliver  a  close  fire  upon  their 
backs,  so  as  to  allow  them  no  opportunity  to  escape.  The  Indians  now 
began  to  break,  and  retreated  towards  the  walls  of  Fort  Maumee.  While 
these  events  were  taking  place,  the  gates  of  the  fort  had  been  shut,  and  the 
English  within  gazed  with  apparent  indifference  upon  the  scene.  In  the 
action  there  was  actually  engaged  on  the  side  of  the  savages  a  force  from 
Detroit,  headed  by  a  prominent  individual  of  that  place.  General  Wayne 
destroyed  the  Indian  villages  and  the  cornfields  on  the  banks  of  the  Mau 
mee,  and  proceeded  towards  Fort  Defiance. 

Before  he  left  the  battle-ground,  however,  he  paraded  his  force  in  front 
of  the  British  post,  that  they  might  see  its  strength,  while  he  advanced  with 
his  staff  towards  the  glacis  to  examine  the  character  of  the  position,  and  to 
ascertain,  as  far  as  was  possible,  what  were  the  intentions  of  the  garrison. 
The  American  officers,  as  they  drew  near,  could  discover  the  British  soldiers, 
with  matches  lighted  and  standing  by  their  guns,  ready  for  any  emergency 
that  might  arise.  Some  attempts  were  made  by  his  officers  to  persuade  the 
British  commander  to  revenge  this  insulting  parade  before  his  post  by 
allowing  them  to  salute  the  Americans  with  a  discharge  from  their  artil 
lery.  Nothing  of  this  kind,  however,  was  permitted,  though  a  correspon 
dence  of  no  very  friendly  character  took  place.  General  Wayne  finally 
succeeded  in  concluding  a  treaty  with  the  Indians  at  Greenville,  which 
effectually  broke  up  the  confederacy. 

The  settlements  in  Michigan  up  to  this  period  had  advanced  but  slowly. 
The  French  Canadians  had  extended  their  farms  to  a  considerable  distance 
along  the  banks  of  the  St.  Clair  ;  and  on  the  Detroit  river  there  were  a  few 
straggling  French  settlements,  as  also  on  Otter  Creek,  and  on  the  rivers 
Rouge,  Pointe  aux  Tremble,  and  other  small  streams  flowing  into  Lake 
Erie.  Agriculture  and  the  fur-trade  constituted  nearly  the  entire  occupa 
tion  of  the  inhabitants. 

Detroit  and  Frenchtown,  both  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  peninsula,  were 
at  this  time  the  only  places  of  much  importance.  The  former  was  merely 
a  small  cluster  of  rude  wooden  houses,  defended  by  a  fort,  and  surrounded 
by  pickets,  and  formed,  as  it  had  long  done,  the  principal  depot  for  the  fur- 
trade.  The  population,  independent  of  the  soldiers  of  the  garrison,  con 
sisted  principally  of  Scotch,  French,  and  English  merchants,  who  had 
removed  here  after  the  conquest  of  the  country,  for  the  prosecution  of  that 
traffic.  The  goods  required  here  were  obtained  from  Montreal,  and  bills  of 
credit  for  small  sums,  payable  at  that  place  or  at  Quebec,  were  allowed  to 
be  issued  by  the  merchants,  on  condition  of  their  giving  security  to  double 
their  amount.  Frenchtown,  on  the  river  Raisin,  now  a  place  of  consid 
erable  importance,  consisted  at  that  time  of  only  a  few  log  cabins,  erected 
by  the  French  on  either  bank  of  the  river.  Two  Indian  villages,  one  occu- 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  NORTHWESTERN  TERRITORY.  63 

pied  by  the  Ottawas,  the  other  by  the  Pottowatamies,  stood  on  the  present 
site  of  the  city  of  Monroe.  Being  a  depot  for  the  Northwestern  Company, 
the  surrounding  Indians  periodically  resorted  there  to  exchange  their  furs 
and  peltry  for  cloths,  beads,  silver  ornaments,  fire-arms,  ammunition,  and 
su.-h  other  articles  as  they  required.  The  French  settlers  in  the  vicinity 
also  disposed  of  their  corn  here  in  exchange  for  goods,  and  from  thence  it 
was  transported  to  the  upper  lakes  for  the  use  of  the  traders. 

About  this  tinie^  a  project  was  started,  which,  had  it  been  successful, 
would  have  been  highly  injurious  to  the  interests  of  this  part  of  the  West. 
In  17^5,  Robert  Randall,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Charles  Whitney,  of  Ver 
mont,  in  connection  with  several  merchants  of  Detroit,  entered  into  a  com 
pact,  the  object  of  which  was  to  appropriate  to  themselves  a  tract  of  territory 
comprising  nearly  twenty  millions  of  acres,  situated  between  Lakes  Erie, 
Huron,  and  Michigan.  This  was  to  be  done  by  securing  to  themselves  the 
pre-emption  right.  The  land  was  to  be  divided  into  forty-one  shares,  five 
of  which  were  to  be  apportioned  among  the  traders  of  Detroit  who  were 
parties  to  the  agreement,  six  were  to  be  given  to  Randall  and  those  asso 
ciated  with  him,  and  the  remainder  were  to  be  distributed  among  members 
of  Congress  who  should  exert  their  influence  in  procuring  the  passage  of 
the  necessary  law.  The  amount  proposed  to  be  paid  for  this  vast  tract  was 
from  half  a  million  to  a  million  of  dollars ;  and  it  was  believed  that  the 
merchants  of  Detroit  had  sufficient  influence  with  the  Indians  to  induce 
them  to  part  with  the  land.  In  opposition  to  the  measure,  it  was  represented 
that,  under  the  treaty  of  1783,  the  right  of  purchase  belonged  exclusively 
to  the  United  States  ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  it  was  urged  that  the  Indians 
were  dissatisfied  with  this  treaty,  and  did  not  consider  themselves  bound  by 
it,  and  that  the  plan  proposed  would  alone  establish  tranquility  among 
them,  and  secure  peace  to  the  country.  But,  as  soon  as  the  corrupt  char 
acter  of  the  plan  was  discovered,  the  two  principal  projectors  were  brought 
before  the  bar  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  when,  on  the  hearing  of 
the  evidence,  Randall  was  discharged,  but  Whitney  was  fined  to  the  amount 
of  the  costs  which  had  accrued,  and  received  a  severe  reprimand. 

The  Indian  power  having  been  broken  by  Wayne's  victory,  and  the  treaty 
of  Greenville  binding  the  savages  from  farther  aggression,  the  island  of  Mack 
inaw  was  at  last  surrendered,  and  Detroit  also  given  up,  the  retiring  garri 
son,  to  show  their  spite,  locking  the  gates  of  the  fort,  breaking  the  windows 
in  the  barracks,  and  filling  the  wells  with  stones,  in  order  to  annoy  the  new 
occupants  as  much  as  was  in  their  power.  The  latter  post  was  soon  after 
taken  possession  of  by  a  detachment  of  troops  under  the  command  of  Cap 
tain  Porter,  and  the  American  flag  hoisted  on  its  ramparts  for  the  first  time. 
Thus  Michigan  at  last  passed  quietly  into  the  possession  of  the  United 
States. 

While  the  English  held  this  country,  Mackinaw  was  the  chief  place  of 
rendezvous  for  the  Indians  and  the  traders  of  the  Northwest  Company. 
Starting  from  this  picturesque  island  in  huge  canoes,  propelled  by  the  voy- 
G gears,  the  merchants  would  at  times  sweep  across  the  sparkling  waters  of 
those  inland  seas,  provided  with  the  means  of  the  most  luxurious  revelry, 
and,  encamping  on  their  shores,  would  there  hold  their  feasts,  surrounded 
by  half-bred  dependants,  traders,  and  Indians. 

*  While  the  French  were  in  possession  of  this  country,  as  there  was  but 
little  coin  for  general  circulation,  accounts  were  kept  in  beaver-skins  or  other 
furs  reduced  to  their  current  value.  The  price  of  beaver  at  Michilimack- 
inac  in  1765  was  two  shillings  and  sixpence  the  pound,  Michilimackinac 
currency ;  otter-skins  were  six  shillings  each,  and  marten-skins  one  shilling 


64  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

and  sixpence.  Ten  beaver-skins  were  given  for  a  stroud  blanket,  eight  for 
a  white  blanket,  two  for  a  pound  of  powder,  one  for  a  pound  of  shot  or  ball, 
twenty  for  a  gun,  two  for  an  axe  of  one  pound  weight,  and  one  for  a  knife. 
The  notes  and  coin  of  Quebec  were  sometimes  seen  at  the  lake  posts,  but  not 
in  sufficient  quantity  to  be  relied  on  for  a  uniform  currency. 

CONDITION  AFTER  THE  SURRENDER  OF  THE  POSTS. 

It  was  a  long  time  after  this  fertile  but  uncultivated  territory  came  into  the 
possession  of  the  United  States  before  its  character  was  materially  changed. 
The  Canadian  French  continued  to  form  the  principal  part  of  its  population. 
The  interior  of  the  country  was  but  little  known  except  by  the  Indians  and 
the  traders,  who  explored  it  in  the  pursuit  of  furs.  As  the  effect  of  trans 
ferring  the  jurisdiction  from  France  to  England  had  been  little  more  than 
to  change  the  garrisons  from  French  to  English,  and  to  give  to  the  Hud 
son's  Bay  Company  a  monopoly  of  the  fur-trade,  so  its  surrender  to  the 
United  States  produced  but  little  alteration  in  its  general  features.  As  the 
Indian  title  was  not  fully  extinguished,  no  lands  were  brought  into  market, 
and,  consequently,  the  settlements  proceeded  but  very  slowrly. 

In  the  division  of  the  Northwestern  Territory,  what  is  now  the  State  of 
Michigan  constituted  a  single  county,  which  received  the  name  of  Wayne. 
It  sent  one  representative  to  the  Legislature  of  the  Northwestern  Territory, 
which  was  held  at  Chilicothe.  A  Court  of  Common  Pleas  was  organized 
for  the  county,  and  the  general  court  of  the  whole  territory  sometimes  met 
at  Detroit.  No  roads  had  as  yet  been  constructed  through  the  interior,  nor 
were  there  any  settlements  except  on  the  frontiers.  The  habits  of  the  people 
were  essentially  military,  and  but  little  attention  was  paid  to  agriculture 
except  by  the  French  peasantry.  In  winter  they  drove  their  carrioles  over 
the  ice  with  their  Canadian  ponies  that  were  of  Norman  stock,  many  of 
which  are  now  to  be  seen  in  this  country ;  and  in  summer  they  employed 
small  wooden  carts,  well  adapted  to  the  state  of  the  roads,  for  the  carriage 
of  their  goods — vehicles  that  are  still  used. 

The  county  continued  to  send  a  representative  to  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Northwestern  Territory  at  Chilicothe  until  1800,  when  Indiana  was 
erected  into  a  separate  territory ;  and  two  years  afterward  it  was  annexed 
to  this  new-formed  territory,  and  remained  under  its  jurisdiction  until  1805. 
In  the  month  of  January  of  that  year  it  was  erected  into  a  separate  terri 
tory,  and  William  Hull  was  appointed  the  first  governor.  The  system  of 
government  was  somewhat  peculiar,  the  executive  power  being  confided  in 
the  governor,  the  judicial  in  three  judges,  who  were  authorized  to  "adopt 
and  publish "  laws  suited  to  the  territory,  and  not  incompatible  with  the 
ordinance  of  1787,  and  the  legislative  power  was  exercised  by  the  two  jointly. 
On  the  25th  of  July  of  that  year  the  territory  was  divided  into  three  districts, 
namely,  Erie,  Huron,  and  Michilimackinac,  for  each  of  which  a  court  was 
established,  to  be  held  by  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
territory,  with  exclusive  jurisdiction  in  criminal  matters,  and  also  in  all  civil 
cases  above  the  sum  of  twenty  dollars,  those  below  this  sum  being  cognizable 
by  justices  of  the  peace.  A  few  years  afterward  it  was  divided  into  coun 
ties,  in  each  of  which  was  organized  a  county  court.  The  laws  thus  intro 
duced  were,  as  might  be  expected,  crude  and  ill-digested,  as  is  abundantly 
attested  by  the  records  of  the  courts  at  that  period,  which  are  still  pre 
served. 

General  Hull,  when  he  arrived  at  Detroit  to  assume  his  official  duties  as 
governor  of  the  territory,  found  the  town  in  ruins,  it  having  been  destroyed 


CONDITION  AFTER  THE  SURRENDER  OF  THE  POSTS.  65 

by  fire.  Whether  this  disaster  had  been  occasioned  by  accident  or  design 
was  not  known.  However  this  may  have  been,  as  the  town  was  very  com 
pact,  covering  only  two  acres  of  ground,  and  the  materials  were  of  the 
most  combustible  nature,  it  was  soon  entirely  consumed,  and  the  unfortunate 
inhabitants  were  obliged  to  encamp  in  the  open  fields,  almost  destitute  of 
food  and  shelter.  Still  they  were  not  discouraged,  and  soon  commenced 
rebuilding  their  houses  on  the  same  site.  The  General  Government  also 
took  v  their  case  into  consideration,  and  an  act  of  Congress  was  passed, 
granting  to  the  sufferers  the  site  of  the  old  town  of  Detroit,  and  ten  thous 
and  acres  of  land  adjoining  it. 

A  judiciary  system  was  now  adopted,  and  the  territorial  militia  were 
organized.  In  October  of  the  same  year  a  report  was  made  to  Congress  of 
the  condition  of  the  territory,  and  in  May  of  the  following  year  a  code  of 
laws  was  adopted  similar  to  those  of  the  original  States.  This  code  was 
signed  by  Governor  Hull,  Augustus  B.  Woodward,  and  Frederick  Bates, 
judges  of  the  territory,  and  was  called  the  "  Woodward  Code."  The 
bounds  of  the  territorial  government,  as  then  established,  embraced  all  the 
country  on  the  American  side  of  the  Detroit  river,  east  of  a  north  and 
south  line  drawn  through  the  centre  of  Lake  Michigan. 

The  Indian  land-claims  had  been  partially  extinguished  previous  to  this 
period.  By  the  treaty  of  Fort  Mclntosh  in  1785,  and  that  of  Fort  Har- 
mar  in  1787,  extensive  cessions  had  either  been  made  or  confirmed,  and  hi 
the  year  1807  the  Indian  titles  to  several  tracts  became  entirely  extinct. 

In  consequence  of  the  settlements  which  had  been  made  under  the 
French  and  English  Governments,  some  confusion  sprang  up  in  regard  to 
the  titles  to  valuable  tracts  that  were  claimed  by  different  individuals 
under  the  French  laws.  Congress  accordingly  passed  an  act  establishing  a 
board  of  Commissioners  to  examine  and  settle  these  conflicting  claims ;  and 
in  1807  another  act  was  passed,  confirming  to  a  certain  extent  the  titles  of 
all  such  as  had  been  in  possession  of  the  lands  then  occupied  by  them  from 
the  year  1796,  when  the  territory  was  surrendered,  down  to  the  date  of  that 
act,  Other  acts  were  subsequently  passed,  extending  the  same  conditions 
to  the  settlements  on  the  upper  lakes. 

In  addition  to  their  settlements  along  the  shores  of  the  Detroit  and  St. 
Clair  rivers,  and  the  lake  of  the  latter  name,  where  there  was  a  continued 
line  of  cottages,  with  farms  adjoining,  containing  orchards  of  pear  and 
apple  trees,  planted,  probably,  in  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  and  the  old 
posts  on  the  island  of  Mackinaw,  at  Ste.  Marie  and  at  St.  Joseph,  the 
French  colonists  had  a  line  of  cabins  on  the  river  Raisin,  where  the  city  of 
Monroe  (then  called  French  town)  now  stands.  The  interior  of  the  country 
was  but  little  known  except  by  those  who  were  engaged  in  the  fur-trade, 
and  these  were  interested  in  representing  it  in  as  unfavorable  a  light  as 
possible.  The  Indian  titles  to  the  land  had  been  but  partially  extinguished, 
and  no  portion  of  the  public  domain  had  yet  been  brought  into  market. 
But  few  American  settlers  had  therefore  ventured  into  this  region,  though 
the  adjoining  State  of  Ohio  had  already  acquired  a  considerable  popu 
lation.  . 

The  distance  of  this  territory  also,  and  the  unsettled  state  of  affairs 
along  the  western  borders  of  the  lakes,  necessarily  prevented  immigration. 
On  the  opposite  shore  there  was  a  jealous  foreign  power^  and  the  interior 
of  the  country  was  occupied  by  different  savage  tribes.  The  territory,  too, 
had  but  just  emerged  from  an  Indian  war,  and  another  was  evidently  pre 
paring.  'This  third  Indian  confederacy  was  not  only  countenanced  by  the 
English,  but  directly  instigated  by  them.  The  motives  which  led  to  it,  and 

E 


66  CIVIL  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN. 

the  means  employed  to  bring  it  about,  were  the  same  as  had  proved  suc 
cessful  in  exciting  the  former  insurrections  under  Pontiac  and  the  Little 
Turtle.  The  old  story  was  revived,  that  the  Americans  were  about  to 
drive  the  Indians  from  their  lands  that  they  might  occupy  them  themselves. 
The  chief  projectors  of  this  savage  league  were  Tecumseh  and  his  brother 
the  Prophet. 

The  warlike  leader  of  the  enterprise  was  Tecumseh,  while  the  Prophet, 
whose  Indian  name  was  Elkswatawa,  was  to  operate  on  the  minds  of  the 
savages  by  means  of  superstition,  and  to  excite  in  them  a  spirit  of  fanaticism 
still  more  to  inflame  their  natural  ferocity. 

The  disaffection  of  these  tribes  was  certainly  what  might  have  been  ex 
pected.  They  saw  a  new  power  encroaching  upon  the  inheritance  that  had 
been  handed  down  to  them  from  their  ancestors,  introducing  their  hated 
cultivation  upon  their  soil,  and  rudely  disturbing  the  graves  of  their  dead. 
It  was  not  difficult,  therefore,  to  unite  them  in  one  last  desperate  struggle 
to  resist  this  aggressive  and  threatening  power. 

Their  titles  had  been  only  very  partially  extinguished,  and  they  com 
plained,  that  where  this  had  been  done,  the  treaties  had  been  unfairly  con 
ducted  ;  that  the  Indians  had  been  deceived ;  that  they  were  in  a  state  of 
intoxication  at  the  time  they  signed  away  their  lands,  and  that,  even  under 
these  circumstances,  only  a  part  of  the  tribes  had  given  their  consent.  The 
dissatisfaction  thus  existing  among  them  was  artfully  fomented  by  the  agents 
of  the  Northwest  Company,  who  foresaw  that  if  the  Americans  were  per 
mitted  to  occupy  this  country  they  would  be  cut  off  from  a  valuable  portion 
of  their  trade;  while  the  English  Government,  which  had  ceded  away  this 
extensive  tract  without  any  very  definite  notions  of  its  importance  or  extent, 
looked  with  complacency  on  any  attempts  made  by  the  savages  to  retain  it 
in  their  hands.  An  overreaching  spirit  had  doubtless  actuated  many  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  the  West,  and  wrongs  had  been  inflicted  upon  the  Indians 
which  required  correction.  Taking  advantage  of  this,  the  traders,  and  the 
English  generally,  were  indefatigable  in  sowing  the  seeds  of  discontent  among 
the  savage  tribes ;  and  it  was  contended  that  they  should  hold  the  undis 
turbed  possession  of  the  Northwestern  Territory,  without  surrendering  the 
right  of  pre-emption  to  the  United  States. 

The  Prophet  commenced  his  mission  among  the  tribes  in  1806.  Taking 
advantage  of  the  superstitious  notions  of  the  Indians,  he  told  them  that  the 
Great  Spirit  had  appeared  to  him  in  a  dream,  and  appointed  him  his  agent 
upon  the  earth ;  and  that,  as  such,  his  own  tribe,  the  Shawanese,  being  the 
oldest  tribe  of  the  West,  he  was  commanded  to  direct  them  to  form  a  gen 
eral  confederacy  against  the  United  States.  He  had  been  instructed  also, 
he  said,  to  proclaim  to  the  red  men  that  it  was  the  will  of  the  Great  Spirit 
that  they  should  throw  away  the  arts  of  civilization,  return  to  their  skins 
for  clothing,  and  to  their  bows  and  war-clubs  for  arms,  renounce  the  intox 
icating  drinks  of  the  white  men  for  pure  water,  and,  in  a  word,  resume  all 
the  customs  of  their  ancestors.  The  Americans,  he  said,  had  driven  the 
Indians  from  the  seacoast,  and  were  now  preparing  to  push  them  into  the 
lakes,  so  that  they  had  no  alternative  but  to  make  a  stand  where  they  were, 
and  drive  back  these  insatiable  intruders  to  the  other  side  of  the  Alleghany 
Mountains. 

The  plan  of  this  league  was  in  many  respects  similar  to  that  formed  by 
Pontiac.  Tecumseh's  intention  was  to  surprise  the  posts  of  Detroit,  Fort 
Wayne,  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  and  Vincennes,  and  to  unite  all  the  tribes  from 
the  borders  of  New  York  to  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi. 

As  early  as  the  year  1807,  the  Shawanese  chief  and  his  brother,  the  Pro- 


CONDITION  AFTER  THE  SURRENDER  OP  THE  POSTS.       (57 

phet,  were  actively  engaged  in  sending  their  emissaries,  with  presents  and 
war-belts,  to  the  most  distant  tribes,  to  induce  them  to  join  in  the  confed 
eracy;  and  when  the  comet  appeared  in  1811,  the  latter  artfully  turned  it 
to  account,  by  practising  on  the  superstitions  of  the  savages.  Thus  the  fame 
and  the  influence  of  the  Prophet  spread  rapidly  among  the  tribes  of  the 
Northwest. 

On  the  4th  of  May,  a  special  mission,  consisting  of  deputies  from  the 
Ottawas,  was  sent  to  a  distant  post  upon  the  borders  of  Lake  Superior,  and 
a  grand  council  being  there  assembled,  it  was  addressed  by  Le  Marquoit, 
or  Trout.  He  told  the  Indians  that  he  had  been  sent  by  the  messenger  and 
representative  of  the  Great  Spirit,  and  that  he  was  commissioned  to  deliver 
to  them  a  speech  from  the  "  first  man  whom  God  had  created,  said  to  be  in 
the  Shawariese  country." 

He  then  informed  them  what  were  the  instructions  of  the  Great  Spirit  in 
the  succeeding  address :  "I  am  the  father  of  the  English,  of  the  French,  of 
the  Spaniards,  and  of  the  Indians.  I  created  the  first  man,  who  was  the 
common  father  of  all  these  people  as  well  as  of  yourselves,  and  it  is  through 
him,  whom  I  have  awaked  from  his  long  sleep,  that  I  now  address  you.  But 
the  Americans  I  did  not  make.  They  are  not  my  children,  but  the  children 
of  the  Evil  Spirit.  They  grew  from  the  scum  of  the  great  water  when  it 
was  troubled  by  the  Evil  Spirit,  and  the  froth  was  driven  into  the  woods  by 
a  strong  east  wind.  They  are  numerous,  but  I  hate  them.  My  children, 
you  must  not  speak  of  this  talk  to  the  whites ;  it  must  be  hidden  from  them. 
I  am  now  on  the  earth,  sent  by  the  Great  Spirit  to  instruct  you.  Each 
village  must  send  me  two  or  more  principal  chiefs,  to  represent  you,  that 
you  may  be  taught.  The  bearer  of  this  talk  must  point  out  to  you  the  path 
to  my  wigwam.  I  could  not  come  myself  to  L'Arbre  Croche,  because  the 
world  is  changed  from  what  it  was.  It  is  broken  and  leans  down,  and  as  it 
declines  the  Chippewas  and  all  beyond  will  fall  off  and  die;  therefore,  you 
must  come  to  see  me  and  be  instructed.  Those  villages  which  do  not  listen 
to  this  talk  will  be  cut  off  from  the  face  of  the  earth." 

It  was  by  such  means  that  the  savages  were  roused  to  attack  the  frontier 
settlements  of  the  West,  and  afterward  to  unite  with  the  English  in  their 
war  with  the  United  States.  In  consequence  of  these  menacing  movements 
of  the  Indians,  it  was  considered  advisable  to  construct  a  stockade  around 
the  town  of  Detroit  for  its  defence.  The  population  was  as  yet  small. 
There  had  been,  indeed,  up  to  that  time  but  little  to  encourage  the  settle 
ment  of  the  country.  The  land  had  not  been  offered  for  sale,  and  a  great 
portion  of  Western  New  York  was  still  unoccupied :  not  a  single  steamer 
navigated  the  lakes,  nor  had  any  roads  been  made  into  the  interior. 

Nor  was  the  neighborhood  of  Detroit  without  symptoms  of  Indian  disaf 
fection.  In  September,  1809,  a  special  council  of  the  Hurons  was  called 
near  Brownstown,  and,  at  the  instigation  of  their  principal  chief,  Walk-in- 
the-Water,  they  freely  spoke  of  their  grievances  to  Governor  Hull.  The 
speech  addressed  by  this  chief  to  the  governor,  setting  forth  the  title  of  his 
tribe  to  a  large  tract  of  territory  near  the  mouth  of  the  Detroit  river,  which 
was  claimed  by  the  United  States  under  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  shows  how 
much  dissatisfied  they  were  with  this  treaty,  and  with  the  encroachments  of 
the  Americans  upon  their  soil.  In  the  midst  of  all  these  evidences  of  dis 
content  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  Michigan  remained  in  a  comparatively 
defenceless  state.  There  were  at  this  time  in  the  whole  territory  but  nine 
settlements  of  any  importance;  nor  was  the  character  of  the  population  at 
these  points  such  that  it  could  be  expected  to  oppose  any  very  active  resist 
ance  in  the  conflict  which  seemed  to  be  approaching. 


68  CIVIL  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN. 

These  settlements  were  situated  on  the  rivers  Miami  and  Raisin,  on  the 
Huron  of  Lake  Erie,  on  the  Ecorce,  Rouge,  and  Detroit  rivers,  on  the  Hu 
ron  of  St.  Clair,  the  St.  Clair  river,  and  the  island  of  Mackinaw  ;  and,  in 
addition  to  these,  there  was  here  and  there  a  group  of  huts  belonging  to  the 
French  fur-traders.  The  villages  upon  the  Maumee,  the  Raisin,  and  the 
Huron  of  Lake  Erie  contained  a  population  of  about  thirteen  hundred  ;  the 
post  of  Detroit  and  the  settlements  on  the  rivers  Rouge  and  Ecorce  and  on 
the  Huron  of  St.  Clair  numbered  two  thousand  two  hundred ;  the  island  of 
Mackinaw,  with  the  small  detached  log-houses,  about  a  thousand ;  Detroit 
was  garrisoned  by  ninety-four  men,  and  Mackinaw  by  seventy-nine.  Thus 
the  entire  population  of  the  State  was  only  about  four  thousand  eight  hun 
dred,  four-fifths  of  whom  were  Canadian  French,  and  the  remainder  chiefly 
Americans,  with  a  few  English  and  Scotch. 

As  there  was  no  longer  any  doubt  of  the  hostile  intentions  of  the  savages, 
it  was  deemed  prudent  to  present  a  memorial  to  Congress,  setting  forth  the 
defenceless  condition  of  the  territory  and  praying  for  aid  from  that  body. 
Accordingly,  on  the  27th  of  December,  1811,  such  a  petition  was  drawn  up, 
signed  by  the  principal  inhabitants  of  Detroit,  and  forwarded  to  Wash 
ington. 

The  joint  efforts  of  Tecumseh  and  the  Prophet  were  successful  in  drawing 
a  large  body  of  Indians,  probably  not  less  than  eight  hundred,  from  the 
shores  of  Lake  Superior  to  the  station  of  the  latter  at  Tippecanoe,  though  it 
is  supposed  that  one-third  of  their  number  died  of  want  and  hardship  on  the 
way.  Their  plans  were  now  nearly  ripe  for  action,  and  parties  of  the  Otta- 
was,  the  Miamis,  the  Chippewas,  the  Wyandots,  the  Mississagies,  the  Shaw- 
anese,  and  the  Winnebagoes  were  to  be  seen  with  their  bodies  painted  for 
war,  and  again  seizing  the  hatchet. 

The  first  hostile  demonstrations  were  made  against  the  French  settle 
ments,  where  bands  of  strange  warriors  made  their  appearance,  armed  for 
battle,  and  painted  in  the  most  hideous  manner,  with  feathers  stuck  in  their 
hair,  and  strings  of  bears'  claws  about  their  necks,  entering  the  houses  by 
force,  taking  whatever  they  chose,  and  wantonly  destroying  with  their  toma 
hawks  the  beehives  in  the  gardens  of  the  settlers.  Near  the  banks  of  the 
Kalamazoo,  in  the  county  of  the  same  name,  a  smith's  forge  had  been  set 
up,  where  hatchets  and  knives  were  made  for  the  approaching  contest :  and 
at  no  great  distance  from  it,  in  a  retired  spot,  surrounded  by  a  dense  forest, 
the  Indian  women,  with  their  children,  had  collected,  for  the  purpose  of 
raising  corn  to  furnish  a  supply  of  food  for  the  warriors. 

Still  more  flagrant  acts  of  aggression  were  perpetrated  in  the  State  of  In 
diana,  where  numerous  murders  were  committed,  and  horses  and  other 
property  stolen.  It  had  been  for  some  time  noticed  that  the  savages  were 
collecting  about  the  Prophet's  station,  apparently  with  no  friendly  design. 
A  conference  was  therefore  held,  in  which  it  was  insisted  that  these  hordes 
should  be  made  to  return  to  their  homes,  that  the  property  which  had  been 
stolen  from  the  Americans  should  be  restored,  and  that  the  murderers  should 
be  given  up. 

Tecumseh,  on  his  part,  denied  that  any  league,  such  as  was  complained 
of,  had  been  formed,  and  protested  that  he  and  his  brother  had  no  other 
object  in  collecting  the  tribes  together  but  to  strengthen  the  amicable  rela 
tions  between  them,  and  to  improve  their  moral  condition.  In  regard  to  the 
murderers  of  the  whites,  who  were  alleged  to  have  taken  refuge  among  his 
tribe,  he  denied  that  they  were  there,  saying,  at  the  same  time,  that  even  if 
they  were  they  ought  to  be  forgiven,  as  he  had  forgiven  the  whites  who  had 
murdered  his'own  people  in  Illinois. 


WAR  BETWEEN  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  THE  UNITED  STATES.          £9 

All  their  plans  having  been  fully  matured,  the  contest  at  length  began  in 
earnest,  on  the  banks  of  the  Wabash,  at  the  Prophet's  town ;  and,  while  the 
battle  was  raging,  the  Prophet  was  seen  on  an  adjoining  eminence  sinking 
a  war-song  to  inflame  with  greater  desperation  the  savage  combatants'3  It 
was  now  no  longer  doubtful  that  another  fierce  and  obstinate  struggle  was 
to  be  encountered.  ^  The  Indian  warriors,  excited  by  fanaticism  and  a  thirst 
for  blood,  in  opposition  to  their  chiefs,  hastened  from  all  sides  towards  the 
lake  frontier  to  join  Tecumseh.  Meanwhile,  the  English  on  the  opposite 
shores  were  looking  with  no  small  interest  upon  what  was  passing,  re«-ard- 
ing  the  savages  as  important  allies  to  their  own  cause  in  the  conflict  in 
which  they  expected  shortly  to  be  engaged.  "  My  son/'  said  one  of  their 
agents  to  an  Indian  chief,  "  keep  your  eyes  fixed  on  me.  My  tomahawk  is 
now  up ;  be  you  ready,  but  do  not  strike  till  I  give  the  signal." 

The  statement  of  the  fact  should  not  be  omitted  that  about  this  time  the 
American  Fur  Company  was  formed,  under  the  auspices  of  Mr.  John  Jacob 
Astor,  of  New  York.  Its  operations  were  carried  on  much  after  the  man 
ner  of  the  old  French  and  English  companies,  by  establishing  chains  of 
posts  along  the  lake  shores.  This  company  annually  collected  a  great  quan 
tity  of  furs,  which  were  sent  by  the  way  of  the  Mississippi  or  the  lakes  to 
New  York,  from  whence  a  large  part  of  them  were  exported  to  foreign 
countries.  They  had  also  an  extensive  fishery  on  Lake  Superior,  where 
they  took  great  quantities  of  trout  and  whitefish,  which  were  salted,  packed 
in  barrels,  and  sent  to  the  different  ports  of  the  adjoining  country.  But 
the  company  is  now  virtually  extinct. 

WAR  BETWEEN  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

In  June,  1812,  war  was  declared  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States.  Without  entering  into  particulars  as  to  the  causes  of  this  war,  suf 
fice  it  to  say  that  it  was  chiefly  provoked  by  the  continued  impressment  of 
American  seamen,  the  unjust  capture  of  American  vessels,  and  the  enforce 
ment  of  illegal  blockades. 

Governor  Hull,  the  year  before,  had  represented  to  the  General  Govern 
ment  the  exposed  and  defenceless  condition  of  Michigan.  That  the  posts 
at  Detroit,  Mackinaw,  and  Chicago  were  badly  fortified  and  with  insuffi 
cient  garrisons,  while  at  no  great  distance  from  them  there  was  a  large 
body  of  British  subjects,  who  could,  in  case  of  war,  be  brought  against 
them ;  that  the  whole  American  force  consisted  of  but  about  five  thousand 
men,  whereas  the  militia  of  Canada  amounted  to  more  than  one  hundred 
thousand ;  and  that  the  forests  about  Detroit  were  filled  with  hostile  sav 
ages,  who  were  secretly  pledged  to  the  confederacy  of  Tecumseh.  This 
post  he  represented  as  of  great  importance,  inasmuch  as  it  commanded  a 
wide  extent  of  country,  and  furnished  a  point  of  support  for  operations 
against  the  Indians  of  the  upper  lakes.  He  proposed,  therefore,  that  a 
powerful  naval  armament  should  be  equipped  on  Lake  Erie,  sufficient  to 
command  that  inland  sea,  and  to  co-operate  effectively  with  the  force  at 
Detroit ;  or,  if  that  were  not  done,  that  a  strong  detachment  of  troops 
should  be  marched  from  Niagara,  to  act  in  conjunction  with  those  under  his 
command  in  the  invasion  of  the  British  provinces. 

A  body  of  troops  was  soon  collected  at  Dayton,  in  Ohio,  consisting  of 
about  twelve  hundred  men,  raised  by  order  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  their  number  was  somewhat  increased  by  volunteers.  These 
troops  were  formed  into  three  regiments,  under  the  command  of  Colonels 
McArthur,  Finelly,  and  Cass,  and  a  fourth  regiment,  about  three  hundred 


70  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

strong,  under  Colonel  Miller,  afterward  joined  them,  the  whole  being  under 
the  command  of  General  Hull,  the  governor  of  Michigan. 

With  this  force  the  general  marched  from  Dayton  towards  Detroit, 
and  soon  arrived  at  the  Maumee  of  the  lakes.  The  dense  forests  through 
which  they  had  to  pass,  wholly  without  roads,  opposed  formidable  obstacles 
to  their  progress.  At  the  rapids  of  the  Maumee  a  vessel  was  procured  for 
the  transportation  of  the  sick  soldiers,  and  of  such  bulky  articles  as  would 
encumber  the  army.  As  this  vessel  was  proceeding  for  Detroit  by  the  way 
of  the  channel  leading  to  Maiden,  she  w^as  captured  by  the  British,  who 
communicated  to  the  Americans  the  first  news  of  the  declaration  of  war. 

On  the  fifth  of  July  General  Hull  arrived  at  Detroit,  where  his  troops 
immediately  set  themselves  to  work  to  prepare  for  the  coming  contest. 
Four  days  afterward  he  received  a  communication  from  the  Secretary  of 
War,  investing  him  with  discretionary  power  either  to  seize  Maiden  and 
advance  into  Canada,  or  to  remain  on  the  defensive.  That  place  formed 
the  most  prominent  and  commanding  position  upon  this  part  of  the  lake 
coast,  and  its  possession  would  give  him  advantages  in  any  future  opera 
tions  against  the  provinces  of  Canada. 

He  therefore  crossed  the  Detroit  river  with  his  army,  and  established 
himself  at  Sandwich.  From  his  headquarters  at  this  place  he  issued  a 
proclamation*  addressed  to  the  Canadians,  setting  forth  his  object  in  in 
vading  their  country,  and  inviting  them  to  place  themselves  under  the  pro 
tection  of  the  United  States ;  protesting,  at  the  same  time,  against  the 
barbarity  of  employing  the  savages,  and  threatening  indiscriminate  retal 
iation  against  all  who  should  be  found  fighting  by  their  side.  It  was 
hoped  that  by  this  means  the  French  Canadians  would  be  induced  either 
to  join  the  Americans  or  remain  neutral. 

Many  of  the  American  officers  were  anxious  to  proceed  immediately 
to  the  attack  of  Maiden,  but  it  was  determined  to  wait  for  heavy  artillery 
to  be  brought  from  Detroit.  The  army,  therefore,  remained  quietly  at 
Sandwich,  merely  sending  out  occasional  foraging  parties  to  procure  pro 
visions. 

General  Hull  wished  to  ascertain  what  was  the  actual  state  of  things  at 
Maiden,  and  he  accordingly  detached  Colonel  Cass,  with  two  hundred  and 
eighty  men,  to  reconnoitre  that  position.  On  reaching  the  river  Canard,  he 
dislodged  a  picket-guard  of  the  enemy,  killing  ten  of  their  number,  and 
seizing  the  bridge  which  they  had  been  stationed  there  to  defend.  This 
bridge  was  only  about  four  miles  from  Maiden,  and  Colonel  Cass  was 
anxious  to  keep  possession  of  it,  to  aid  them  in  their  contemplated  attack 
upon  that  place.  This,  however,  was  thought  inexpedient  by  General  Hull, 
as  such  a  course,  he  said,  would  bring  on  a  general  engagement,  which  he 
wished  at  that  moment  to  avoid,  as  his  artillery  had  not  yet  arrived,  and  a 
considerable  detachment  had  been  sent  away  from  his  army. 

While  the  Americans  were  thus  stationary  at  Sandwich,  a  British  force 
was  despatched  from  the  Canada  side  to  take  possession  of  the  island  of 
Mackinaw.  The  whole  garrison  of  this  post  was  only  fifty-seven  men,  under 
the  command  of  Lieutenant  Hanks;  and  the  first  intimation  which  this 
officer  received  of  the  declaration  of  war  was  the  arrival  of  a  body  of  Brit 
ish  troops,  supported  by  more  than  a  thousand  Indian  warriors,  consisting 
of  Sioux,  Winnebagoes,  Talleswain  Ottawas,  and  Chippewas.  The  savages, 
it  appears,  had  been  directed,  in  case  of  resistance,  to  show  no  quarter,  and 


*  This  energetic  and  well-written  address  is  said  to  have  been  from  the  pen  of  Gov 
ernor,  then  Colonel  Cass. 


WAR  BETWEEN  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  THE  UNITED  STATES.  71 

the  odds  being  so  fearfully  against  him,  the  American  officer  immediately 
surrendered.  A  detachment,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Brush,  had  been 
sent  by  Governor  Meigs,  of  Ohio,  to  escort  a  quantity  of  provision's  destined 
for  the  American  army,  and  General  Hull,  being  informed  that  a  body  of 
Indians  had  left  Maiden  to  intercept  this  convoy,  despatched  Major  Van 
Horn,  with  two  hundred  men,  for  its  protection.  On  arriving  at  Browns- 
town  this  detachment  was  suddenly  attacked  by  the  savages,  who,  from 
behind  a  breastwork  of  logs  and  the  trunks  of  trees,  opened  a  deadly  fire 
upon  the  American  troops.  Major  Van  Horn,  finding  himself  unable  to 
contend  against  the  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy,  retreated  to  Detroit, 
leaving  eighteen  of  his  men  dead  on  the  field. 

The  ordnance  he  was  waiting  for  from  Detroit  not  having  arrived,  on  the 
8th  of  August  General  Hull  convened  a  council  of  war  for  the  purpose  of 
deciding  what  should  be  done,  when  it  was  determined  to  remain  two  days 
longer,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  to  make  an  attempt  upon  Maiden 
at  all  hazards.  Information,  however,  having  been  received  in  the  mean 
time  that  the  garrison  at  Maiden  had  been  re-enforced,  General  Hull 
changed  his  resolution,  withdrew  his  army  from  the  British  territory,  and 
retired  to  Detroit.  The  reasons  he  assigned  for  so  unexpected  a  movement 
were,  that  General  Brock  was  on  his  way  to  Maiden  with  a  considerable 
body  of  fresh  troops ;  that  his  communication  with  Detroit  was  in  danger 
of  being  cut  off;  and  that  the  savage  bands  from  the  upper  lakes,  having 
no  farther  occupation  in  that  quarter,  would  soon  be  pouring  down  upon 
him. 

As  it  was  important  to  open  a  communication  with  the  River  Raisin,  that 
the  army  might  receive  the  supplies  sent  from  Ohio,  six  hundred  men,  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Miller,  had  been  detached  to  Frenchtown  by  General 
Hull  for  that  object,  the  day  that  he  crossed  the  Detroit  river.  Scarcely 
had  this  body  reached  Monguagon,  when  they  were  attacked  by  a  superior 
force  of  British  and  Indians,  the  latter  led  on  by  Tecumseh,  who  opened 
upon  them  a  destructive  fire  from  their  usual  lurking-places  behind  trees 
and  fallen  timber,  and  in  thickets  of  brushwood.  The  enemy  being  pro 
tected  by  a  dense  forest  on  the  left,  Colonel  Miller  advanced  into  it  with  his 
whole  line,  ordering  his  men  to  deliver  a  single  fire,  and  then  charge  with 
the  bayonet.  This  was  gallantly  done,  and  the  British,  as  well  as  their 
savage  allies,  gave  way  before  the  fury  of  the  onset.  But,  though  thrown 
into  confusion  and  broken,  they  still  continued  to  fight  with  the  utmost  des 
peration.  Tecumseh,  although  wounded,  was  seen  in  the  thickest  of  the 
battle,  and  his  shrill  warcry  was  heard  above  the  fire  of  the  musketry.  An 
Indian,  whose  leg  had  been  broken  by  a  musket-ball,  while  writhing  with 
the  agony  of  his  wound,  loaded  his  rifle  and  shot  an  American  horseman. 
Many  of  the  savages  had  stationed  themselves  in  the  tops  of  the  trees,  from 
which  they  discharged  their  rifles  and  arrows  with  deadly  aim.  The  British 
force  was  commanded  by  Major  Muir,  of  the  forty-first  regiment,  and  was 
four  hundred  strong  without  the  Indians.  The  American  loss  in  the  action 
was  ten  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  killed  and  forty-five  wounded 
of  the  regular  troops,  and  eight  killed  and  forty-five  wounded  of  the  Ohio 
and  Michigan  volunteers.  The  British  retreated  under  the  cover  of  their 
armed  vessels,  which  were  anchored  in  the  Detroit  river,  while  the  savages 
scattered  themselves  in  the  woods. 

It  was  now  determined  to  bring  in  the  supplies  needed  for  the  army  by  a 
more  circuitous  route,  and  Colonels  Me  Arthur  and  Cass,  with  three  hundred 
and  fifty  of  the  best  troops,  were  detached  from  Detroit  on  the  13th  of  Au 
gust  for  that  object. 


72  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

On  the  14th  the  British  General  Brock  arrived  at  Maiden,  and,  advanc 
ing  immediately  to  Sandwich  with  all  his  forces,  the  following  day  he  sum 
moned  General  Hull  to  surrender.  "It  is  far  from  my  intention,"  he  said, 
"to  join  in  a  war  of  extermination,  but  you  must  be  aware  that  the  numerous 
bodies  of  Indians  who  have  attached  themselves  to  my  troops  will  be  beyond 
my  control  the  moment  the  contest  commences."  To  this  menace  the  Amer 
ican  general  answered,  "  I  have  no  other  reply  to  make  than  that  I  am  pre 
pared  to  meet  any  force  which  may  be  at  your  disposal." 

The  character  of  General  Hull  seems  to  have  been  well  understood  by  the 
British  commander.  Indeed,  in  addition  to  the  evidence  he  had  given  of 
indecision  in  not  advancing  against  Maiden,  it  was  alleged  that  a  portion  of 
his  correspondence,  found  on  board  an  American  vessel  captured  near  that 
place,  but  too  clearly  evinced  a  want  of  those  qualities  which  should  dis 
tinguish  a  military  commander. 

Tecumseh,  with  his  warriors,  was  at  this  time  with  the  British  general, 
to  aid  him  in  his  projected  attack  upon  the  American  post ;  and  the  latter, 
being  anxious  to  acquire  some  knowledge  of  the  country  around  Detroit, 
that  he  might  avail  himself  of  it  in  case  he  should  from  any  cause  be  obliged 
to  retreat  into  the  neighboring  forest,  applied  to  this  chief  for  information. 
Tecumseh  took  a  strip  of  elm  bark,  stretched  it  upon  the  ground,  and  placed 
a  stone  upon  each  corner.  Then  with  his  scalping-knife  he  delineated  upon 
it  an  accurate  representation  of  ihe  country,  with  its  swamps,  woods,  and 
rivers.  Pleased  with  this  display  of  ingenuity,  and  to  show  his  gratitude 
for  the  important  services  which  this  renowned  chief  had  rendered  to  the 
British  cause,  Brock  took  his  sash  from  his  waist  and  presented  it  to  him. 
The  savage,  however,  would  not  wear  it,  but  gave  it  to  the  Wyandot  chief, 
Round-Head,  "because,"  said  he,  "he  is  an  older  and  better  warrior  than  I 
am."  Before  the  British  crossed  to  the  American  side,  their  commander 
expressed  a  hope  that  the  Indians,  in  case  Detroit  was  taken,  would  not 
massacre  the  defenceless  inhabitants.  "  No,"  answered  Tecumseh ;  "  I  despise 
them  too  much  to  have  anything  to  do  with  them." 

As  soon  as  he  received  the  refusal  to  capitulate,  Brock  commenced  a  can 
nonade  upon  the  American  fort  from  across  the  river.  This  was  answered 
from  the  opposite  shore  with  considerable  effect.  An  armed  vessel  being  now 
seen  about  a  mile  below  Detroit,  it  was  supposed  that  the  British  intended 
to  cross  there,  and  Captain  Snelling  was  detached  with  a  body  of  troops  to 
prevent  it.  It  was  suggested  at  the  same  time  that  a  single  piece  of  heavy 
ordnance  would  compel  the  British  armed  vessel  to  remove  from  her  posi 
tion,  and  keep  the  enemy  from  landing.  This  advice,  however,  was  disre 
garded,  and  Captain  Snelling  was  recalled  to  the  fort  by  break  of  day. 

Very  early  on  the  morning  of  the  16th  the  whole  British  force  was  seen 
slowly  crossing  the  river  under  cover  of  their  armed  vessels,  and  they  soon 
landed  and  advanced  to  Springwells  without  opposition.  Here  they  halted, 
while  the  British  general  sent  a  second  summons  to  the  commander  of  the 
American  post  to  surrender.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before  the  enemy 
was  again  seen  advancing,  his  force  being  composed  of  regulars  arid  of  vol 
unteers  dressed  in  British  uniforms,  approaching  nearer  and  nearer,  as  they 
moved  deliberately  through  the  forest  bordering  on  the  river,  supported  by 
their  Indian  allies  under  Maissot,  Walk-in-the- Water,  and  Tecumseh.  The 
American  soldiers  were  impatiently  waiting  for  orders  to  fire  upon  the  advanc 
ing  column,  when  all  at  once  a  white  flag  was  hoisted  upon  the  walls  of  the 
fort.  General  Hull,  with  cannon  planted  and  poised  to  carry  destruction  into 
the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  with  a  force  which,  to  say  the  least,  could  have  success 
fully  resisted  any  immediate  attack,  suddenly  gave  orders  that  the  detach- 


WAR  BETWEEN  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  THE  UNITED  STATES.  73 

merits  posted  outside  of  the  pickets  and  those  on  the  ramparts  should  retire 
within  the^fort.  Detroit,  in  a  word,  was  given  up  without  a  shot  being  fired. 
The  American  soldiers  dashed  their  muskets  upon  the  ground  in  an  agony 
of  mingled  shame  and  indignation.  The  regular  troops  were  surrendered  as 
prisoners  of  war,  all  the  public  property  was  given  up,  and  no  stipulations 
were  made  in  behalf  of  the  Canadian  allies.  The  honor  of  the  American 
arms  was  tarnished,  and  General  Hull  was  disgraced  forever.  The  detach 
ments  under  Colonel  Cass  and  Captain  Brush  had  been  included  in  the 
capitulation,  but  they  fortunately  escaped  the  disgrace  that  had  been  pre 
pared  for  them. 

General  Hull  was  tried  for  treason  and  cowardice  before  a  court-martial, 
and,  though  acquitted  on  the  first  charge,  was  convicted  on  the  second, 
and  sentenced  to  be  shot :  but,  in  consideration  of  his  former  services  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  he  was  pardoned  by  the  President.  There  seems 
to  be  no  doubt  in  some  minds  that  the  conduct  of  General  Hull  was  not 
that  of  a  brave  and  efficient  officer.  He  neglected  to  advance  into  Can 
ada  when  he  might  have  done  so  with  a  fair  prospect  of  success ;  he  evinced 
a  want  of  firmness  in  resisting  the  enemy ;  and,  finally,  he  gave  up  an  im 
portant  post  that  was  prepared  for  a  siege  without  firing  a  gun  in  its  de 
fence  ;  surrendering,  at  the  same  time,  the  entire  territory  under  his  charge. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  has  been  said  in  his  defence  that  he  was  in  the 
midst  of  an  immense  wilderness,  filled  with  savages,  where  he  was  cut  off 
from  all  aid  from  the  East.  It  has  been  alleged,  too,  that  a  spirit  of  insub 
ordination  prevailed  among  the  militia,  and  that  party  strife  among  them 
ran  high.  But  we  would  draw  a  veil  over  the  subject.  This  much  is  in  his 
favor,  that  the  verdict  of  the  court  exonerated  him  from  the  guilt  of  treason, 
whatever  might  have  been  the  verdict  of  his  country. 

Meantime  the  military  post  of  Chicago  also  capitulated.  Influenced  by 
a  fear  of  the  hostile  Indians  on  the  borders  of  Lake  Michigan,  General  Hull 
had,  on  the  first  breaking  out  of  the  war,  ordered  Captain  Heald,  the  com 
mander  of  this  post,  to  abandon  it  and  retire  to  Fort  Wayne.  A  large  body 
of  savages  had  collected  around  it,  and  they  were  promised  all  the  surplus 
stores  if  they  would  abstain  from  harassing  the  'detachment  on  its  with 
drawal  from  the  fort.  *  There  was  among  these  stores  a  quantity  of  powder 
and  whiskey,  either  of  which  it  was  thought  imprudent  to  relinquish  to  the 
Indians ;  the  former  was  accordingly  deposited  in  a  well  and  the  latter 
thrown  away.  The  savages,  however,  found  out  what  had  been  done,  and 
they  were  perceived  collecting  around  the  fort,  apparently  with  hostile  in 
tentions.  The  garrison,  consisting  of  fifty-four  regulars  and  twelve  militia 
men,  accompanied  by  twelve  families  who  had  fled  there  for  protection, 
retired  from  the  post,  and  had  not  proceeded  more  than  half  a  mile  when 
they  were  attacked  by  the  savages.  Having  imprudently  destroyed  the 
means  of  defending  themselves,  they  were  soon  compelled  to  surrender,  which 
they  did  not  do,  however,  until  about  half  their  number  had  been  killed 
and  several  of  the  women  and  children.  The  prisoners  were  distributed 
among  the  neighboring  tribes,  and  on  the  following  morning  the  fort  was  set 
on  fire  and  burned  to  the  ground. 

Being  now  in  possession  of  Michigan,  the  British  established  a  provision- 
ary  government  at  Detroit,  the  savages  meanwhile  being  permitted  at  pleas 
ure  to  ravage  the  frontier  settlements  and  insult  the  defenceless  inhabitants. 
But,  although  the  British  arms  had  been  thus  far  successful,  it  was  deter 
mined  to  wrest  from  them  the  advantages  they  had  gained.  Accordingly 
three  separate  armies  were  assembled  :  that  of  the  north,  stationed  upon  the 
shores  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  under  the  command  of  General  Hampton ; 

E* 


74  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

that  of  the  centre,  between  Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie,  under  General  Dear 
born  ;  and  that  of  the  west,  under  General  Harrison,  to  take  up  its  position 
at  the  head  of  Lake  Erie.  The  protection  of  the  Michigan  frontier,  there 
fore,  devolved  more  immediately  upon  the  latter.  The  defence  of  Upper 
Canada  was  at  this  time  committed  to  Colonels  Proctor  and  Vincent,  and 
that  of  the  lower  province  to  General  Sheaffe,  under  the  direction  of  the 
governor-general  of  the  provinces. 

General  Harrison  lost  no  time  in  marching  his  army  towards  the  lake 
frontier.  He  sent  forward  a  detachment  of  his  forces  to  Presque  Isle,  to 
wait  there  for  the  arrival  of  the  main  body ;  and  General  Winchester,  with 
eight  hundred  Kentuckians,  was  ordered  to  advance  to  Frenchtown,  on  the 
River  Raisin,  where  he  arrived  on  the  13th  of  January. 

This  officer  took  up  a  position  on  the  Frenchtown  side  of  the  river,  close 
to  its  banks.  Sentinels  were  placed  around  the  encampment,  and  the  night 
being  cold,  the  troops  spent  the  greater  part  of  it  in  ranging  about  the  vil 
lage.  During  the  evening,  a  French  Canadian  from  Maiden  gave  infor 
mation  that  a  body  of  British  and  Indians,  amounting  in  all  to  about  three 
thousand  men,  were  preparing  to  start  from  that  place  for  the  River  Raisin 
soon  after  he  left.  No  notice,  however,  was  taken  of  this  intelligence,  from 
a  belief  that  it  was  without  any  foundation,  and,  consequently,  no  precau 
tionary  measures  were  adopted,  the  main  road  by  which  alone  the  enemy 
could  pass  being  left  entirely  unguarded.  So  completely  unapprehensive, 
indeed,  was  the  American  commander  of  any  danger,  that  he  had  taken 
lodgings  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river,  at  the  house  of  a  Frenchman. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  January,  just  after  the  reveille  had 
been  beaten,  a  rapid  fire  of  musketry  was  heard  from  the  sentinels.  The 
enemy,  it  appears,  had  arrived  without  being  observed  during  the  night,  and 
taken  up  a  position  behind  a  small  ravine,  from  which  he  now  opened  a 
tremendous  fire  of  shells,  and  of  grape  and  cannon  shot,  upon  the  American 
camp.  The  consternation  of  the  Americans  was  greatly  increased  by  the 
advance  of  the  British  troops  under  Proctor,  and  by  the  fiendish  yells  of 
the  savages.  A  general  panic  ensued,  and  great  numbers  were  cut  down. 
In  the  meantime,  General  Winchester  arrived  from  the  opposite  shore,  and 
attempted  to  rally  his  retreating  soldiers;  but,  exposed  as  they  were  to  a 
heavy  fire  from  the  enemy,  they  continued  to  fall  back.  Orders  were  then 
given  to  incline  towards  the  centre,  and  retire  within  the  pickets  of  their 
camp.  These  orders,  however,  appear  not  to  have  been  heard,  and  the 
troops,  pressed  by  the  bayonets  of  the  British  regulars,  and  attacked  by  the 
savages  on  their  right,  retreated  in  great  confusion  upon  the  ice  across  the 
river. 

An  attempt  was  now  made  to  re-enforce  the  right  wing,  but  without  suc 
cess.  Owing  to  the  suddenness  of  the  attack,  and  the  want  of  all  prepara 
tion  to  meet  it,  there  was  neither  system,  discipline,  nor  obedience.  The 
savages  had  posted  themselves  along  the  edge  of  the  surrounding  forest,  at 
every  point  where  there  was  any  chance  for  retreat.  They  also  completely 
commanded  the  long  narrow  lane  leading  to  the  village,  and  here  great 
numbers  of  the  Americans  were  killed.  On  the  borders  of  the  wood,  the 
two  chiefs,  Round-Head  and  Split-Log  urged  on  their  warriors  to  the  com 
mission  of  the  most  frightful  cruelties,  and  here  the  tomahawk  and  scalping- 
knife  were  dyed  in  blood.  Colonel  Allen  was  shot  down,  but  Majors  Graves 
and  Madison  continued  gallantly  to  maintain  their  position  within  the  pickets 
against  all  the  attacks  of  the  British,  supported  by  their  savage  allies.  Gen 
eral  Winchester  had  in  the  meantime  been  taken  prisoner;  and  not  long 
after  a  flag  arrived  from  the  British  lines  with  orders  addressed  to  Major 


WAR  BETWEEN  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  THE  UNITED  STATES.  75 

Madison  from  that  officer  to  cease  hostilities,  and  surrender  his  troops  pris 
oners  of  war.  To  this  the  former  replied,  that,  as  the  Indians  were  in  the 
habit  of  massacring  their  prisoners,  he  would  agree  to  no  capitulation  unless 
the  safety  of  his  men  was  first  expressly'  guaranteed.  The  surrender  was 
finally  adjusted  upon  the  conditions  that  the  lives  of  the  soldiers  should  be 
protected ;  that  individual  property  should  be  held  sacred ;  that  sleds  should 
be  sent  the  next  morning  with  the  wounded  to  Amherstburg,  and  that  the 
sidearms  of  the  officers  should  be  restored  at  Maiden.  The  battle-field  was 
covered  with  the  lifeless  forms  of  the  brave  Kentuckians,  who  but  a  few 
hours  'before  were  seen  full  of  hope,  and  glowing  with  all  the  ardor  of  patri 
otism.  The  painted  savage  and  the  British  regular,  the  ardent  and  chival 
rous  son  of  high  promise,  who  had  been  nursed  in  the  lap  of  luxury,  and 
the  hardy  yeoman,  with  his  sleeves  bared  for  battle,  as  they  had  been  before 
rolled  up  while  guiding  the  plough  across  his  peaceful  prairies,  lay  side  by 
side  on  this  field  of  death. 

Shortly  after  the  action,  Colonel  Proctor  marched  away  with  his  regular 
troops  and  most  of  his  savage  allies,  the  remainder  being  left  to  guard  the 
prisoners.  At  about  sunrise  the  next  morning,  however,  most  of  the  Indians 
were  seen  coming  back,  painted  in  the  most  hideous  manner,  and  in  a  state 
of  intoxication.  It  was  not  long  before  they  set  up  their  horrid  yells,  and, 
rushing  into  the  houses  where  the  wounded  prisoners  were  lying,  they  tore 
from  them  their  blankets,  and  then  despatched  them  with  their  tomahawks. 
Among  these  unhappy  men  there  was  a  young  Kentuckian  of  extraordinary 
beauty.  Struck  with  his  perfect  proportions  and  manly  grace,  a  chief  claimed 
him  as  his  prize,  and  led  him  in  triumph,  and  in  seeming  admiration,  through 
the  village.  But  this  was  only  in  mockery  of  his  victim ;  the  tomahawk  was 
commissioned  to  do  its  horrid  work,  and  his  clustering  ringlets  were  soon 
seen  waving  from  the  scalp-stick  of  the  merciless  savage. 

Most  of  the  prisoners  were  confined  in  two  houses.  These  the  savages  set 
on  fire,  and,  as  their  victims  attempted  to  escape  from  the  windows,  they 
pushed  them  back  into  the  flames.  Major  \Voolfolk,  General  Winchester's 
secretary,  was  shot  dead  in  the  street ;  and,  to  complete  the*  atrocity  of  this 
bloody  transaction,  the  bodies  of  those  who  were  slain  were  left  where  they 
fell  to  feed  the  wolves  of  the  neighboring  forest.  The  condition  of  such  of 
the  prisoners  as  escaped  immediate  death  Avas  not  much  better.  These  were 
marched  towards  Maiden ;  and  as  soon  as,  from  fatigue  and  exhaustion, 
they  were  unable  to  proceed  farther,  they  were  immediately  despatched,  and 
their  bodies  left  unburied. 

Meantime  General  Harrison  was  in  Ohio,  making  every  effort  in  his 
power  to  overcome  the  difficulties  by  which  he  was  surrounded.  Michigan, 
from  the  nature  and  position  of  the  country,  separated  as  it  was  by  a  dense 
forest  from  the  inhabited  portions  of  the  United  States,  and  occupied  by 
savage  tribes  hostile  to  their  cause,  was  a  conquest  of  great  value  to  the  Brit 
ish.  It  gave  them  the  command,  too,  of  the  posts  on  the  upper  lakes,  and 
thus  they  were  enabled  to  control  the  resources  of  the  vast  tract  of  territory 
along  those  inland  seas  and  of  the  country  extending  from  the  western  bor 
ders  of  Indiana  and  Illinois  to  the  mouth  of  the  Maumee. 

Thus  completely  in  the  possession  of  the  British  and  Indians,  and  pro 
tected  by  the  intervening  forests,  Lake  Erie  seemed  to  be  the  only  channel 
bv  which  Michigan  could  be  approached  with  a  prospect  of  recovering  it 
from  the  enemy.  It  became,  therefore,  an  object  of  great  importance  to 
obtain  the  mastery  on  that  lake,  which  was  then  commanded  by  an  English 
fleet  under  Commodore  Barclay.  . 

At  this  conjuncture,  Oliver  Hazard  Perry,  a  young  officer  twenty-eight 


76  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

years  of  age,  then  in  charge  of  a  flotilla  of  gunboats  at  Newport,  anxious  to 
obtain  more  active  service,  turned  his  attention  to  this  lake ;  and  his  views 
having  been  approved  by  the  Naval  Department,  he  proceeded  without 
loss  of  time  to  the  port  of  Erie,  for  the  purpose  of  building  and  equipping  a 
fleet  there  sufficiently  powerful  to  give  him  the  command  of  its  waters.  A 
braver  or  more  efficient  officer  could  have  been  nowhere  found.  He  was  in 
the  prime  of  early  manhood,  active,  vigorous,  and  intelligent,  generous,  and 
self-sacrificing  even  to  a  fault,  and  possessed  of  those  fine  moral  traits  which 
gave  a  finish  to  his  character,  and  admirably  harmonized  with  the  manly 
beauty  of  his  person.  He  labored  with  indefatigable  zeal  to  hasten  the  con 
struction  and  equipment  of  his  vessels,  and,  after  encountering  and  over 
coming  every  kind  of  discouragement,  he  at  length  found  himself  in  the 
command  of  a  sufficient  force  to  meet  the  enemy.  As,  however,  there  was 
a  difficulty  in  crossing  the  bar  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  and  he  W7as 
closely  watched  by  the  British  commander,  he  remained  quietly  at  anchor 
in  port  until  a  favorable  opportunity  should  occur  to  sally  forth.  At  length 
the  fortunate  moment  arrived,  and  the  American  fleet  was  got  safely  over 
the  bar,  and  made  its  way  towards  the  upper  end  of  the  lake.  On  reaching 
Put-in  Bay,  Captain  Perry  there  came  to  anchor,  impatient  for  an  opportu 
nity  to  measure  his  strength  with  the  enemy,  and  to  wrest  from  him  the 
superiority  on  this  inland  sea. 

On  the  10th  of  September,  at  dawn  of  day,  as  their  anchors  were  apeak, 
and  the  crews  of  the  different  vessels  were  shaking  out  their  topgallant-sails, 
the  enemy  were  seen  bearing  down,  under  light  sail,  in  order  of  battle,  with 
their  hulls  newly  painted,  and  the  crimson  flag  of  England  waving  at  their 
mastheads.  The  British  fleet,  consisting  of  the  ships  Detroit,  carrying  nine 
teen  guns,  the  Queen  Charlotte,  of  seventeen  guns,  the  schooner  Lady  Pre- 
vost,  of  thirteen  guns,  the  brig  Hunter,  of  ten  guns,  the  sloop  Little  Belt,  of 
three  guns,  and  the  schooner  Chippewa,  of  one  gun  and  mounting  two  swiv 
els,  was  commanded  by  a  veteran  officer  of  tried  skill  and  valor. 

The  British  vessels  no  sooner  made  their  appearance  than  the  American 
fleet  prepared  fo*r  action  and  stood  out  upon  the  lake.  It  consisted  of  the 
brigs  Lawrence,  of  twenty  guns ;  Niagara,  of  twenty  guns ;  Caledonia,  of 
three  guns ;  the  schooners  Ariel,  of  four  guns,  Scorpion,  of  two  guns,  Som- 
ers,  of  two  guns ;  the  sloop  Trippe,  of  one  gun ;  and  the  schooners  Tigress 
and  Porcupine,  each  of  one  gun. 

While  the  two  fleets  were  thus  approaching  each  other  the  savages  were 
not  idle.  Tecumseh  had  stationed  himself  with  a  band  of  warriors  upon  the 
island  at  the  mouth  of  the  Detroit  river,  waiting  with  intense  interest  the 
issue  of  the  contest.  No  sooner  was  any  change  made  in  the  movements  of 
the  hostile  squadrons  than  he  paddled  swiftly  over  to  Maiden  to  communi 
cate  the  fact.  From  the  first  roar  of  their  guns  he  predicted  the  success  of 
the  English,  and  wras  greatly  surprised  when  the  news  was  brought  to  him 
that  they  had  struck  their  colors  to  the  Americans. 

The  order  of  battle  decided  on  by  Commodore  Perry  was  to  attack  the 
Detroit,  the  British  flag-ship,  himself  with  the  Lawrence,  to  oppose  the  Niag 
ara  to  the  Royal  Charlotte,  and  the  rest  of  his  fleet  was  ordered  to  act  as 
circumstances  might  require,  and  assail  the  enemy  as  they  should  be  directed 
by  signals,  while  the  Ariel  and  Scorpion  were  instructed  to  take  a  position 
on  the  weather-bow  and  ahead  of  the  Lawrence,  in  order  to  draw  off  a  por 
tion  of  the  fire  from  that  ship. 

As  the  two  fleets  neared  each  other,  the  action  was  commenced  by  the 
enemy's  flag-ship,  the  Detroit,  she  being  mounted  with  long  guns,  while  the 
American  vessels  had  only  short  pieces.  The  American  commander  re- 


WAR  BETWEEN  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  THE  UNITED  STATES.  ,       77 

solved  to  capture  the  hostile  fleet  or  perish  in  the  attempt,  bore  down  directly 
for  the  Detroit,  making  signals  at  the  same  time  for  all  his  vessels  to  come 
into  close  action.  Owing  to  causes  which  are  not  very  clearly  understood 
the  Niagara  did  not  bear  down  to  his  aid.  Still  he  was  undaunted,  although 
alone  and  exposed  to  nearly  the  whole  of  the  enemy's  fire.  Ranging  along 
the  front  of  their  squadron,  single  and  unsupported,  he  successively  poured 
upon  their  ships  from  the  battery  of  the  Lawrence  tremendous  broadsides 
of  ball  and  grape,  while  he  received  from  them  in  return  a  no  less  destruc 
tive  fire,  which  shivered  his  spars  and  covered  his  decks  with  wounded  and 
dead.  Such  a  fire  no  single  vessel  could  long  withstand.  The  hull  of  his 
ship  was  pierced  in  every  direction,  twenty-one  of  his  men  had  been  killed, 
sixty-one  were  wounded,  and  only  fifteen  remained  who  were  capable  of 
duty.  All  of  his  cannon  except  one  had  been  dismounted,  and  this  he  con 
tinued  to  work  with  his  own  hands. 

His  ship  being  thus  a  complete  wreck,  and  incapable  of  being  longer  de 
fended,  he  determined  to  abandon  her ;  and  ordering  his  boat,  amid  a 
shower  of  shot,  he  proceeded  to  the  Niagara,  which  vessel  then  lay  at  a  con 
siderable  distance  and  had  not  been  yet  brought  into  close  action.  Meet 
ing  Captain  Elliott  at  the  gangway,  he  requested  him  to  take  the  boat  in 
which  he  had  come  and  bring  up  the  rest  of  the  vessels,  while  he  himself 
would  bear  down  upon  the  enemy  with  the  Niagara.  The  flag  of  the  Law 
rence  now  came  down,  amid  the  cheers  of  the  British  sailors,  who  supposed 
that  the  American  fleet  had  struck.  Ordering  every  sail  on  board  the  Niag 
ara  to  be  set,  he  was  not  long  in  closing  with  the  enemy's  ships ;  and  pass 
ing  along  their  line  he  poured  upon  them,  in  quick  succession,  tremendous 
broadsides.  Having  driven  the  Royal  Charlotte  out  of  line,  he  next  at 
tacked  the  Detroit,  and  by  the  severity  of  his  fire  drove  her  men  from  their 
quarters.  Captain  Elliott  now  came  up  with  the  smaller  vessels,  and,  taking 
a  raking  position  under  the  stern  of  the  Detroit,  assisted  to  complete  the 
victory.  The  slaughter  on  board  this  ship  was  dreadful :  twenty-seven  of 
her  men  had  been  killed  and  ninety-six  wounded.  At  length  a  white  hand 
kerchief  was  hung  out  on  the  end  of  a  boarding-pike  as  a  signal  of  surren 
der  ;  the  triumph  was  complete,  and  all  the  vessels  of  the  enemy  were  taken. 
The  dead  of  both  fleets  were  buried  on  an  island  in  the  lake. 

The  conduct  of  Perry  was  no  less  distinguished  by  humanity  after  the 
action  than  it  had  been  by  skill  and  bravery  while  the  battle  was  raging ; 
and  the  British  commander  long  afterward  expressed  his  grateful  recollec 
tion  of  the  generous  courtesy  of  his  youthful  conqueror.  It  is  thus  that  the 
horrors  of  war  are  in  some  degree  softened  by  a  display  of  the  kindlier  feel 
ings  of  our  nature. 

This  brilliant  success  gave  to  the  Americans  the  uncontrolled  command 
of  the  lake,  and  on  the  23d  of  September  their  fleet  lauded  twelve  hundred 
men  near  Maiden.  Colonel  Proctor,  however,  had  previously  evacuated 
that  post,  after  setting  fire  to  the  fort  and  to  the  public  store-houses.  Com 
modore  Perry  in  the  meantime  passed  up  to  Detroit  with  the  Ariel  to  assist 
in  the  occupation  of  that  town,  while  Captain  Elliott,  with  the  Lady  Pre- 
vost,  the  Scorpion,  and  the  Tigress,  advanced  into  Lake  St.  Clair  to  inter 
cept  the  enemy's  stores. 

Thus  General  Harrison,  on  his  arrival  at  Detroit  and  Maiden,  found  both 
places  abandoned  by  the  enemy,  and  was  met  by  the  Canadians  asking  for 
his  protection.  Tecumseh  proposed  to  the  British  commander  that  they 
should  hazard  an  engagement  at  Maiden ;  but  the  latter  foresaw  that  he 
should  be  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  American  fleet  in  that  position,  and 
therefore  resolved  to  march  to  the  Moravian  towns  upon  the  Ihames, 


78  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

near  St.  Clair  Lake,  above  Detroit,  and  there  try  the  chance  of  a  battle. 
His  force  at  this  time  consisted  of  about  nine  hundred  regular  troops  and 
fifteen  hundred  Indians  commanded  by  Tecumseh.  The  American  army 
amounted  to  two  thousand  seven  hundred  men,  of  whom  one  hundred  and 
twenty  were  regulars,  a  considerable  number  militia,  about  thirty  Indians, 
and  the  remainder  Kentucky  riflemen,  well  mounted,  and  mainly  young 
men,  full  of  ardor,  and  burning  with  a  desire  to  revenge  the  massacre  of 
their  friends  and  relatives  at  the  river  Raisin. 

The  American  general  lost  no  time  in  seeking  the  enemy,  wThom  he  found 
drawn  up  in  order  of  battle  and  prepared  to  receive  him.  On  his  right,  in 
a  swamp,  was  posted  Tecumseh  with  his  Indian  warriors,  while  the  space 
between  them  and  the  river  was  occupied  by  the  regular  troops.  The  Amer 
ican  general  extended  his  line  to  the  same  length  with  that  of  the  British 
infantry,  his  small  body  of  regulars  he  ordered  to  seize  the  enemy's  artil 
lery,  and  the  few  friendly  Indians  were  directed  to  act  on  his  flank. 

It  had  been  determined  to  penetrate  the  swamp  and  turn  the  right  of  the 
Indians,  as  they  could  not  cross  the  river,  and  the  infantry  were  on  the  point 
of  making  this  movement,  when  it  was  ascertained  that  the  British  were 
drawn  up  in  a  double  line,  and  that,  to  enable  them  to  occupy  the  whole 
space  between  the  swamp  and  the  river,  they  had  been  obliged  to  open  their 
files.  The  plan  of  attack  was  therefore  changed,  and  Colonel  Johnson,  with 
his  mounted  Kentuckians,  was  ordered  to  charge  the  enemy  in  front.  These 
brave  volunteers  rushed  upon  the  British  column  with  such  impetuosity 
that,  unable  to  resist  the  fierceness  of  the  onset,  it  broke  and  fled.  Cleared 
of  the  regular  force  of  the  enemy,  the  battle-field  now  exhibited  a  series  of 
personal  encounters  between  the  Kentuckians  and  Indians.  Tecumseh, 
being  wounded,  it  is  said,  and  exasperated  to  desperation  by  the  flight  of 
his  allies,  resolved  to  sell  his  life  as  dearly  as  possible.  Rushing,  therefore, 
into  the  hottest  of  the  conflict,  he  soon  fell,  pierced  by  a  pistol-ball,  and 
instantly  expired. 

This  renowned  chief  deserves  a  passing  notice.  He  possessed  a .  noble 
figure,  his  countenance  was  strikingly  expressive  of  magnanimity,  and  he 
was  distinguished  by  moral  traits  far  above  his  race.  He  was  not  remark 
able  for  eloquence,  or  even  for  intellect,  but  he  was  a  warrior  in  the  broadest 
Indian  sense  of  the  word.  Without  the  far-reaching  views  of  Pontiac  or 
his  hereditary  rank,  still,  in  sudden  action  and  desperate  valor,  he  showed 
himself  superior  to  that  chief;  and,  though  a  new  man,  he  acquired  un 
bounded  influence,  and  placed  himself  above  all  competitors  as  the  great 
champion  of  Indian  rights.  While  his  brother,  the  Prophet,  was  the  prin 
cipal  manager  of  the  confederacy  in  all  that  related  to  its  organization  and 
plans,  he  was  its  executive  arm  in  the  field.  There  were  other  peculiarities 
by  which  he  was  no  less  distinguished.  Like  Pontiac,  he  manifested  a  deep 
interest  in  regard  to  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  whites ;  he  would  not 
sanction  the  barbarities  practised  by  the  Indians,  and  he  disdained  the  per 
sonal  adornments  in  which  they  so  much  delight.  Although  holding  the 
rank  of  a  brigadier-general  in  the  British  service,  he  pertinaciously  adhered 
to  his  Indian  garb  ;  a  deerskin  coat,  with  leggins  of  the  same  material,  was 
his  constant  dress,  and  in  this  he  was  found  dead  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames. 
During  the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  was  almost  incessantly  engaged  either 
in  the  council  or  at  the  head  of  his  warlike  bands,  and  he  sunk  at  last  on 
the  field  of  his  glory,  with  tomahawk  in  hand  and  the  cry  of  battle  upon 
his  lips. 

"  Like  monumental  bronze,  unchanged  his  look, 
A  soul  which  pity  touch'J,  but  never  shook  ; 


TRANSITION  FROM  TERRITORY  TO  STATE.  79 

Train'd,  from  his  tree-rock'd  cradle  to  his  bier, 
The  fierce  extremes  of  good  and  ill  to  brook ; 
Unchanging,  fearing  but  the  shame  of  fear, 
A  stoic  of  the  woods,  a  man  without  a  tear." 

With  the  death  of  Tecumseh  the  confederacy  was  dissolved,  and  a  peace 
was  concluded  with  the  Ottawas,  Chippewas,  Miamis,  and  Pottowatamies. 

The  American  fleet  was  now  employed  in  removing  the  ammunition  and 
stores  from  the  captured  British  posts;  and  on  the  18th  of  October  General 
Harrison  and  Commodore  Perry  issued  a  joint  proclamation  at  Detroit  for 
the  better  government  of  the  territory  of  Michigan,  and  guarantying  to  the 
inhabitants  their  rights  of  property,  and  the  enjoyment  of  their  ancient 
usages  and  laws. 

The  island  of  Mackinaw  was  now  the  only  part  of  the  territory  remaining 
in  the  possession  of  the  enemy.  This  being  a  post  of  great  importance,  from 
its  commanding  the  upper  lakes,  and  being  the  centre  of  the  fur-trade,  a 
fleet  under  Commodore  Sinclair,  with  a  body  of  land  forces  under  Colonel 
Croghan,  the  gallant  defender  of  Sandusky,  was  despatched  in  July,  1814, 
for  the  purpose  of  capturing  it.  After  reconnoitering  the  coast  near  the 
island,  the  commodore  proceeded  to  the  neighboring  island  of  St.  Joseph, 
where  he  destroyed  a  few  trading-posts  and  then  returned. 

Meanwhile,  the  British  commandant  was  actively  employed  in  strength 
ening  his  defences,  and  in  summoning  to  his  aid  the  nearest  savage  tribes. 
It  was  at  first  proposed  to  attack  the  post  near  the  village,  as  that  part  was 
the  most  free  from  trees,  and,  consequently,  afforded  less  covert  to  the  In 
dians.  This,  however,  was  objected  to  by  Sinclair,  as  his  fleet  would  be 
here  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  fort.  It  was  finally  concluded  to  land  on  the 
northeastern  side  of  the  island,  although  from  this  point  they  would  be 
obliged  to  traverse  its  whole  breadth,  through  a  dense  forest,  in  order  to 
reach  the  British  position.  After  marching  some  distance  through  the 
wilderness,  on  arriving  at  a  small  clearing,  the  detachment  was  fired  on 
from  all  sides  by  the  savages  stationed  in  the  surrounding  woods.  Major 
Holmes,  at  the  head  of  a  considerable  force,  was  directed  to  charge  the 
enemy ;  but,  as  he  was  gallantly  executing  the  order,  he  was  shot  down  by 
a  rifle-ball.  The  fire,  indeed,  was  so  destructive,  that  the  advanced  party 
was  obliged  to  retreat  to  the  main  body,  upon  which  the  whole  force  retired 
to  their  boats,  abandoned  the  enterprise,  and  returned  to  Detroit.  In  con 
sequence  of  this  failure,  the  British  retained  possession  of  Mackinaw  until 
the  conclusion  of  peace. 

The  victory  of  Commodore  Perry  having  secured  the  command  of  Lake 
Erie,  Proctor's  army  having  been  routed,  and  the  Indian  confederacy  broken 
up,  nothing  of  special  interest  transpired  in  Michigan  during  the  remainder 
of  the  war.  Colonel  Cass  was  left  with  a  brigade  for  the  protection  of  the 
territory,  which  he  effectually  accomplished,  until  the  treaty  of  peace,  con 
cluded  at  Ghent  on  the  17th  of  February,  1815,  put  an  end  to  all  farther 
hostilities. 

TRANSITION  FROM  TERRITORY  TO  STATE. 

Michigan  now  emerged  into  a  new  existence.  Colonel  Cass,  who  had 
served  with  great  credit  during  the  war,  was  appointed  governor  of  the  ter 
ritory,  and  under  his  administration  it  gradually  advanced  in  prosperity. 

Hitherto  there  had  been  but  little  inducement  for  immigration  from  the 
East :  the  public  lands  had  not  been  brought  into  the  market,  and  recently 
the  country  had  been  suffering  under  the  devastation  of  war.  The  beau- 


80  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

tiful  oak-openings  on  the  Kalamazoo,  the  fertile  tracts  on  the  borders  of 
Grand  River,  the  prairies  of  the  St.  Joseph,  and  the  rich  and  inviting  slopes 
along  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan,  were  traversed  only  by  the  wild  beast 
and  the  savage,  and  the  streams  navigated  only  by  the  bark  canoe.  The 
feeble  settlements  on  the  frontier  had  been  converted  into  scenes  of  desola 
tion  ;  no  roads  through  the  interior  had  been  constructed ;  and  the  only 
access  to  the  country  by  land  from  the  East  was  through  the  trackless 
wilderness  distinguished  by  the  name  of  the  Black  Swamp,  and  by  the  mil 
itary  road  along  the  Detroit  river.  Everything,  therefore,  was  to  be  done 
to  develop  the  resources  of  the  territory,  and  to  secure  to  it  the  advantages 
which,  from  its  position  and  the  fertility  of  its  soil,  it  was  entitled  to  enjoy. 

It  would  appear,  however,  that  the  character  of  the  country  in  regard  to 
the  latter  particular  was  at  that  time  but  little  understood,  as  is  shown  by 
the  following  fact:  In  1812,  Congress  had  passed  an  act  providing  for  the 
survey  of  the  bounty-lands  to  be  granted  for  the  soldiers  enlisting  for  the 
war  which  had  then  just  commenced,  and  this  survey  was  directed  to  be 
made  in  the  territory  of  Michigan.  The  persons  employed  for  this  object, 
however,  made  so  unfavorable  a  report  in  regard  to  the  soil,  representing  it 
as  marshy  and  everywhere  sterile,  that  in  1816  the  act  was  repealed,  and  the 
quantity  of  land  required  for  this  purpose  was  ordered  to  be  surveyed  in 
Arkansas  and  Illinois.  The  surveyors  either  did  not  make  a  thorough  exam 
ination  of  the  soil,  or,  what  perhaps  is  more  probable,  they  were  deceived 
by  the  sandy  nature  of  the  oak-lands,  which  have  a  yellowish  color  before 
they  are  brought  into  cultivation,  but  which,  from  the  quantity  of  lime  they 
contain,  turn  black  after  they  are  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  sun  and  air 
by  the  plough. 

During  that  year,  however,  and  the  two  following,  the  country  was  more 
fully  explored,  and  numerous  tracts  of  fertile  land,  with  a  rolling  surface, 
variegated  by  groves  and  lakes,  were  discovered.  These  lands  were  forth 
with  surveyed,  and  in  1817  and  1818  portions  of  them  were  offered  for  sale, 
showing  the  superiority  of  our  enlightened  and  liberal  laws,  contrasted  with 
the  narrow  policy  of  the  former  possessors  of  the  soil.  A  great  change  now 
took  place  in  public  opinion  in  regard  to  the  value  of  these  lands,  and  sub 
sequent  surveys  more  fully  confirmed  the  inaccuracy  of  the  impressions  which 
had  hitherto  prevailed  in  relation  to  them. 

With  the  introduction  of  steam  navigation  upon  its  vast  inland  seas,  a  new 
era  may  be  said  to  have  commenced  in  the  history  of  the  progress  of  the 
West.  This  was  in  1819,  when  the  first  steamboat,  the  Wai  k-in-the- Water, 
made  her  appearance  on  Lake  Erie,  crossing  that  lake  and  passing  up  to 
Mackinaw. 

By  the  census  taken  about  that  time,  the  population  of  Michigan  was 
ascertained  to  be  eight  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety-six.  Detroit 
contained  two  hundred  and  fifty  houses,  and  fourteen  hundred  and  fifteen 
inhabitants,  independent  of  the  garrison.  The  island  of  Mackinaw,  which 
continued  to  be  a  central  mart  for  the  fur-trade,  had  a  stationary  popula 
tion  of  four  hundred  and  fifty,  which  was  at  times  increased  to  not  less  than 
two  thousand  by  the  Indians  and  traders  who  resorted  there  from  the  upper 
lakes.  The  settlement  at  the  Saute  de  Ste.  Marie  contained  only  fifteen  or 
twenty  houses,  occupied  by  French  and  English  families. 

Although,  by  the  ordinance  of  1787,  lot  number  16  was  directed  to  be 
reserved  in  every  township  for  the  support  of  common  schools,  no  measures 
had  yet  been  taken  to  introduce  a  system  of  public  instruction,  if  we  except 
the  act  passed  by  the  governor  and  judges  in  1817  for  the  establishment  of 
what  was  styled  in  it  the  Catholepestemiad,  or  University  of  Michigan.  This 


TRANSITION  FROM  TERRITORY  TO  STATE.  §| 

act,  which  was  drawn  up  by  Augustus  B.  Woodward,  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Territory,  is  a  very  curious  document.  He  was  a  gentleman  possessing  ex 
tensive  acquirements,  but  was  not  a  little  eccentric  in  his  character,  and  the 
views  he  entertained  on  this  and  some  other  subjects  were  certainly  not  very 
practical.  The  phraseology  of  the  act  is  not  its  least  singular  feature,  and 
would  seem  better  suited  to  the  age  of  my  Lord  Coke  than  to  the  under 
standing  and  condition  of  a  race  of  new  settlers  engaged  in  clearing  away 
the  forest.  _  This  university  was  to  have  thirteen  didaxia  or  professorships, 
each  of  which  was  to  be  liberally  endowed,  and  it  was  designed  to  lay  broad 
and  deep  the  foundations  for  a  thorough  education. 

Indeed,  all  Judge  Woodward's  projects  seem  to  have  been  upon  no  very 
moderate  scale.  Detroit  is  indebted  to  him  for  a  plan  of  the  city  laid  out 
in  the  form  of  a  cobweb,  with  public  squares,  a  circus,  a  Campus  Martins, 
streets,  cross-streets,  avenues,  &c.,  more  vast  in  its  conception  and  more 
complex  in  its  design  than  ancient  Rome,  and  requiring  a  longer  period  to 
fill  it  up  than  from  the  time  of  Romulus  to  our  own  day.  The  utilitarian 
tendencies  of  his  successors,  however,  have  made  strange  havoc  with  this 
magnificent  plan,  the  traces  of  which  are  now  nowhere  visible  but  on  the 
map. 

On  the  admission  of  Illinois  into  the  Union  in  1818  all  the  territory  lying 
north  of  that  State  and  Indiana  was  annexed  to  Michigan ;  and  the  follow 
ing  year  Congress  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  election  of  a  delegate  from 
the  Territory  to  the  National  Legislature,  who  should  have  the  right  of 
speaking,  but  not  of  voting.  This  was  of  great  advantage  to  the  inhabitants, 
as  they  were  thereby  provided  with  a  representative  through  whom  they 
could  make  known  their  wants  to  the  General  Government. 

Michigan,  meanwhile,  gradually  continued  to  advance  in  population. 
The  settlers  extended  themselves  along  the  banks  of  the  rivers  Raisin,  Hu 
ron,  and  St.  Clair,  and  cleared  away  the  forest  from  the  spots  where  now 
stand  the  villages  of  Ann  Arbor,  Ypsilanti,  Pontiac,  Jackson,  and  Tecum- 
seh. 

That  portion  of  the  Territory,  however,  situated  upon  the  borders  of  the 
upper  lakes  was  then  but  little  known ;  and  in  1820  an  expedition  was  set 
on  foot  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  it,  to  ascertain  the  number  and  condi 
tion  of  the  Indian  tribes  in  that  quarter,  and  to  select  such  positions  as 
might  be  most  favorable  for  its  defence.  This  expedition,  which  was  under 
the  direction  of  Governor  Cass,  was  accompanied  by  a  mineralogist,  a  topo 
graphical  engineer,  and  a  physician ;  was  provided  with  an  escort  of  sol 
diers,  and  the  commanding  officers  of  the  posts  along  the  lakes  were  ordered 
to  afford  it  every  facility  in  their  power.  The  party  started  from  Detroit 
on  the  24th  of  May  in  bark  canoes  manned  by  wyageurs  and  Indians. 

Passing  up  the  river  St.  Clair,  they  proceeded  along  the  shores  of  Lake 
Huron,  visited  the  island  of  Mackinaw,  then  maintained  as  a  trading-post 
by  the  Northwest  Company,  and  soon  arrived  at  the  Saute  de  Ste.  Marie. 

This  was  considered  a  favorable  point  for  the  establishment  of  a  military 
post.  By  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  concluded  in  1795,  the  Indians  had 
agreed  that  all  the  lands  which  they  had  granted  to  the  French  or  English 
should  be  transferred  to  the  United  States.  This  place  they  had  ceded  to 
the  French,  who  had  formerly  maintained  a  garrison  here :  it  was  clear, 
therefore,  that  it  came  within  the  provisions  of  that  treaty.  A  council  was 
therefore  called,  at  which  the  Indian  chiefs  attended,  dressed  in  fine  broad 
cloths  and  decorated  with  trinkets  of  British  manufacture.  The  savages 
opposed  the  occupation,  and  sought  to  prevent  it  by  denying  all  knowledge 
of  the  original  cession ;  and  when  it  was  fully  explained  to  them  they  still 


32  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

persisted  in  withholding  their  consent,  though  in  less  positive  terms,  sug 
gesting  that  their  young  men  might  prove  unruly  and  kill  the  cattle  which 
should  stray  from  the  post.  This  being  understood  as  intended  for  a  threat, 
Governor  Cass  replied  that  he  would  give  himself  no  farther  trouble  to  con 
fer  on  the  subject,  but  that  so  sure  as  the  rising  sun  would  set  in  the  west, 
so  sure  should  an  American  garrison  be  established  at  that  place,  whatever 
might  be  their  decision. 

The  chiefs,  who  appear  to  have  been  under  British  influence,  now  spent 
several  hours  in  discussion.  Some  of  them  were  willing  that  the  Americans 
should  occupy  the  post  if  there  were  no  troops  stationed  there.  At  length 
a  chief,  who  held  the  rank  of  a  brigadier  general  in  the  British  service, 
seized  his  war-lance  and  struck  it  furiously  on  the  ground,  intimating  there 
by  that  the  place  would  not  be  given  up  except  to  superior  force,  and  the 
council  soon  afterward  dispersed  in  a  hostile  spirit. 

The  expedition  under  Governor  Cass  consisted  of  sixty-six  men,  of  whom 
thirty  were  regular  soldiers,  and  the  savages  numbered  about  eighty  war 
riors.  The  latter  occupied  the  site  of  the  old  French  fort  and  the  Ameri 
cans  were  drawn  up  upon  the  bank  of  the  river  St.  Mary,  a  ravine  separat 
ing  the  two  at  a  distance  of  five  or  six  hundred  yards. 

While  the  Americans  were  waiting  to  see  what  would  be  the  issue  of  the 
affair,  the  British  flag  was  hoisted  from  the  midst  of  the  Indian  encampment 
by  the  chief  who  had  shown  so  hostile  a  disposition  in  the  council.  On  dis 
covering  this,  Governor  Cass  ordered  his  men  to  stand  by  their  arms,  and, 
taking  an  interpreter,  proceeded  directly  to  the  Indian  camp.  Here  he 
indignantly  tore  down  the  obnoxious  flag,  telling  the  chief  who  had  hoisted 
it  that  it  was  an  insult  of  the  grossest  kind ;  that  the  flag  was  the  emblem 
of  national  sovereignty ;  that  the  ensigns  of  two  different  nations  could  never 
float  on  the  same  soil ;  that  they  would  not  be  permitted  to  raise  any  other 
than  that  of  the  United  States ;  and  that  if  they  attempted  it  again  that 
Power  would  set  a  strong  foot  upon  their  necks  and  crush  them  to  the  earth. 
When  he  had  said  this  the  governor  returned  to  his  encampment,  and  a  few 
minutes  after  he  arrived  there  the  Indian  women  and  children  were  seen 
quitting  their  lodges  and  getting  on  board  their  canoes.  No  act  of  hostility, 
however,  was  committed ;  and  some  of  the  older  chiefs,  who  had  not  been 
present  at  the  council,  came  forward  and  made  overtures  of  peace.  At  seven 
o'clock  the  same  evening  a  treaty  wras  concluded  with  them,  by  which  they 
ceded  to  the  United  States  a  tract  of  four  miles  square  around  the  Saute, 
including  the  portage,  the  site  of  the  old  French  fort,  and  the  village,  re 
serving  to  themselves  the  right  of  fishing  at  the  falls  and  of  encamping  upon 
the  shores.  The  calumet  was  smoked,  and  blankets,  knives,  silver  trinkets, 
and  broadcloths  were  distributed  among  them. 

Everything  having  been  settled,  the  expedition  started  again,  and  pro 
ceeded  along  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior.  Here  they  were  struck  with  the 
appearance  of  the  Pictured  Rocks,  which  extend  for  miles  along  the  shores 
of  the  lake,  stained  with  a  variety  of  hues  by  the  washing  of  mineral  waters, 
and  which  exhibit  to  the  delighted  beholder  the  most  singular  scene  ima 
ginable  of  Nature's  painting.  They  visited  also  the  Doric  Rock,  which  pre 
sents  the  appearance  of  a  rude  though  magnificent  piece  of  architecture 
chiselled  from  the  solid  stone,  and  examined  other  curiosities  on  this  part 
of  the  coast.  The  Copper  Rock,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ontonogon  river,  which 
has  from  time  immemorial  been  the  subject  of  Indian  superstition  in  this 
wild,  sequestered  region  they  found  particularly  worthy  of  notice. 

Having  completed  its  survey,  the  expedition  returned  to  Detroit  by  the 
way  of  Lake  Michigan.  The  results  were  a  more  accurate  knowledge  of 


TRANSITION  FROM  TERRITORY  TO  STATE.  33 

the  geography  of  the  country  and  of  the  operations  of  the  Northwest  Fur 
Company,  the  selection  of  sites  for  a  line  of  military  posts,  and  several  im 
portant  treaties  with  the  Indian  tribes,  ceding  valuable  tracts  of  land  to  the 
United  States.  Mr.  Henry  R.  Schoolcraft,  who  accompanied  the  expedi 
tion,  afterward  published  his  journal,  giving  a  particular  account  of  the 
country,  and  of  the  incidents  which  occurred  along  their  route. 

Soon  after  this  an  important  change  took  place  in  the  government  of  the 
territory.  In  1823  Congress  passed  an  act  abrogating  the  legislative  powei 
of  the  governor  and  judges,  and  establishing  a  legislative  council,  to  consist 
of  nine  members,  limiting  also  the  judges'  term  of  office  to  four  years.  Two 
years  afterward  all  county  officers,  excepting  those  of  a  judicial  character, 
were  made  elective  by  the  people ;  all  executive  appointments  were  required 
to  be  approved  by  the  legislative  council ;  and  an  act  was  passed  empower 
ing  the  governor  and  council  to  divide  the  territory  into  townships,  to  incor 
porate  the  same,  and  to  define  their  rights  and  privileges. 

The  Erie  Canal,  which  had  been  commenced  in  1817,  was  in  1825  opened 
for  navigation  from  the  Hudson  to  Buffalo ;  and  this  event  forms  an  impor 
tant  epoch  in  the  progress  of  Michigan.  The  effect  of  this  great  public 
improvement  on  the  interests  of  the  West  was  twofold ;  it  cheapened  the 
foreign  merchandise  of  which  it  stood  in  need,  and  in  the  same  or  a  still 
greater  proportion  enhanced  the  value  of  its  agricultual  products.  Its  lands 
therefore  increased  in  value,  new  facilities  and  new  motives  were  offered  for 
settlement,  and  from  this  period  those  vast  and  fertile  regions  advanced 
rapidly  in  population  and  general*prosperity. 

To  meet  the  claims  of  the  increasing  population  of  the  territory,  new 
privileges  were  granted.  In  1827  the  legislative  council  was  made  elective 
by  the  people,  with  the  power  of  enacting  laws,  subject  to  the  approval  of 
Congress  and  the  veto  of  the  local  executive ;  and  upon  this  footing  things 
remained  until  the  territory  was  admitted  into  the  Union. 

Governor  Cass,  meanwhile  was  indefatigable  in  his  efforts  to  have  roads 
constructed  through  the  interior,  and,  warned  by  the  experience  of  the  past, 
to  provide  effectually  for  the  public  defence.  His  whole  administration, 
indeed,  was  characterized  by  a  persevering  zeal  to  promote  the  prosperity 
of  Michigan ;  to  improve  its  institutions,  and  to  develop  its  resources. 
*  A  new  impulse,  as  we  have  already  remarked,  had  been  given  to  the  pro 
gress  of  the  West.  It  offered  a  boundless  field  for  enterprise,  and  began  to 
be  considered  the  proper  asylum  and  retreat  for  all  who  would  better  their 
fortune  by  industry.  It  was  emphatically  "  the  poor  man's  country,"  where 
his  labor  was  sure  to  be  rewarded  by  competence,  and  eventually  by  wealth. 
Hence  population  flowed  in  rapidly  from  the  East.  The  hardy  settlers, 
scattering  over  the  country,  made  the  woods  resound  with  the  stroke  of  the 
axe ;  and  everywhere  the  smoke  of  their  cabins  was  seen  ascending  from  the 
depths  of  the  forest.  The  lakes  presented  a  no  less  animated  scene :  the 
white  wings  of  commerce  were  spread  out  upon  their  waters,  and  the  cloud 
from  the  distant  steamer  was  seen  stretching  along  the  horrizon.  The  reign 
of  Nature  in  these  hitherto  silent  and  secluded  solitudes  was  at  an  end,  and 
that  of  man,  with  all  its  life,  and  bustle,  and  activity,  had  begun. 

In  1831,  General  Cass,  having  been  appointed  secretary  of  war,  was  suc 
ceeded  by  Mr.  George  B.  Porter  in  the  government  of  the  territory,  the 
population  of  which  at  this  time  amounted  to  about  thirty-five  thousand. 
During  his  administration,  Wisconsin,  which  had  before  been  annexed  to 
Michigan,  was  erected  into  a  separate  territory.  Meantime  the  commerce 
en  Lake  Erie  was  rapidly  increasing.  A  road,  which  was,  to  say  the  least, 
passable  at  some  seasons  of  the  year,  was  constructed  across  the  Black 


g4  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Swamp,  and  numerous  avenues  were  opened  into  the  interior.  In  conse 
quence  of  these  improvements,  the  country  became  better  known,  a  spirit  of 
speculation  was  awakened,  and,  in  addition  to  the  actual  settlers,  the  woods 
were  traversed  by  numbers  in  search  of  desirable  tracts,  which  they  pur 
chased  at  the  Government  price,  in  the  expectation  of  realizing  large  profits 
from  their  rapid  increase  in  value. 

The  method  adopted  by  the  Government  in  making  their  surveys  is  one 
of  great  accuracy.  Two  straight  lines  were  drawn  across  the  territory,  the 
one  running  north  and  south,  the  other  east  and  west.  The  north  and  south 
line  was  denominated  the  principal  meridian,  and  the  east  and  west  line  was 
called  the  base  line.  The  territory  was  then  divided  into  townships  six 
miles  square,  and  these  were  subdivided  into  thirty-six  sections  of  a  square 
mile  each,  the  townships  being  numbered  in  regular  order,  commencing  at 
the  meridian  and  base  lines  and  increasing  as  they  receded  from  them.  The 
mathematical  accuracy  of  this  method,  and  the  farther  circumstance  that 
each  section  and  township,  and  also  the  lines  of  the  sections,  were  blazed  or 
marked  upon  the  trees,  enabled  the  emigrant,  even  in  the  depths  of  the 
forest,  to  find  clear  landmarks  to  guide  his  course  and  to  ascertain  the  ac 
tual  boundaries  of  each  tract.  The  smallest  lot  which  could  be  purchased 
was  one  of  eighty  acres,  or  a  fractional  lot  made  by  a  township  line  or  by 
the  course  of  a  stream. 

Prior  to  the  year  1820,  the  established  Government  price  for  land  was 
two  dollars  an  acre,  one-fourth  of  which  was  required  to  be  paid  at  the  time 
of  purchase,  and  the  remainder  in  three  annual  instalments,  the  land  being 
subject  to  forfeiture  if  these  were  not  punctually  paid,  while  a  discount  of 
eight  per  cent,  was  allowed  if  the  whole  amount  was  paid  in  advance.  This 
system,  however,  was  found  to  be  productive  of  serious  evils.  The  expecta 
tion  of  gain  induced  many  to  make  large  purchases,  and  while  some  realized 
fortunes,  perhaps,  from  their  investments,  others,  who  were  less  successful, 
were  without  the  means  of  paying  their  instalments,  and  thus  the  whole 
became  liable  to  forfeiture.  These  results  led  to  a  total  change  of  the  sys 
tem.  The  price  of  the  public  lauds  was  reduced  from  two  dollars  to  one 
dollar  and  a  quarter  the  acre,  the  whole  of  which  was  required  to  be  paid 
down  at  the  time  the  purchase  was  made.  This  was  attended  with  the  best 
effects,  preventing  a  vast  deal  of  trouble  and  loss  to  the  Government,  dia* 
couraging  reckless  speculation,  and  enabling  the  industrious  settler  with 
moderate  means  to  acquire  for  himself  a  clear  and  unencumbered  title  to 
his  land. 

Meanwhile,  a  controversy  sprang  up  which  came  near  terminating  in 
serious  collision  with  a  neighboring  State.  By  the  ordinance  of  1787  it  was 
provided  that  anyone  of  the  grand  divisions  within  the  limits  of  the  North 
west  Territory  should  be  entitled  to  admission  into  the  Union  whenever  its 
population  amounted  to  sixty  thousand  ;  and  Michigan  having  already  that 
number  of  inhabitants,  claimed  the  right  thus  granted.  The  controversy 
alluded  to  was  in  relation  to  the  boundary-line  between  the  latter  and  Ohio, 
as  established  by  the  ordinance  of  1787.  Each  government  claimed  a  rich 
and  extensive  tract  as  falling  within  its  limits,  which  was  made  still  more 
valuable  from  the  proposed  terminus  of  the  Wabash  and  Erie  canal,  a  work 
of  great  promise,  being  included  within  it.  So  much  excitement,  indeed, 
prevailed  that  both  parties  sent  a  military  force  to  the  disputed  frontier. 

The  people  of  Michigan,  having  called  a  convention  and  formed  a  State 
constitution,  petitioned  Congress  to  be  admitted  into  the  Union,  claiming  as 
a  part  of  their  territory  the  tract  in  dispute  with  Ohio.  Congress,  however, 
decided  in  favor  of  the  latter  State,  and  assigned  to  Michigan,  in  place  of 


HISTORY  AS  A  STATE  AND  PRESENT  CONDITION.  §5 

the  fertile  strip  along  her  southern  border,  about  twenty-five  thousand  square 
miles  of  barren,  mountainous  country  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior. 

We  here  conclude  our  brief  account  of  Michigan  as  a  territory.  We  have 
seen  it  in  the  infancy  of  its  settlement,  under  the  blighting  effects  of  feudal 
institutions  similar  to  those  existing  in  France  at  that  period,  being  then 
little  more  than  a  mere  ranging-ground  for  the  Jesuit  missionary  and  the 
fur-trader,  a  waste  roamed  over  by  the  wild  beast  and  the  savage,  and  de 
signedly  kept  in  this  state  as  a  shelter  for  the  fur-bearing  animals.  We 
have  seen  the  French  banner  supplanted  by  the  red  cross  of  England  with 
out  producing  any  material  change  in  the  condition  of  the  country.  And, 
finally,  we  have  seen  the  stars  and  stripes  of  our  own  Eepublic  planted  on 
the  soil,  and  witnessed  in  the  extraordinary  improvements  which  have  since 
taken  place  the  wonder-working  energies  of  our  free  institutions. 

HISTORY  AS  A  STATE  AND  PRESENT  CONDITION. 

In  the  foregoing  pages  the  reader  has  been  presented  with  a  picture  of 
Michigan  in  her  youth ;  it  now  becomes  our  duty  briefly  to  consider  her 
attractions  and  condition  as  a  prosperous  matron.  From  the  time  when  she 
entered  the  Union  as  a  State,  until  she  became  a  distinguished  defender  of 
the  United  States  against  the  assaults  of  the  Great  Rebellion,  the  story  of 
her  career  is  without  any  peculiar  incidents  of  misfortune  or  renown.  In 
what  manner,  and  with  whose  help,  she  defended  the  nation  in  its  period  of 
danger,  will  be  fully  set  forth  by  another  hand,  in  the  succeeding  part  of 
this  volume,  while  the  present  writer  will  content  himself  in  this  and  the 
following  chapters  with  a  concise  compilation  from  official  documents  of  the 
civil  affairs  of  the  State  down  to  the  present  time,  together  with  a  glance  at 
some  of  its  later  developments. 

The  act  of  Congress  which  finally  admitted  Michigan  into  the  Union  with 
her  constitution  of  September,  1835,  was  approved  January  26,  1837,  and 
Stevens  T.  Mason  entered  at  once  upon  his  duties  as  the  first  elective  gov 
ernor.  Although  a  Virginian  by  birth,  he  had  been  six  years  identified 
with  the  territory  as  secretary  and  acting  governor.  He  was  elected  gov 
ernor  of  the  prospective  State,  however,  in  October,  1835,  and  continued  in 
that  position  until  January,  1840.  The  estimated  population  of  the  State 
in  1837  was  about  two  hundred  thousand ;  and  its  area  was  then  estimated 
at  forty  thousand  square  miles,  which  was  divided  into  thirty-six  counties. 
From  the  very  start  the  genius  of  her  people  was  exemplified  by  the  enact 
ment  of  laws,  for  the  building  of  not  less  than  four  railroads,  several  of 
which,  under  new  names,  were  destined  to  be  eminently  successful.  And 
then  the  special  attention  of  her  legislators  was  turned  to  the  cause  of  edu 
cation.  An  act  was  passed  in  March  of  that  year  for  the  organization  and 
support  of  the  primary  schools,  thereby  keeping  pace  with  the  will  of  Con 
gress  in  setting  aside  for  school  purposes  one  thirty-sixth  part  of  the  public 
lands  in  the  State;  and,  within  the  same  month,  the  other  important  act 
Avas  passed  which  gave  existence  to  the  University  of  Michigan.  It  was  to 
be  located  at  Ann  Arbor,  placed  in  charge  of  a  board  of  twelve  regents, 
originally  appointed  by  the  governor,  but  subsequently  elected  by  the  peo 
ple,  with  the  governor,  lieutenant-governor,  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
and  the  chancellor  of  the  State,  as  ex  officio  members.  It  was  to  have  three 
departments,  one  of  literature,  science,  and  art ;  the  second  of  law,  and  the 
third  of  medicine.  It  was  to  have  not  more  than  twenty-six  professorships; 
and  its  support  was  to  be  derived  from  a  grant  of  seventy  sections  of  land, 
which  the  superintendent  of  public  instruction,  then  in  offiqfr  valued  at  nearly 


86  CIVIL  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN. 

nine  hundred  and  twenty-two  thousand  dollars.  Special  attention  was  also 
directed  to  the  mineral  resources  of  the  State ;  an  appropriation  of  twenty- 
nine  thousand  dollars  made  for  a  geological  survey ;  and  the  appointment 
of  State  geologist  was  conferred  upon  Dr.  Douglass  Houghton,  who  did  more 
than  any  other  man  to  make  known  to  the  world  the  mineral  riches  of  Mich 
igan.  Nor  were  the  pioneer  legislators  of  the  new  State  unmindful  of  the 
cause  of  internal  improvement,  for  they  at  once  passed  an  act  establishing 
a  board  of  seven  commissioners  for  that  purpose,  of  which  the  governor  was 
made  president,  and  that  board  authorized  a  number  of  surveys  for  rail 
roads.  For  the  central  route,  from  Detroit  to  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph, 
they  appropriated  four  hundred  thousand  dollars ;  for  the  southern  route, 
from  Monroe  to  New  Buffalo  on  Lake  Michigan,  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars ;  for  the  northern  route,  from  Black  to  Grand  river,  fifty  thousand 
dollars;  and  at  the  same  time  legislative  acts  were  also  passed  incorporating 
the  roads  between  Detroit  and  Shiawassee,  and  Gibraltar  and  Clinton.  The 
commendable  spirit  of  enterprise  thus  manifested  by  the  public  authorities 
was  seconded  by  the  people  at  large,  as  may  be  seen  by  glancing  at  the  agri 
cultural  statistics  published  in  1838.  The  rye  crop,  for  example,  amounted 
to  21,944  bushels;  oats,  1,116,910;  buckwheat,  64,022;  flax,  43,826  pounds; 
hemp,  524  pounds;  neat  cattle,  89,610;  horses,  14,059;  sheep,  22,684;  and 
swine,  109,096.  When  compared  with  the  present,  these  figures  seem  almost 
insignificant,  and  yet  they  told  a  "flattering  tale,"  and  the  absence  of  any 
allusion  to  the  great  staple  of  wheat  will  strike  the  reader  as  remarkable. 
It  was  also  in  1838  that  appropriations  were  made  for  the  survey  of  the  St. 
Joseph,  Kalamazoo,  and  Grand  rivers,  with  a  view  to  the  improvement  of 
their  navigation. 

In  1839  the  militia  of  the  State  was  regularly  organized,  and  eight  divi 
sions,  with  two  brigades  of  two  regiments  each,  wrere  assigned  to  the  follow 
ing  generals :  John  R.  Williams,  George  Miles,  Charles  C.  Hascall,  John 
Stockton,  Joseph  W.  Brown,  Isaac  E.  Crary,  Edwin  M.  Bridges,  and  Horace 
H.  Comstock.  Another  event  of  this  year  was  the  completion  of  the  Peni 
tentiary  at  Jackson,  which  was  built  on  the  plan  of  the  famous  prison  at 
Auburn,  New  York :  and  as  to  the  progress  of  education  throughout  the 
State,  the  official  reports  gave  the  number  of  nearly  thirty  thousand  pupils 
in  the  common  schools,  and  the  amount  of  money  expended  during  the  year 
as  more  than  eighteen  thousand  dollars.  With  this  year  also  terminated 
the  administration  of  Governor  Mason,  who,  besides  having  had  the  honor 
of  inaugurating  the  new  State,  proved  himself  to  be  not  only  a  man  of  abil 
ity,  but  a  faithful  friend  of  Michigan.  He  had  emigrated  from  Virginia  to 
the  Territory  in  1831,  when  he  was  appointed  its  secretary,  in  his  nineteenth 
year,  and  he  only  lived  about  three  years  after  retiring  from  the  office  of 
governor  of  the  State,  to  which  he  was  twice  elected,  and  which  he  filled 
with  credit  and  ability. 

The  second  Governor  of  the  State  was  William  W^oodbridge,  who  served 
in  that  capacity  from  January,  1840,  to  February,  1841,  when  he  resigned 
to  accept  a  seat  in  the  United* States  Senate.  His  advent  to  the  Territory 
dated  as  far  back  as  1814,  when  he  was  appointed  to  the  post  of  secretary ; 
after  which,  in  1819,  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  Congress,  made  a  judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court  in  1828,  took  an  active  part  in  the  Constitutional  Con 
vention  of  1835,  and  was  chosen  in  1837  to  the  State  Senate.  After  leaving 
the  executive  chair,  the  then  lieutenant-governor,  J.  Wright  Gordon,  became 
the  acting  governor,  and  served  as  such  for  the  balance  of  the  term.  In 
looking  over  the  records,  we  find  the  leading  events  of  this  joint  administra 
tion  to  have  be|p  as  follows :  The  railroad  from  Detroit  to  Ann  Arbor,  a 


HISTORY  AS  A  STATE  AND  PRESENT  CONDITION.  gj 

distance  of  forty  miles,  was  completed ;  and  branches  of  the  State  Univer 
sity  were  established  at  Detroit,  Pontiac,  Monroe,  Niles,  Kalamazoo,  Grand 
Rapids,  Jackson,  White  Pigeon,  and  Tecumseh.  The  population  of  the 
State  had  now  risen  to  more  than  two  hundred  and  twelve  thousand,  and 
the  leading  towns  claimed  the  following  numbers,  viz :  Detroit,  nine  thou 
sand  one  hundred  and  one ;  Ypsilanti,  two  thousand  four  hundred  and  nine 
teen  ;  Pontiac,  nineteen  hundred  and  four ;  Marshall,  seventeen  hundred 
and  sixty-three ;  and  Monroe,  seventeen  hundred  and  three.  And  after 
what  manner  the  State  was  progressing  in  material  wealth  may  be  gathered 
from  the  subjoined  figures.  In  1841  the  average  price  of  wheat  was  seventy 
cents  per  bushel,  and  the  crop  amounted  to  $2,100,000 :  corn  was  sold  for 
thirty  cents,  and  amounted  to  $810,000 ;  oats  twenty  cents,  and  the  yield 
$800,000 ;  hay  five  dollars  per  ton,  and  the  amount  $750,000 ;  pork  was 
sold  for  two  cents  per  pound,  and  the  profit  was  $900,000 ;  the  fur-trade 
amounted  to  $425,000 :  the  potato  crop  to  2,051,000  bushels ;  whiskey  and 
high-wines,  $400,000 ;  maple  sugar,  $83,151 ;  fish  trade,  $192,000 ;  wool, 
$70,000 ;  dairies,  $300,000 ;  and  home-made  goods,  $100,000.  The  exports 
for  that  year  amounted  to  nearly  four  millions  of  dollars ;  and  as  the  result 
of  the  distribution  act  of  Congress  the  State  became  possessed  of  five  hun 
dred  thousand  acres  of  public  land,  many  portions  of  which  were  selected 
with  great  care  and  were  to  become  the  foundation  of  an  important  revenue. 
Associated  with  the  administration  of  Governor  Gordon  was  the  reorganiza 
tion  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Freemasons,  with  the  constitutional  number  of 
lodges.  Of  the  early  introduction  of  this  order  into  the  Territory  of  Michi 
gan  we  have  no  satisfactory  data.  The  Grand  Lodge  was  first  organized  at 
Detroit  June  24, 1826 ;  was  incorporated  by  the  Legislative  Council  in  1827 ; 
and  by  a  formal  resolution,  adopted  in  1829,  masonic  labor  was  suspended. 
A  general  meeting  of  the  Masons  of  the  State  was  called  for  inquiry  in  1840, 
and  in  1841  the  former  grand  officers  granted  dispensations  for  several 
lodges.  The  first  grand  master  under  the  original  organization  was  General 
Lewis  Cass.  The  Grand  Royal  Arch  Chapter  was  organized  in  1848  ;  the 
Grand  Council  of  Royal  and  Select  Masters  was  organized  in  1858 ;  and  the 
Grand  Commandery,  Knights  Templar,  was  organized  January  15,  1857. 

In  November,  1842,  commenced  the  administration  of  John  S.  Barry  as 
Governor  of  the  State,  and  he  continued  in  that  position  until  November, 
1845.  He  was  an  emigrant  from  New  England,  and  had  been  a  resident 
of  Michigan  for  many  years ;  and  the  town  in  which  he  settled  was  Con- 
stantine,  where  he  occupied  a  high  position.  During  the  first  year  of  his 
term  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  university  opened  for  the  reception 
of  students,  when  the  charge  for  tuition  was  fixed  at  ninety-four  and  a  half 
dollars  per  annum,  or  three  hundred  and  seventy-eight  dollars  for  the  full 
course  of  four  years.  The  Central  and  Southern  Railroads  were  now  pro 
gressing  rapidly,  the  former  having  been  finished  to  Marshall,  one  hundred 
and  ten  miles,  and  the  latter  to  Hillsdale,  sixty-eight  miles.  The  private 
roads  from  Toledo  to  Adrian,  and  twenty-five  miles  of  that  from  Detroit  to 
Pontiac  were  also  completed.  The  number  of  pupils  reported  as  attending 
the  common  schools  was  nearly  fifty-eight  thousand,  and  the  school  tax  for 
the  year  amounted  to  fifty-four  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty  dollars.  In 
1843  a  State  land  office  was  established  at  Marshall,  which  was  invested 
with  the  charge  and  disposition  of  all  the  lands  belonging  to  the  State,  and 
to  Digby  V.  Ball  was  assigned  the  duty  of  conducting  the  affairs  ^of  the 
office.  In  1844  the  taxable  property  of  the  State  was  found  to  be  $28,554,282, 
the  tax  being  at  the  rate  of  two  mills  on  the  dollar ;  the  expenses  of  the  State 
amounted  to  seventy  thousand  dollars;  the  income  from  the  two  railroads 


83  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

was  about  three  hundred  thousand  dollars ;  the  University  had  now  become 
so  prosperous  that  its  income  was  ample  to  pay  the  interest  on  the  University 
stock ;  and  the  amount  of  money  which  the  State  was  able  to  loan  to  the 
several  progressing  railroads  was  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars. 
Renewed  efforts  were  now  made  to  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  common 
schools,  and  those  who  were  acquainted  with  them  were  beginning  to  see 
that  the  schools  of  Michigan  would  be  but  little  behind  those  of  the  Eastern 
States.  In  1845  the  population  of  the  State  had  nearly  reached  three  hun 
dred  and  five  thousand,  which  was  a  gain  in  five  years  of  not  less  than 
ninety-two  thousand ;  and  in  his  message  to  the  Legislature  Governor  Barry 
stated  that  the  indebtedness  of  the  State  amounted  to  $4,077,177,  while  its 
resources  reached  $4,150,000. 

The  successor  of  Governor  Barry  was.Alpheus  Felch,  who  took  the  exec 
utive  chair  in  November,  1845,  and  continued  in  it  until  March  3d,  1847, 
when  he  resigned  to  accept  a  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate.  He  emi 
grated  from  Maine  to  Michigan  when  quite  young,  and  as  early  as  1836 
became  identified  with  public  affairs,  first  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature, 
then  as  a  bank  commissioner,  as  auditor-general  of  Michigan,  and  also  as  a 
judge  of  the  Supreme  Court.  The  leading  incidents  of  his  administration 
was  the  sale  to  private  corporations  of  the  two  railroads  belonging  to  the 
State,  the  Central  having  brought  two  millions  of  dollars  and  the  Southern 
road  five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  It  was  in  1846  that  the  University 
library  was  enriched  with  a  choice  collection  of  about  five  thousand  vol 
umes  purchased  in  Europe ;  the  exports  for  that  year  amounted  to  $4,647,608 ; 
the  tonnage  of  vessels  enrolled  in  the  collection  district  of  Detroit  was  26,928 
tons ;  the  steam-vessels  numbering  8,400  and  the  sailing  vessels  18,527,  the 
whole  of  them  giving  employment  to  eighteen  thousand  seamen.  In  1847 
the  counties  in  the  State  numbered  thirty-nine,  and  the  townships  four  hun 
dred  and  thirty-five,  of  which  two  hundred  and  seventy  were  supplied  writh 
food  libraries,  containing  in  the  aggregate  thirty-seven  thousand  volumes, 
ndeed  the  common  schools  seem  to  have  prospered  beyond  all  expectations, 
for  now  the  scholars  numbered  about  ninety-eight  thousand  pupils,  and  in 
the  2,869  districts  were  employed  twelve  hundred  male  teachers  and  nearly 
two  thousand  female  teachers.  During  the  unexpired  nine  months  of  Gov 
ernor  Felch's  term,  the  Lieutenant  Governor,  William  L.  Greenley,  per 
formed  the  duties  of  governor.  It  was  while  this  administration  exist 
ed  that  the  war  with  Mexico  was  commenced  and  terminated ;  and  in 
answer  to  the  requisition  from  the  War  Department  Michigan  furnished  to 
the  cause  one  regiment  of  volunteers,  commanded  by  Thomas  W.  Stockton, 
and  one  independent  company,  at  a  cost  of  about  ten  thousand  five  hun 
dred  dollars.  The  people  were  willing  to  volunteer,  but  owing  to  the  im 
perfection  of  the  militia  laws  the  troops  were  obtained  with  some  difficulty. 
In  November,  1847,  Epaphroditus  Ransom  became  the  Governor  of 
Michigan,  and  served  out  his  term  of  two  years  to  November,  1849.  He 
was  a  New  England  man,  and  had  served  in  the  Michigan  Legislature.  It 
was  his  privilege  to  sign  the  bills  for  establishing  the  Asylum  for  the  Insane 
at  Flint,  and  also  the  Asylum  for  the  Deaf,  Dumb,  and  Blind  at  Kalama- 
zoo,  both  of  which  institutions  were  liberally  endowed  with  lands,  and  each 
of  them  placed  in  charge  of  a  board  of  five  trustees.  The  appropriation  in 
1869  for  the  deaf  and  dumb  and  blind  amounted  to  $81,500.  On  the  first 
of  March,  1848,  the  first  telegraph  line  was  completed  from  New  York  to 
Detroit,  and  the  first  despatch  transmitted  on  that  day. 

With  regard  to  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  State,  their  progress  was 
quite  unprecedented ;  and  for  the  benefit  of  comparison  with  previous  as 


HISTORY  AS  A  STATE  AND  PRESENT  CONDITION.  39 

well  as  subsequent  years  we  submit  the  following  figures  bearing  upon  1849. 
The  land  reported  to  be  under  cultivation  at  that  time  amounted  to  1,437,460 
acres,  and  of  wheat  there  were  produced  4,739,300  bushels ;  other  grains 
8,179,767  bushels;  wool,  1,645,756  pounds;  maple  sugar,  1,774,369  pounds; 
horses,  52,305  ;  neat  cattle,  210,268 ;  swine,  152,541 ;  sheep,  610,534 ;  and 
while  the  flour  mills  numbered  two  hundred  and  twenty-eight,  the  lumber 
mills  amounted  to  seven  hundred  and  thirty.  In  1847  the  act  was  passed 
removing  the  seat  of  government  from  Detroit  to  Lansing,  and  temporary 
buildings  for  the  use  of  the  Legislature  were  at  once  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$12,450. 

In  November,  1849,  John  S.  Barry  was  again  and  for  a  third  term  called 
upon  to  take  charge  of  the  State  as  its  governor.  He  continued  in  office 
until  November,  1851.  Among  the  first  acts  of  the  Legislature  to  which  he 
appended  his  name  was  one  for  the  establishment  at  Ypsilanti  of  a  Nor 
mal  school,  which  was  endowed  with  lands  and  placed  in  charge  of  a  board 
of  education  consisting  of  six  persons.  But  the  two  great  events  which 
transpired  during  his  administration  were,  first,  the  removal  of  the  seat  of 
government  from  Detroit  to  Lansing,  and,  secondly,  the  adoption  of  the 
present  Constitution  of  the  State,  an  authentic  copy  of  which  will  be  found 
at  the  conclusion  of  this  volume.  As  late  as  1846  the  site  of  the  new  capi 
tal  was  occupied  by  only  one  log-cabin,  and  it  derived  its  name  from  one 
of  its  earliest  settlers.  It  is  located  on  Grand  river,  in  Ingham  county,  was 
organized  as  a  city  in  1859,  and,  in  addition  to  an  important  water  privi 
lege,  it  enjoys  the  advantages  of  a  rich  agricultural  country  which  surrounds 
it  on  every  side.  Another  event  of  importance  which  transpired  during  the 
administration  of  Governor  Barry  was  that  known  as  the  "  Great  Railroad 
Company  Case."  A  series  of  lawless  acts  had  been  committed  on  the  prop 
erty  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  Company  along  the  line  of  their  road 
and  especially  at  Leoni  and  Michigan  Centre,  in  Jackson  county ;  and,  final 
ly,  their  depot  in  Detroit  was  burnt  in  1850  by  an  infernal  machine.  Thir 
ty-seven  men  were  brought  to  trial  in  1851,  and  of  these  twelve  were  con 
victed.  The  conspirators  were  defended  by  William  H.  Seward,  of  New 
York,  and  the  prosecution  was  conducted  by  Alexander  D.  Fraser,  of  De 
troit,  and  the  judge  who  presided  on  this  occasion  with  great  ability  was 
Warner  Wing. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  commercial  advantages  of  Michigan  are  quite 
peculiar,  and  unequalled  by  any  other  of  the  interior  States  of  the  Union, 
we  may,  with  propriety,  at  this  point,  take  a  glance  at  her  immediate  sur 
roundings.  The  five  great  lakes  with  which  she  is  so  closely  connected 
drain  an  area  of  335,515  square  miles,  and  the  navigable  waters  extending 
from  Lake  Erie  downward  will  admit  the  passage  of  vessels  not  exceeding 
130  feet  keel,  26  feet  beam,  and  10  feet  draught.  The  total  traffic  of  these 
great  waters  in  1851  was  estimated  at  326,000,000,  employing  74,000  tons 
of  steam  and  138,000  tons  of  sail.  In  1839  the  twenty-five  largest  steamers 
on  these  lakes  had  an  average  of  449  tons  burthen,  while  the  average  of 
those  which  flourished  in  1851  was  about  1000  tons.  In  the  former  year, 
the  first-class  steamers  took  ten  days  to  make  the  round  trip  from  Buffalo 
to  Detroit,  but  in  the  latter  year  the  swiftest  steamers  only  required  three 
days  to  perform  the  same  trip.  The  total  number  of  steamers  on  Lakes 
Erie  and  Michigan  and  the  straits  was  140,  and  the  numbers  belonging  to 
the  districts  of  Detroit  47,  Mackinaw  12,  and  Chicago  4.  And  in  this  con 
nection,  the  fact  is  worth  stating  that  during  the  nine  years  preceding  1851 
the  steamboat  tonnage  of  the  Mississippi  valley  had  only  doubled,  but  that 
during  the  same  period  the  tonnage  of  the  great  lakes  more  than  quadru- 

F* 


90  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

pled  itself,  whereby  we  obtain  an  idea  of  the  remarkable  increase  of  the 
lake  country,  in  population,  production  and  trade. 

In  November,  1851,  Robert  McClelland  became  the  governor  of  the  State 
and  his  administration  lasted  until  March,  1853,  when  he  resigned  to  accept 
a  seat  in  the  Cabinet  of  President  Pierce  as  Secretary  of  the  Interior.  He 
had  become  a  citizen  of  Michigan  as  far  back  as  1833,  and  had  served  not 
only  in  the  State  legislature,  but  also  as  a  Representative  in  Congress.  On 
his  retirement,  the  lieutenant-governor,  Andrew  Parsons,  became  the  acting 
governor,  and  continued  to  act  until  the  close  of  the  term  in  November, 
1854.  Perhaps  the  most  significant  fact  connected  with  that  year  was,  that 
the  pupils  throughout  the  State  who  attended  the  common  schools,  were  not 
less  than  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  thousand,  an  increase  in  four  years 
of  forty-three  thousand.  Such  victories  of  peace  are  what  Michigan  has 
always  prided  herself  upon,  and  are  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  victories 
of  war,  in  behalf  of  the  Union,  upon  which  she  justly  prided  herself  ten 
years  afterwards. 

From  November,  1854,  to  November,  1858,  the  executive  chair  was  filled 
by  Kinsley  S.  Bingham.  He  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1833,  and,  prior  to 
his  election  as  governer,  he  had  served  with  honor  both  in  the  State  legisla 
ture  and  as  a  Representative  in  Congress.  All  the  material  interests  of  the 
State  progressed  with  rapidity  during  his  administration,  but  the  most  nota 
ble  event  of  his  first  official  term  was  the  completion  of  the  Ship  Canal  at 
the  falls  of  St.  Mary.  In  1852,  August  26,  an  act  of  Congress  was  approved 
granting  to  the  State  of  Michigan  seven  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  acres 
of  land,  for  the  purpose  of  constructing  a  Ship  Canal  between  Lakes  Huron 
and  Superior.  In  1853,  February  5,  the  legislature  of  Michigan  accepted 
the  grant  made  by  Congress,  and  provided  for  the  appointment  of  commis 
sioners  to  select  the  donated  lands,  and  to  arrange  for  building  the  canal. 
A  company  of  enterprising  men  was  formed,  and  a  contract  was  entered 
into,  by  which  it  was  agreed  that  the  canal  should  be  finished  in  two  years, 
and  the  work  proceeded.  Every  article  of  consumption,  machinery,  work 
ing  implements  and  materials,  timber  for  the  gates,  stone  for  the  locks,  as 
well  as  men  and  supplies,  had  to  be  transported  to  the  site  of  the  canal  from 
Detroit,  Cleveland,  Chicago,  and  other  lake  ports ;  the  stone  for  finishing 
the  locks  having  been  brought  from  Marblehead  near  Sandusky  City,  Ohio, 
and  from  the  Detroit  river.  The  rapids  or  Saute  which  had  to  be  surmoun 
ted  have  a  fall  of  seventeen  feet  and  are  about  a  mile  long.  The  length  of 
the  canal  is  less  than  one  mile,  its  width  one  hundred  feet,  depth  twelve 
feet,  and  it  has  two  locks  of  solid  masonry.  The  contracting  parties  had 
many  drawbacks  to  contend  with  in  their  operations,  a  sickly  season  having 
been  one  of  them,  but  they  persevered,  and  in  May,  1855,  the  work  was 
completed,  accepted  by  the  commissioners  and  formally  delivered  to  the 
State  authorities.  The  disbursements  on  account  of  constructing  the  canal 
and  selecting  the  lands,  amounted  to  $999,802,  while  the  lands  which  were 
assigned  to  the  company  and  selected  through  the  agency  at  Saute  Ste. 
Marie,  as  well  as  certain  fine  lands  in  the  upper  and  lower  peninsula,  filled 
up  to  an  acre  the  full  measure  of  the  Government  grant.  In  consideration 
of  its  national  character,  as  a  highway  between  the  lower  lakes  and  Lake 
Superior,  and  in  view  of  the  sound  character  of  the  work,  the  originators 
and  builders  of  this  canal  deserve  the  gratitude  of  the  country.  With  re 
gard  to  the  laws  of  Michigan,  it  should  be  mentioned  here  that  in  1857  two 
volumes  containing  all  the  statutes  down  to  date  were  compiled  by  Thomas 
M.  Cooley,  and  published  in  two  volumes  at  Lansing  under  the  authority 
of  the  State  legislature. 


EDUCATION.  91 

The  successor  of  Governor  Bingham  was  Moses  Wisner,  and  his  term 
extended  from  November,  1858,  to  November,  1860.  He  emigrated  from 
New  York  to  Michigan  in  1839 ;  was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  a  true 
patriotic  citizen  of  the  State.  Soon  after  his  retirement,  the  mutterings  of 
the  Great  Rebellion  began  to  be  heard,  and  he,  together  with  his  two  suc 
cessors,  Austin  Blair  and  Henry  H.  Crapo,  each  of  whom  was  twice  elected, 
were  so  identified  with  the  military  operations  of  the  State  during  the  war, 
that  we  shall  leave  their  services  to  be  considered  by  our  colleague  in  the 
second  part  of  this  volume ;  while  our  own  biographical  notices  of  all  the  ter 
ritorial  and  State  governors  of  Michigan  will  be  reserved  for  the  concluding 
part  of  the  volume.  In  the  meantime,  however,  we  may  in  this  place  intro 
duce  with  propriety  the  names  of  the  several  governors  and  administrators, 
under  whose  jurisdiction  Michigan  has  been  placed  since  the  erection  of  the 
royal  government,  more  than  two  hundred  years  ago.  Under  French  rule 
they  were  Sieur  de  Mesy,  appointed  in  1663 ;  Sieur  de  Courcelle,  1665 ; 
Sieur  de  Frontenac,  1672;  Sieur  de  Barre,  1682;  Sieur  Marquis  de  Nou- 
ville,  1685 ;  Sieur  de  Frontenac,  1689  ;  Sieur  Chevalier  de  Callieres,  1699  ; 
Marquis  deVaudreuil,  1703;  Marquis  de  Beauharnais,  1726;  Sieur  Compte 
de  la  Gallisoniere,  1749 ;  Sieur  de  la  Jonquiere,  1749 ;  Marquis  du  Quesne 
de  Menneville,  1752 ;  and  Sieur  de  Vandreuil  de  Cavagnal,  1755.  Under 
English  rule  the  governors  were  James  Murray,  1765;  Paulus  EmeJins 
Irving,  1766;  Guy  Carleton,  1766;  Hector  T.  Cramahe,  1770;  Guy  CaYle- 
ton,  1774;  Frederick  Haldemand,  1774;  Henry  Hamilton,  1774;  Henry 
Hope,  1775 ;  Lord  Dorchester,  1776 ;  Alured  Clarke,  1791 ;  and  Lord  Dor 
chester,  1798.  The  American  governors,  by  appointment  and  election,  have 
been  William  Hull,  1805  ;  Lewis  Cass,  1814 ;  George  B.  Porter,  1832 ;  Ste 
vens  T.  Mason,  1834 ;  John  S.  Horner,  1835 ;  Stevens  T.  Mason,  1836 ; 
William  Woodbridge,  1840;  J.  Wright  Gordon,  1841 ;  John  S.  Barry,  1842; 
Alpheus  Felch,  1845 ;  Epaphroditus  Ransom,  1847  ;  John  S.  Barry,  1849  ; 
Robert  McClellan,  1851 ;  Andrew  Parsons,  1853 ;  Kinsley  S.  Bingham, 
1854 ;  Moses  Wisner,  1858  ;  Austin  Blair,  1861 ;  Henry  H.  Crapo,  1865 ; 
and  Henry  P.  Baldwin,  1869.  And  for  purposes  of  reference,  we  also 
insert  at  this  point  the  progress  of  population  for  the  half-century  preceding 
the  year  1860 ;  as  follows  :— Population  in  1810,  4,762 ;  1820,  8,765 ;  1830, 
31,639  ;  1840,  212,267  ;  1850,  397,654 ;  and  1860, 749,113.  At  our  present 
writing  the  result  of  the  current  census,  for  1870,  is  not  officially  known ; 
but  should  the  last  decade  be  equal  to  that  which  preceded  it,  the  popula 
tion  of  Michigan  might  be  set  down  at,  about  fourteen  hundred  thousand. 

Having  thus  taken  a  brief  chronological  view  of  the  leading  events  in  the 
history  of  Michigan  as  a  State,  we  now  propose  to  lay  before  the  reader 
a  more  comprehensive  account  of  her  condition  at  the  close  of  Governor 
Crapo's  administration,  with  some  particulars  of  a  later  date,  and  what  we 
propose  to  submit  shall  be  arranged  under  the  several  heads  of  Education, 
Agriculture,  Mineral  Wealth,  Railroads,  Lumbering  Interest,  Fisheries, 
Commerce,  The  Indians  and  Antiquities  of  the  State,  and  Recent  Develop 
ments. 

EDUCATION. 

Among  the  very  first  laws  enacted  by  the  Legislature  of  Michigan  after 
its  organization  as  a  State  was  one  for  the  establishment  of  the  State  Uni 
versity,  founded  on  the  act  of  Congress  of  1826,  which  appropriated  two 
entire  townships  of  wild  land  for  the  special  purpose.  That  action  on  the 
part  of  its  original  legislators,  suggested  by  a  clause  in  the  constitution 


92  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

enjoining  upon  the  legislature  the  "encouragement  of  learning  and  the  gen 
eral  diffusion  of  knowledge  among  the  people,"  was  highly  creditable  to 
their  intelligence,  and  was  the  key-note  to  the  subsequent  prosperity  of  the 
State.  A  prime  mover  in  this  enterprise  was  the  Rev.  John  D.  Pierce,  the 
first  superintendent  of  public  instruction ;  and  among  the  professors  first 
chosen  were  Asa  Gray  and  Douglass  Houghton,  the  first  as  professor  of 
botany  and  zoology,  and  the  second  of  geology  and  mineralogy.  By  care 
ful  and  judicious  management  the  University  has  progressed  so  rapidly  that 
it  is  now  awarded  a  prominent  place  among  American  institutions,  and  in 
foreign  countries  the  mother  State  is  more  widely  known  through  the  fame 
of  her  University  than  through  any  other  means.  In  July,  1868,  Mr.  Pierce 
read  a  paper  before  the  association  of  county  superintendents,  at  Marshall, 
in  which  he  recounted  the  interesting  history  of  the  University,  and  from 
which  we  make  the  following  extract : 

"  It  was  reserved  to  Michigan  to  rear  up,  within  thirty  years  from  its 
inception  and  the  location  of  its  site,  an  institution  rivaling,  not  only  Yale 
and  Harvard,  but  outstripping  them  both.  This  now  is  universally  acknowl 
edged.  Men  from  the  oldest  institutions  in  the  United  States  concede  the 
great  fact.  The  best  authorities  say  that  the  University  of  Michigan  is  a 
marvel.  Thirty  years  ago  the  land — the  forty  acres  that  it  now  occupies — 
was  an  unfurrowed  plain,  whose  soil  the  plough  had  never  chafed,  never 
disturbed — where,  but  as  yesterday,  the  deer  roamed  free  as  air,  the  wolf 
howled,  and  the  Indian  pitched  for  the  night  and  kindled  his  camp-fires. 
You  will  find  in  all  the  history  of  the  past  nothing  to  compare  with  it  in  the 
rapidity  of  its  development  and  growth." 

It  was  not  until  1850  that  the  University  had  any  recognized  head.  In 
1842  it  had  four  professors ;  in  1850  the  medical  department  was  organized ; 
in  1859  the  law  department;  and  in  1860  the  professorships  numbered  twenty- 
eight  and  the  students  six  hundred.  The  total  disbursements  from  1837  to 
1851  amounted  to  $286,928  ;  but  since  that  time  the  receipts  and  expendi 
tures  have  greatly  increased.  For  five  years  preceding  1868  the  number 
of  students  averaged  more  than  one  thousand,  and  in  the  latter  year  the 
receipts  amounted  to  $62,772.82,  derived  from  the  following  sources  ;  inter 
est  from  the  University  fund,  $37,086.22,  and  from  students'  fees,  $25,686. 
The  buildings  in  which  it  is  domiciled  are  the  chief  attraction  of  the  beau 
tiful  city  of  Ann  Arbor,  are  handsome  and  imposing,  commandingly  situ 
ated  and  surrounded  by  tastefully  laid  out  grounds,  bordered  with  beautiful 
shade  trees.  In  its  organization,  the  university  conforms  to  the  Prussian 
system  which  is  regarded  as  the  most  perfect  in  the  world.  According  to 
the  thirtieth  report  of  the  board  of  regents,  the  names  of  the  professors, 
instructors,  and  other  officers  of  the  institution  were  at  that  time  as  follows, 
the  first  chancellor  or  president,  elected  in  1852,  having  been  Dr.  Henry 
Tappan : 

Rev.  Erastus  O.  Haven,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  President  of  the  University,  and 
Professor  of  Logic  and  Political  Economy;  salary  $2,000. 

Rev.  George  P.  Williams,  LL.D.,  Professor  of  Physics;  salary  $1,500. 

Abram  Sager,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Professor  of  Obstetrics  and  Diseases  of  Wo 
men  and  Children;  salary  $1,000. 

Silas  H.  Douglass,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Mineralogy, 
Pharmacy  and  Toxicology  ;  salary  $1,500. 

James  R.  Boise,  LL.D.,  Professor  of  the  Greek  Language  and  Literature ; 
salary  $1,500. 

Alonzo  B.  Palmer,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Professor  of  Pathology,  the  Practice  of 
Medicine,  and  of  Hygiene;  salary  $1,500. 


EDUCATION.  93 

Alexander  Winchell,  LL.D.,  Professor  of  Geology,  Zoology,  and  Botany; 
salary  81,500. 

Corydon  L.  Ford,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Physiology ; 
salary  $1,000. 

Henry  S.  Frieze,  M.  A.,  Professor  of  the  Latin  Language  and  Literature ; 
salary  $1,500. 

De  Volson  Wood,  C.  E.  M.  A.,  Professor  of  Civil  Engineering :  salary 
$1,500. 

Hon.  James  V.  Campbell,  LL.D.,  Marshal  Professor  of  Law ;  salary 
$1,000. 

Hon.  Charles  I.  Walker,  Kent  Professor  of  Law;  salary  $1,000. 

Hon.  Thomas  M.  Cooley,  Jay  Professor  of  Law;  salary  $1,000. 

James  C.  Watson,  M.  A.,  Professor  of  Astronomy  and  Director  of  the  Ob 
servatory;  salary  $1,500. 

Samuel  G.  Armor,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Professor  of  Institutes  of  Medicine  and 
Materia  Medica ;  salary  $1,000. 

Edward  P.  Evans,  Ph.  D.,  Professor  of  Modern  Languages  and  Litera 
ture  ;  salary  $1,500. 

Rev.  Lucius  D.  Chapin,  M.A.,  Professor  of  Moral  and  Intellectual  Phi 
losophy;  salary  $1,500. 

Edward  Olney,  M.A.,  Professor  of  Mathematics  ;  salary  $1,500. 

Rev.  Andrew  Ten  Brook,  M.A.,  Librarian ;  salary  $1,500. 

Ashley  Pond,  M.A.,  Fletcher  Professor  of  Law  ;•  salary  $1,000. 

William  W.  Greene,  M.D.,  Professor  cf  Civil  and  Military  Surgery ;  sal 
ary  $1,000. 

Adam  K.  Spence,  M.A.,  Professor  of  the  French  Language  and  Litera 
ture;  salary  $1,500. 

Charles  K.  Adams,  M.A.,  Professor  of  History;  salary  $1,500. 

Moses  C.  Tyler,  M.A.,  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  English  Literature ;  sal 
ary  $1,500. 

Allen  J.  Curtis,  M.A.,  Assistant  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  English  Liter 
ature;  salary  $1,500. 

Albert  B.  Prescott,  M.D.,  Assistant  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Lecturer 
on  Organic  Chemistry  and  Metallurgy;  salary  $1,000. 

George  B.  Merrirnan,  M.A.,  Assistant  Professor  of  Mathematics ;  salary 
$1,000. 

Stillman  W.  Robinson,  C.  E.,  Assistant  Professor  of  Mining,  Engineering, 
and  Geodery;  salary  $1,000. 

Martin  L.  D'Ooge,  M.A.,  Assistant  Professor  of  the  Ancient  Languages ; 
salary  $1,000. 

Henry  S.  Cheever,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Demonstrator  of  Anatomy  and  Curator 
of  the  Medical  Museum ;  salary  $500. 

Geo.  E.  Frothingham,  M.D.,  Prosector  of  Surgery  and  Assistant  Demon 
strator  of  Anatomy ;  salary  $500. 

John  H.  Burleson,  Secretary  and  Stewart ;  salary  $1,000. 

Hon.  D.  Mclntyre,  Treasurer ;  -  — .  t 

Preston  B.  Rose,  M.D.,  Assistant  in  Chemistry ;  salary  $300. 

Albert  E.  Foote,  M.D.,  Assistant  in  Chemistry ;  salary  $250. 

William  J.  Cocker,  Assistant  in  General  Library ;  salary  $400. 

Silas  H.  Douglass,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Dean  and  Secretary  of  Medical  Faculty ; 
salary  $200. 

William  C.  Durkee,  LL.B.,  Law  Librarian;  salary  $110. 

W.  J.  English,  Keeper  of  the  Museum ;  salary  $150. 

John  Carrington,  Janitor ;  salary  $400. 


94  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Gregory  Naglee,  Janitor ;  salary  8400. 

James  Ottley,  Janitor ;  salary  8400. 

Robert  Howard,  Janitor ;  salary  8400. 

Although  some  changes  have  taken  place  in  this  list  it  is  given  in  full  for 
future  reference. 

The  whole  number  of  professors  in  1869  was  thirty-six  and  the  students 
in  attendance  during  that  year  numbered  twelve  hundred  and  twenty-three, 
of  whom  418  were  in  the  department  of  science,  literature,  and  arts;  418  in 
the  department  of  medicine  and  surgery,  and  387  in  the  department  of  law. 
The  total  number  of  graduates  was  three  hundred  and  five,  a  larger  num 
ber  than  wrere  ever  before  graduated  ;  of  whom  eighty  were  doctors  of  medi 
cine,  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  bachelors  of  law,  and  seventeen  mining  and 
civil  engineers.  The  receipts  from  various  sources  for  the  year  amounted  to 
about  seventy-seven  thousand  dollars,  the  wrhole  of  which  was  expended. 
The  University,  in  view  of  its  vital  and  intimate  connection  with  the  general 
school  system  of  the  State,  has  aimed  to  lay  a  foundation  sufficiently  broad 
to  satisfy  all  just  demands.  It  has  laid  out  the  work  of  the  department  of 
science,  literature,  and  arts  in  six  parallel  courses  of  study,  not  taking  any 
other  American  or  foreign  college  for  its  model,  but  endeavoring  to  meet 
the  exact  and  just  demands  of  the  school  system  of  the  State.  By  an  act 
of  the  Legislature,  passed  in  1855,  it  wras  provided  that  there  shall  always 
be  at  least  one  professor  of  homoeopathy  in  the  University,  and  yet  the  board 
of  regents  from  that  time  to  1868,  notwithstanding  the  numerous  changes  in 
its  membership,  had  never  appointed  a  professor  with  that  title.  In  1867 
the  Legislature  granted  further  aid  to  the  University  on  condition  that  the 
law  should  be  executed ;  and  with  this  law  before  them  the  regents  deter 
mined  to  appoint  such  a  professor,  but  made  it  incumbent  upon  him  to  lec 
ture  in  some  place  outside  of  Ann  Arbor.  It  was  thought  tllis  wrould  be  a 
compliance  with  the  law,  and  prevent  any  unhappy  conflicts  in  the  regular 
medical  school.  The  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  decided  against  this  ac 
tion,  and  so  the  gift  of  the  Legislature  was  not  available.  At  this  point  of 
the  controversy  the  President  of  the  University,  E.  O.  Haven,  discussed  the 
question  at  issue  in  a  calm  and  judicious  manner,  taking  the  ground  that 
no  partisan  professorships  of  any  kind  or  name  should  be  established,  and, 
after  making  an  earnest  appeal  to  the  Legislature  to  reverse  their  action, 
concluded  by  saying  that  the  Regents  ought  to  respect  the  will  of  the  people, 
and  must  in  the  end  accept  the  aid  tendered  by  the  State  on  the  conditions 
insisted  upon.  Another  subject  of  vital  interest  to  the  cause  of  education, 
which  has  created  a  diversity  of  opinion  in  Michigan,  is  the  admission  of 
women  to  the  University.  In  1867  the  Legislature  adopted  a  resolution  to 
the  effect  that  the  high  objects  for  which  the  University  wyas  organized  will 
never  be  fully  attained  until  women  are  admitted  to  all  its  rights  and  privi 
leges.  The  President  then  in  office  noticed  this  subject  in  his  annual  report, 
and  set  forth  his  objections  to  the  demand  made,  and  recommended  that  no 
change  at  that  time  should  be  made  in  the  policy  of  the  University  ;  but  the 
rr  President  subsequently  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  best  method  for  Mich 
igan  would  be  to  make  provision  for  the  instruction  of  women  at  the  Uni 
versity  on  the  same  conditions  as  men.  He  came  to  this  conclusion  slowly. 
"  A  few  objections,"  he  argued,  "  have  sometimes  seemed  to  me  strong,  but 
the  most  of  what  is  urged  against  it  is  fanciful  and  partakes  of  the  nature 
of  the  thoughtless  opposition  made  to  what  is  new.  The  standard  of  educa 
tion  would  not  be  changed.  The  habits  of  study  would  not  be  affected. 
The  honor  of  the  University  would  rather  be  increased  than  diminished.  It 
does  not  injure  the  young  men  of  the  Sorbonne  in  Paris  that  ladies  also  can 


EDUCATION.  95 

listen  to  the  lectures.  The  demand  that  women  would  enjoy  the  same  ad 
vantages  as  men  grows  out  of  Christian  civilization,  and  if  difficulties  arise 
we  must  not  shrink  from  them,  but  overcome  them.  Responsibility  makes 
strength."  But,  notwithstanding  the  President's  argument  and  the  existing 
law,  the  question  is  still  in  abeyance. 

With  regard  to  the  museum  attached  to  the  University,  all  are  agreed  in 
pronouncing  it  interesting  and  valuable.  The  natural  history  collection 
embraces  six  thousand  European  minerals,  purchased  of  the  late  Baron 
Ledever ;  a  large  collection  of  minerals  from  Lake  Superior,  the  fruit  of 
geological  surveys  and  expeditions,  and  of  the  liberality  of  Professors  Hough- 
ton  and  Winchell;  also  a  very  large  zoological  collection,  consisting  of 
birds  which  visit  Michigan,  with  most  of  the  mammals  of  the  State ;  nearly 
a  complete  series  of  the  reptiles  found  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  two 
thousand  species  of  molusca,  embracing  all  the  land  and  fresh-water  forms 
of  the  Northern  and  Western  States ;  a  considerable  collection  of  fishes  and 
radiata ;  the  Winchell  collection  of  land  and  fresh-water  shells,  from  all 
parts  of  the  State  and  from  Jamaica ;  two  thousand  specimens  of  insects ; 
the  Trowbridge  collection  of  animals  from  the  Pacific  coast ;  and  more  than 
two  thousand  species  illustrative  of  the  flora  of  the  State.  To  all  of  which 
collections  important  additions  are  annually  made. 

That  part  of  the  museum  connected  with  the  medical  department  has 
been  selected  and  prepared  with  direct  reference  to  teaching.  Besides  con 
taining  a  number  of  adult  skeletons,  articulated  and  separate,  of  the  most 
perfect  description,  there  are  preparations  illustrating  the  various  stages  of 
development  and  change,  from  the  first  rudiments  of  foetal  life  to  extreme 
old  age ;  and  a  variety  of  partial  or  complete  skeletons  of  inferior  animals, 
to  exhibit  the  various  modifications.  It  contains,  likewise,  beautifully  pre 
pared  skulls  and  teeth,  to  illustrate  first  and  second  dentition,  and  others 
showing  many  of  the  diseases  to  which  they  are  subject.  Various  arterial 
preparations,  complete  and  partial,  afford  good  facilities  for  studying  the 
vascular  system.  Several  hundred  alcoholic  preparations  of  healthy  and 
diseased  structures — human  and  comparative — furnish  important  aid  in 
illustrating  physiology  and  pathology ;  while  models  in  plaster  and  papier- 
mache,  with  a  valuable  collection  of  plates,  splints,  and  surgical  instruments, 
meet  the  wants  of  the  more  practical  branches.  An  important  addition  to 
these  means  of  illustration  has  recently  been  made  by  an  importation  from 
Europe,  of  great  beauty  and  value ;  among  which  are  a  collection  of  bones 
of  the  head,  disarticulated  and  mounted,  and  an  extended  collection  of  wax, 
models,  illustrative  of  various  anatomical  and  pathological  conditions,  in 
cluding  representations  of  the  anatomy  of  the  pelvis  and  its  contents,  of 
several  varieties  of  hernia,  of  specimens  of  small-pox  and  the  vaccine  disease, 
and  of  a  large  number  of  cases  in  ophthalmic  surgery,  etc.  The  department 
of  the  museum  illustrative  of  materia  inedica  consists  of  a  very  complete 
suite  of  crude  organic  medicinal  substances,  embracing  between  five  and 
six  hundred  specimens  imported  from  Paris,  put  up  in  beautiful  glass-cov 
ered  half-gallon  jars  of  uniform  appearance,  finely  displayed,  arranged 
according  to  their  order  in  natural  history,  and  labeled  in  both  French  and 
English ;  besides  about  one  thousand  other  specimens  of  simple  mineral  and 
vegetable  substances  and  pharmaceutical  arid  officinal  preparations,  active 
principles,  etc.,  arranged  in  groups  convenient  for  study ;  and  altogether 
comprising  a  collection  which,  in  amount,  variety,  and  adaptness  to  the  pur- 
poses  of  instruction,  it  is  confidently  believed  is  not  equaled  by  any  of  a 
similar  character  even  in  the  older  institutions  in  this  country.  Besides 
these  actual  specimens,  medical  botany  is  illustrated  by  between  one  and  two 


96  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

hundred  large  and  finely-colored  plates,  framed  and  glazed,  and  displayed 
for  observation.  A  full  suite  of  instruments  used  in  diseases  of  females  is 
deposited  in  the  museum,  illustrating  the  surgical  processes  required  in  this 
class  of  cases ;  and  the  magnificent  portraits  of  cutaneous  diseases,  by  Dr. 
Erasmus  Wilson,  and  the  no  less  useful  collection  by  Dr.  Robert  Willis, 
illustrate  very  fully  this  department  of  Pathology. 

The  collection  in  that  part  of  the  museum  devoted  to  the  fine  arts  and 
history  was  commenced  in  the  year  1855  by  Professor  Frieze,  and  at 
present  comprises — 1.  A  gallery  of  casts,  in  full  size  and  in  reduction,  of 
the  most  valuable  ancient  statues  and  busts.  These  were  mainly  executed 
at  the  imperial  modeling  establishment  of  the  Louvre,  by  Desachy,  of 
Paris,  and  by  the  brothers  Micheli,  of  Berlin.  2.  A  gallery  of  more  than 
two  hundred  reductions  and  models,  in  terra  cotta,  and  other  materials. 
These  represent  the  principal  statues,  portrait  busts,  vases,  and  other 
antiquities  in  the  Museo  Borbonico,  and  other  European  museums.  They 
were  executed  at  Naples.  3.  A  gallery  of  engravings  and  photographic 
views,  executed  in  Italy  and  Greece,  illustrating  especially  the  architectural 
and  sculptural  remains  of  ancient  Rome,  Pompeii,  Paestum,  Athens,  and 
Corinth.  4.  The  Horace  White  collection  of  historical  medallions,  com 
prising,  first,  four  hundred  and  fifty  casts  from  antique  gems  in  the  Royal 
Museum  at  Berlin,  illustrative  of  ancient  history  ;  second,  over  five  hundred 
casts  illustrative  of  mediaeval  history  and  of  the  Renaissance  period  ;  third, 
about  four  hundred  medallion  portraits  of  leading  personages  in  modern 
history.  These  portraits  were  derived  from  authentic  sources,  and  reduced 
with  fidelity,  and  the  whole  were  cast  by  Eichler,  of  Berlin.  Not  included 
wTith  the  above  are  several  busts  and  reliefs,  copied  from  Thorwaldsen, 
Canova,  Powers,  and  others,  and  also  a  copy  of  the  Laocoon,  presented  by 
the  class  of  1859. 

From  the  foregoing  particulars  it  will  be  seen  that  the  University  meets 
the  wants  of  the  people  in  all  the  higher  degrees  of  education.  Having 
been  endowed  by  the  General  Government,  it  now  affords  education  almost 
without  money  and  without  price.  There  is  no  young  man  so  poor  that 
industry,  diligence,  and  perseverance  will  not  enable  him  to  obtain  an  edu 
cation.  While  the  sons  of  the  rich  are  educated  here,  a  considerable 
number  of  those  who  are  not  rich  are  enjoying  the  same  advantages. 
Many  young  men,  accustomed  to  work  on  the  farm,  or  in  the  shop  of 
the  mechanic,  have  been  smitten  with  the  love  of  knowledge,  and  are  man- 
•fully  working  their  way  through  a  liberal  education,  by  appropriating  a 
part  of  their  time  to  the  field  or  the  workshop ;  and  thus  it  is  that  the 
institution  is  proving  itself  a  blessing  to  the  people  at  large.  The  expendi 
tures  in  its  behalf  for  1869  have  already  been  stated.  We  may  also  add  that 
there  is  connected  with  this  University  a  well-conducted  observatory  ;  and 
that  in  1868,  during  the  months  of  July,  August,  September,  and  October, 
Professor  James  C.  Watson  discovered  six  new  asteriods,  which  is  the 
largest  number  ever  discovered  by  one  man  in  the  same  period  of  time.  Be 
sides  its  noble  University,  it  is  to  the  credit  of  Michigan  that  she  is  the 
supporting  mother  by  her  influence  of  not  less  than  seven  or  eight  distinct 
colleges,  as  well  as  a  Normal  school,  a  Reform  school,  and  her  Common 
schools,  which  we  will  now  proceed  to  describe: 

The  first  to  be  mentioned  is  Adrian  College,  located  in  the  town  whose 
name  it  bears.  It  was  incorporated  March  23,  1859,  and  its  first  term  for 
instruction  commenced  December  1,  1859.  It  was  formerly  under  the 
immediate  patronage  and  direction  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  denomina 
tion,  but  was  transferred  to  the  Methodist  Church  in  1867,  and  is  based 


EDUCATION.  97 

upon  a  liberal  policy,  and  embraces  in  its  board  of  trustees,  which  is  self- 
perpetuating,  and  in  its  faculty,  members  chosen  for  their  educational 
interest  and  power,  from  other  religious  denominations.  Its  departments  of 
instruction  are  open  to  both  sexes,  and  include  thorough  classical  and 
scientific  courses,  to  which  there  is  joined  instruction  in  commercial  studies 
and  the  arts  of  teaching,  painting,  and  music.  Its  buildings,  numbering 
four,  three  stories  high,  are  all  handsome  and  spacious,  and  have  been 
erected  and  furnished  at  a  cost  of  not  less  than  two  hundred  thousand  dol 
lars.  It  also  has  an  endowment  fund  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  ; 
and  it  is  the  only  college  formally  recognized  by  the  General  Conference 
of  the  Methodist  Church  in  the  United  States.  Its  faculty  in  1868  was  as 
follows : 

Kev.  A.  Mahan,  D.D.,  President,  and  Professor  of  Mental  and  Moral 
Science. 

Rev.  G.  B.  McElroy,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Astronomy. 
Rev.  I.  W.  McKeever,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy  and  Nat- 
ral  History. 

A.  H.  Lowrie,  A.M.,  Professor  of  History  and  Political  Economy,  and 
Principal  of  the  Preparatory  Department. 

I.  W.  Cassell,  A.B.,  Professor  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  Languages. 
(Unfilled,)  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Geology. 
Miss  Ada  A.  Alvord,  A.B.,  Principal  of  the  Ladies'  Department. 
J.  M.  Thompson,  Professor  of  Vocal  and  Instrumental  Music. 
Miss  Sallie  E.  Rose,  Assistant  Teacher  of  Music. 
Miss  Alice  Van  Slyke,  Teacher  of  Painting. 
Augustus  F.  Bruske,  Teacher  of  German. 

In  the  village  of  Albion  is  located  another  college  belonging  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  denomination.  In  1835  this  institute  was  located  at 
Spring  Arbor,  under  the  name  of  the  Wesleyan  Seminary ;  but  in  April, 
1839,  it  was  removed  to  Albion,  and  in  the  following  year  a  collegiate  de 
partment  was  added  for  women,  with  the  power  of  conferring  degrees  upon 
such  persons  pursuing  a  scientific  and  classical  course  of  instruction.  In 
1860  the  institution  was  incorporated,  with  full  college  powers,  and  adopted 
a  higher  grade  of  studies.  The  institution  is  under  the  patronage  of  the 
Michigan  and  Detroit  Annual  Conferences  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  They  elect  the  board  of  trustees.  The  officers  of  the  Board  are  : 
James  W.  Sheldon,  Esq.,  Albion,  President ;  Rev.  William  H.  Brockway, 
Albion,  First  Vice  President ;  S.  W.  Walker,  Esq.,  Detroit,  Second  Vice 
President;  George  B.  Joycelyn,  Albion,  Secretary;  Rev.  A.  M.  Fitch, 
Albion,  Treasurer ;  and  Rev.  M.  A.  Dougherty,  Financial  Agent. 
The  board  of  instruction  is  as  follows  : 

George   B.   Joycelyn,  President,  and  Professor  of  Mental  and   Moral 
Science. 

Rev.  W.   H.   Perrine,  A.M.,   Professor  of  Natural  Science  and  Fine 
Arts. 

William  H.  Shelley,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Latin  Language  and  Litera 
ture. 

Rev.  John  McEldowney,  A.M.,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Greek  Language  and 
Literature. 

Miss  Rachel  Carney,  M.S.,  Preceptress,  and  Professor  of  Modern  Lan 
guages. 

Miss  Sallie  A.  Rullison,  B.S.,  Professor  of  Mathematics. 
Miss  Kate  A.  Joycelyn,  Teacher  of  Instrumental  Music. 
Henry  C.  Northrup,  Teacher  of  Phonography. 
G 


98  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Fay  C.  Pierson  and  William  Harper,  Assistant  Teachers  in  Preparatory 
Department. 

Mrs.  Maria  H.  Cushman,  Stewardess. 

The  endowment  fund  amounts  to  ninety  thousand  dollars ;  the  number 
of  pupils  for  1868  was  three  hundred  and  fifty  ;  but  the  buildings,  which 
are  handsome,  will  accommodate  five  hundred  pupils. 

The  next  institution  that  we  notice  is  Kalamazoo  College.  It  embraces 
several  departments,  each,  to  a  considerable  extent,  distinct  from  the  others, 
and  is,  properly  speaking,  a  university.  It  embraces  a  college  proper,  de 
signed  to  furnish  instruction  to  young  men  in  a  four  years'  course  of  study 
similar  to  that  adopted  in  the  best  institutions  of  other  States.  It  also  em 
braces  a  female  department,  with  a  four  years'  course,  including  all  the 
higher  branches  usually  taught  in  colleges  of  this  class.  Also  a  prepara 
tory  department,  open  to  the  youth  of  both  sexes  who  wish  to  fit  themselves 
for  a  college  course,  or  to  pursue  English  or  classical  studies  to  only  a  lim 
ited  extent.  A  commercial  department,  with  a  thorough,  practical,  and 
comprehensive  course  of  study,  designed  to  fit  the  student  for  any  situation 
of  commercial  or  business  life.  Lastly,  there  is  a  normal  department  where 
students  are  instructed  by  the  regular  college  professors  and  teachers  pro 
vided  for  that  purpose,  in  the  theory  and  practice  of  the  profession. 

This  college  was  chartered  in  1833,  and  is  consequently  the  oldest  lite 
rary  institution  in  the  State.  The  first  building  erected  was  burned  in  1844. 
The  present  main  building — male  department — situated  on  "  Mt.  Carmel," 
in  the  western  part  of  the  village,  was  erected  in  1848,  and  is  104  by  46  feet, 
and  four  stories  high.  The  Ladies'  College,  a  beautiful  architectural  struc 
ture,  situated  on  South  street,  was  erected  in  1858,  and  is  truly  an  orna 
ment  to  the  State.  The  location  of  the  Kalamazoo  College  leaves  nothing 
to  be  desired,  it  being  in  one  of  the  healthiest  and  most  beautiful  situations 
in  the  country. 

The  members  of  the  faculty  in  1868  were  as  follows: 

Kendall  Brooks,  D.D.,  President  and  Professor  of  Mathematics. 

Silas  Bailey,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Moral  and  Intellectual  Philosophy. 

H.  L.  Way  land,  A.M..  Professor  of  Khetoric  and  Logic,  and  Instructor 
in  Greek. 

J.  A.  Clark,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Latin. 

Miss  H.  P.  Dodge,  Principal  of  the  Female  College,  and  Professor  of 
English  Literature. 

Mrs.  Martha  L.  Osborne,  Professor  of  Modern  Languages. 

Miss  M.  H.  Blakeslee,  Instructor  in  Music. 

Miss  E.  D.  Wood,  Instructor  in  Drawing  and  Painting. 

With  regard  to  the  institution  called  Olivet  College,  and  located  in  that 
village,  we  gather  from  official  sources  the  following  particulars :  This  col 
lege  is  under  the  fostering  care  of  the  Presbyterians  and  Congregationalists, 
and  its  resources  amount  to  one  hundred  and  eighty-two  thousand  dollars. 
The  faculty  in  1868  was  as  follows : 

Rev.  Nathan  J.  Morrison,  D.D.,  President,  and  Drury  Professor  of  Moral 
Philosophy. 

Rev.  Oramel  Hosford,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Phi 
losophy. 

Rev.  John  M.  Barrows,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Botany  and  Geology. 

R.  C.  Kedzie,  A.M.,  M.D.,  Lecturer  on  Chemistry  and  Anatomy. 

John  H.  Hewitt,  A.M.,  Rutan  Professor  of  the  Latin  Language  and  Lit- 
erature. 

Joseph  L.  Daniels,  A.M.,  Professor  of  the  Greek  Language  and  Literature. 


EDUCATION.  99 

Alexander  B.  Brown,  A.B.,  Professor  of  Vocal  and  Instrumental  Music. 

Rev.  H.  O.  Ladd,  A.M.,  Instructor  in  Rhetoric  and  Mental  Science. 

Merritt  Moore,  Principal  of  the  Preparatory  Department  and  Instructor 
in  Mathematics. 

Edward  S.  Elmer,  A.B.,  Instructor  in  the  Ancient  Languages. 

Miss  Henrietta  P.  Dennis,  Principal  of  the  Ladies'  Department  and  In 
structor  in  French. 

(Unfilled),  Instructor  in  drawing  and  Painting. 

Miss  Anna  M.  Bennedict,  Assistant  Teacher  in  the  Preparatory  Depart 
ment. 

Miss  L.  A.  Willard,  Assistant  Teacher  of  the  Piano. 

Another  flourishing  and  important  institution  is  favorably  known  as  the 
Michigan  Female  College.  It  was  founded  at  Lansing  in  1855,  and  its 
object  wras  to  provide  for  the  education  of  the  daughters  of  the  State,  al 
though  by  a  late  report  we  learn  that  a  thousand  pupils  have  been  received 
from  nine  other  States.  The  courses  of  study  are  both  classical  and  scien 
tific.  But  an  institution  of  greater  importance  and  reputation,  also  located 
in  the  vicinity  of  Lansing,  is  the  State  Agricultural  College.  It  is  located 
on  Cedar  river ;  and  although  the  act  creating  it  was  passed  in  1855  it  was 
not  organized  until  1857 ;  and  it  is  the  first  institution  of  the  kind  which 
has  ever  succeeded  in  this  country.  The  tract  of  land  which  it  occupies  was 
purchased  by  the  State  Agricultural  Society,  (whose  annual  reports  are  val 
uable  and  interesting,)  and  contains  six  hundred  and  seventy-seven  acres  of 
choice  land.  Its  obj  ect  is  to  give  to  students  a  thorough  practical  and  theoret 
ical  education  to  fit  them  for  the  occupation  of  farming.  It  is  well  supplied 
with  all  the  appliances  for  such  an  institution,  and  its  herbarium  is  one  of 
the  largest  in  this  country,  numbering  more  than  twenty  thousand  speci 
mens.  Students  residing  in  Michigan  are  admitted  free,  while  those  from 
other  States  are  charged  only  twenty  dollars  per  annum  for  instruction. 
The  students  are  obliged  to  perform  farm  labor  three  hours  every  day,  and 
are  paid  for  their  earnings.  It  has  been  endowed  by  the  General  Govern 
ment  with  a  gift  of  public  lands,  which  have  been  placed  in  the  market  for 
the  benefit  of  the  college;  and  in  1857  the  faculty  was:  President  and  Di 
rector  of  the  Farm,  Joseph  R.  Williams ;  Professor  of  Mathematics,  Calvin 
Tracy ;  Professor  of  Chemistry,  Lewis  R.  Fisk ;  Professor  of  Physiology  and 
Entomology,  Henry  Goadby ;  Professor  of  Natural  Science,  D.  P.  Mayhew ; 
Professor  of  Farm  Economy  and  Secretary,  Robert  D.  Weeks ;  and  Pro 
fessor  of  Horticulture  and  Treasurer,  John  C.  Holmes. 

We  now  come  to  speak  of  Hillsdale  College,  which  is  located  in  the  beau 
tiful  town  whose  name  it  bears,  and  which  is  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Free-will  Baptist  Church.  Its  buildings  are  spacious  and  handsome,  and 
the  institution  is  quite  celebrated.  Its  faculty  is  as  follows : 

Rev.  Edmund  B.  Fairfield,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  President. 

Rev.  Ransom  Dunn,  A.M.,  Burr  Professor  of  Biblical  Theology. 

Rev.  Henry  E.  Whipple,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  Belles  Letters. 

Spencer  J.  Fowler,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philos- 

Ge'orge  McMillan,  A.M.,  Professor  of  the  Greek  and  Latin  Languages. 

Hiram  Collier,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Natural  Science. 

Cyrus  Jordan,  A.M.,  Assistant  Professor  of  the  Languages. 

Mrs.  Julia  M.  Jordan,  Principal  of  the  Ladies'  Department. 

Miss  Ellen  Smith,  A.B.,  Assistant  Principal. 

Eugene  Haanel,  A.M.,  Teacher  of  French  and  German. 

From  colleges  to  schools  the  transition  is  natural,  and  our  first  notice  m 


100  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

this  connection  shall  be  of  the  State  Normal  School  at  Ypsilanti.  The  act 
creating  this  institution  was  passed  in  1849,  and  appropriated  for  its  support 
twenty-five  sections  of  salt  spring  lands.  It  was  commenced  in  1852,  boasts 
of  a  large  and  handsome  edifice,  and  is  intended  to  prepare  teachers  of  both 
sexes ;  and,  according  to  the  last  report  of  its  principal,  the  school  has  gained 
much  in  the  last  two  years  from  the  co-operation  of  the  county  superintend 
ents  of  common  schools,  who  are  credited  with  having  done  much  for  the 
cause  of  education.  It  is  conducted  at  an  annual  expense  generally  speak 
ing  of  about  ten  thousand  dollars,  but  the  outlay  for  1869  was  $18,500. 
More  extensive  than  the  above  is  the  State  Reform  School,  established  at 
Lansing  in  1856.  It  is  designed  to  afford  to  homeless  boys  an  opportunity 
to  escape  from  the  career  of  crime,  which  would  otherwise  await  them,  in 
such  a  manner  that  they  may  be  enabled  to  gain  an  honest  livelihood.  It 
occupies  a  beautiful  building  which  overlooks  the  Grand  river  at  Lansing. 
The  inmates  are  chiefly  employed  in  farming  and  gardening,  but  a  portion, 
of  them  work  at  various  trades,  and  all  the  branches  of  the  common  school 
are  systematically  taught.  There  is  a  chapel  attached  to  the  school,  and 
everything  is  done  to  reform  and  elevate  its  inmates.  The  cost  of  carrying 
on  the  institution  amounts  to  between  forty  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  per 
annum,  although  the  expenditures  for  1869  amounted  to  $56,025. 

We  come  now  to  a  brief  consideration  of  the  educational  work  accom 
plished  by  the  public  schools  of  Michigan,  and  the  exhibit  made  by  the  Su 
perintendent  of  Public  Instruction  in  his  annual  report  for  1868  reflects  the 
highest  credit  upon  all  who  have  participated  in  the  important  work.  The 
total  number  of  school  districts  is  4,843,  and  these  are  located  in  778  to\vns 
and  cities  and  in  all  of  the  fifty-nine  organized  counties  of  the  State.  The 
number  of  children  attending  school  was  249,920 ;  male  teachers,  2,086 ; 
female  teachers,  7,522 ;  school-houses,  4,694 ;  and  their  value,  $4,285,627. 
The  two  classes  of  teachers  received  respectively  $47.78  and  $21.92  per 
month,  and  the  total  amount  paid  to  them  for  the  year  1868  was  $1,038,131 ; 
the  total  expenditures  on  account  of  the  schools  amounting  to  $2,449,356. 
The  number  of  books  in  the  district  libraries  was  86,901  and  in  the  town 
libraries  45,322.  For  over  thirty  years,  writes  the  worthy  Superintendent 
of  Public  Instruction,  Rev.  Oramel  Horsford,  the  cause  of  education  in  Mich 
igan  has  been  constantly  onward.  In  1837 — thirty-one  years  ago — the  ven 
erable  John  D.  Pierce,  first  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  and  still 
an  active  worker  in  the  cause,  reported  14,297  children  between  five  and 
seventeen  years  of  age  in  the  State.  Now  we  report,  between  five  and  twenty 
years,  354,704.  He  then  reported  $21,375.91  expended  for  school  purposes. 
In  1868  the  aggregate  exceeds  two  millions.  The  University  fund  was  then 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Now  it  is  $559,978.  The 
University  reports  1,223  students;  the  normal  school,  262 ;  and  the  local 
colleges  nearly  two  thousand.  The  total  expenditures  for  education  in  the 
State  during  the  past  year  can  be  hardly  less  than  three  millions. 

But  we  must  not,  in  this  connection,  forget  to  mention  the  purely  benevo 
lent  institutions  of  the  State,  and  first  the  Michigan  Asylum  for  the  Deaf, 
Dumb,  and  Blind,  located  in  Flint.  This  institution  began  operations  in 
1854,  and  has  a  large  number  of  inmates.  To  teach  the  deaf  to  hear,  the 
dumb  to  speak,  and  the  blind  to  see,  would  have  been  deemed  a  miracle 
but  a  few  years  ago,  but  who  that  has  visited  our  modern  asylums  can 
doubt  that  all  this  has  practically  been  accomplished  by  the  exertions  of 
philanthropic  men. 

Through  this  public  beneficence,  the  unfortunate  inmate  of  the  asylum, 
which,  by  the  way,  has  been  re-named,  and  is  called  an  institution,  as  in 


EDUCATION.  v.01' 

better  keeping  with  its  purpose,  is  in  many  respects  more  fortunate  than 
many  in  less  favored  lands  who  enjoy  every  sense  in  perfection.  He  is 
taught  to  manufacture  wagons,  paper  boxes,  etc.,  to  weave  mats  and  car 
pets,  and  to  manufacture  a  variety  of  useful  articles.  Above  all,  he  is 
enabled  to  acquire  a  liberal  education,  and  is  thereby  placed  in  a  higher 
sphere  than  those  who,  in  years  past,  looked  on  him  with  pity  and  con 
tempt.  Self-reliant,  fully  competent  to  obtain  by  their  own  hands  an  honest 
livelihood,  the  inmates  of  this  institution  go  forth  into  the  world.  And 
who,  but  those  families  possessing  an  unfortunate  member,  bereft  of  the 
sense  of  speech  and  hearing,  can  appreciate  the  joyful  emotions  felt  by  his 
friends  when  the  deaf  and  dumb  pupil  is  first  enabled  to  communicate  with 
them  in  an  intelligent  manner. 

The  asylum  is  free  to  all  the  deaf  and  dumb,  and  the  blind,  in  Michigan, 
between  the  ages  of  ten  and  thirty  years.  All  are  entitled  to  an  education 
without  charge  for  board  or  tuition.  The  time  for  admission  is  about  the 
first  of  October. 

Thus  we  see,  that  in  little  more  than  twenty  years,  Michigan  has  adopted 
a  system  of  education  unexceled  in  older  communities ;  nor  is  the  hand  of 
progress  to  cease  its  zealous  efforts.  An  improvement  in  the  school  law  is 
now  being  agitated,  by  which  all  children  shall  be  compelled  to  attend 
school  for  a  certain  length  of  time,  unless  parents  shall  adequately  provide 
for  their  education  elsewhere.  The  State  imposes  a  heavy  tax  on  its  citi 
zens  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools,  and  is  it  not  bound  to  se 
cure  to  society  the  full  benefit  of  these  schools  ?  The  child  has  a  sacred 
and  indefeasible  right  to  so  much  education  as  society  can  provide.  Society 
embraces  all  men  in  its  bosom,  and  its  safety  and  well-being  are  essential  to 
the  safety  and  well-being  of  all.  If  there  be  any  parent  who  interferes  with 
the  education  of  his  child,  his  views  must  be  sacrificed  to  the  greater  inter 
ests  of  the  multitude. 

With  regard  to  the  men  who  have  hitherto  held  the  office  of  Superin 
tendent  of  Public  Instruction,  and  under  whose  guidance  so  much  good  has 
been  accomplished,  their  names  are  as  follows  :  John  D.  Pierce,  Franklin 
Sawyer,  O.  C.  Comstock,  Ira  Mahew,  Francis  W.  Shearman,  Ira  Mahew 
again,  J.  M.  Gregory,  and  the  present  incumbent,  Oramel  Hosford. 

We  come  now  to  speak  of  the  Michigan  Asylum  for  the  Insane.  We  can 
say  that  the  edifice  is  spacious  and  beautiful,  and  that  in  its  furnishing  and 
adaptedness  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  established,  it  is  not  one  whit 
behind  the  other  institutions  of  the  country  in  efficiency  and  high  character. 
The  number  of  patients  treated  in  1867  and  1868  was  373,  and  the  number 
remaining  at  the  commencement  of  1869  was  229.  According  to  the  latest 
reports  for  1869  the  annual  expenditures  amounted  to  $63,500,  and  it  has 
capacity  for  three  hundred  patients. 

As  to  the  State  Prison,  its  condition  has  lately  been  improved,  but  it  is 
not  yet  a  self-sustaining  institution.  The  number  of  inmates  in  1868  was 
622 ;  the  earnings  amounted  to  $85,238,  and  disbursements  $94,136.  We 
regret  to  say  that  the  usual  liberality  and  wisdom  of  the  State  authorities 
have  not  been  manifested  in  the  general  management  of  this  institution ; 
but  we  are  glad  to  know  that  through  the  influence  of  Governor  Baldwin 
there  is  a  fair  prospect  of  improvement.  Appropriation  for  its  support  in 
1869,  only  $2,000. 

As  a  fitting  paragraph  in  this  chapter  we  may  append  the  following  par 
ticulars,  respecting  the  number  of  students  reported  in  the  higher  institu 
tions  of  the  State,  for  the  year  ending  with  1868 : 

University,  1,223 ;  Agricultural  College  (many  rejected  for  want  of  room,) 


•'j()2  'CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

92 ;  Normal  School  (average  attendance,)  223 ;  Adrian  College  (Methodist,) 
242 ;  Albion  College  (Episcopal  Methodist,)  263 ;  Hillsdale  College  (Free- 
Will  Baptist,)  235  ^Kalamazoo  College  (Baptist,)  102 ;  Hope  College  (Dutch 
Reform,)  96 ;  and  Olivet  College  (Congregational,)  295. 

The  following  facts  are  given  concerning  the  primary  schools  and  educa 
tional  funds: 

The  average  length  of  the  schools  during  the  year  1868  was  six  and  two- 
tenths  months.  To  capitulate :  there  were  employed  2,086  male  teachers, 
and  7,522  females,  at  average  wages  per  month,  to  the  former,  $47.78,  and 
to  the  latter,  $21.92.  To  this  should  be  added  the  board  of  a  large  portion 
of  the  whole  number.  There  were  72  stone  school-houses,  416  brick,  3,609 
frame,  and  618  of  logs;  the  whole,  including  sites,  valued  at  $4,384,081. 
The  amount  expended  on  buildings  during  the  year  was  $805,706.  The 
total  resources  of  the  schools  amounted  in  all  to  well  nigh  three  millions ; 
and  about  three-fourths  of  this  was  by  the  voluntary  action  of  the  several 
districts. 

The  school  fund  amounted  to  $2,550,337,  most  of  which  pays  7  per  cent. 
It  will  ultimately  reach  nearly  four  millions.  The  University  fund  is 
$559,978,  and  draws  7  per  cent.  The  Normal  School  fund  was  $66,697, 
and  drew  6  per  cent.  All  parties  have  at  all  times  sacredly  regarded  the 
educational  fund.  Other  State  funds  have  been  sometimes  squandered,  and 
sometimes  stolen,  but  rogues  have  ever  left  the  school  funds  unharmed,  and 
we  think  we  can  challenge  any  State  to  show  a  better  appreciation  of  pop 
ular  education  than  has  the  State  of  Michigan  during  its  brief  but  splendid 
career. 

With  regard  to  the  Union  School  system  of  the  State,  it  has  been  pro 
nounced  commendable  in  the  highest  degree :  Two  or  more  districts,  accord 
ing  to  the  law,  may  vote  on  the  question  of  uniting  for  a  Union  School  Dis 
trict  ;  those  that  give  a  two-thirds  vote  majority  in  favor  of  it  may  unite  if 
the  whole  number  of  scholars  is  two  hundred.  Immediately  after  the  vote  is 
taken  the  several  district  boards  notify  the  school  inspectors,  who  shall  unite 
said  districts,  giving  five  days'  notice  of  a  meeting  to  be  held  to  elect  officers, 
six  in  number,  who  constitute  the  Union  School  Board,  and  are  called 
trustees. 

The  district  may  then  proceed  to  raise  funds  to  build  a  school-house, 
which  may  be  by  direct  tax  or  by  bonds.  In  a  country  growing  as  rapidly 
as  ours,  it  has  been  thought  advisable  to  issue  bonds ;  this  method  equalizes 
the  tax  so  that  those  who  may  settle  in  the  district  five,  ten,  or  fifteen  years 
after  the  house  is  built,  and  have  the  benefit  of  the  schools,  have  their  pro 
portion  of  the  tax  to  pay,  so  that  in  proportion  to  the  increase  of  property 
and  inhabitants,  the  tax  is  lessened,  that  it  might  not  be  more  than  one-tenth, 
or  even  one-twentieth,  what  it  would  be  to  raise  a  direct  tax.  This  is  one  of 
the  best  features  in  the  law.  Funds  raised  on  bonds  are  restricted,  or  lim 
ited,  as  follows : — Districts  thus  united,  having  50  scholars,  may  raise  not 
to  exceed  $3,000;  100  scholars,  $10,000 ;  200  scholars,  $20,000 ;  300  schol 
ars,  $30,000 ;  400  scholars,  $50,000. 

And  now,  in  further  illustration  of  the  avidity  with  which  the  people  of 
Michigan  have  always  fostered  the  idea  of  mental  culture,  we  submit  a  list 
of  the  literary  institutions  which  were  incorporated  by  the  Legislature 
during  the  fifteen  years  intervening  between  the  adoption  of  its  two  State 
Constitutions,  viz :  Marshall  Academy,  White  Pigeon,  date  of  incorpora 
tion,  1836;  Central  College,  Spring  Arbor,  1845  ;  Spring  Arbor  Seminary, 
1835 ;  Wesleyan  Seminary,  at  Albion,  1841 ;  Michigan  and  Huron  Insti 
tute,  1837;  Tecumseh  Academy,  1838;  Grand  Kiver  Theological  Semi- 


AGRICULTURE.  103 

nary,  1839 ;  Lake  Academy  and  Teachers'  Seminary  1839 ;  Marshall  Col 
lege,  1839  ;  Marshall  Female  Seminary,  1839  ;  St.  Phillip's  College,  1839  ; 
Allegan  Academy,  1843  ;  Grand  Rapids  Academy,  1844 ;  Utica  Female 
Seminary,  1844  ;  Ann  Arbor  Female  Seminary,  1845  ;  Ypsilanti  Seminary, 
1845 ;  Adrian  Seminary,  1846 ;  Clinton  Institute,  1846 ;  Vermontville 
Academical  Association,  1846  ;  White  Pigeon  Academy,  1847  ;  Raisin  In 
stitute,  1847 ;  Howell  Academy,  1848  ;  Leoni  Institution,  1848 ;  Leoni 
Seminary,  1848  ;  Olivet  Institute,  1848 ;  Woodstock  Manual  Labor  Insti 
tute,  1848  ;  Oakland  Female  Seminary,  1849 ;  Tecumseh  Literary  Insti 
tute,  1849  ;  Clarkson  Academical  Institute,  1850 ;  Clinton  Institute,  1850 ; 
Young  Ladies'  Seminary,  at  Monroe,  1850 ;  St.  Mark's  College,  Grand 
Rapids,  1850 ;  and  St.  Mary's  Academy,  at  Bertrand,  1850.  Surely,  of 
such  an  educational  record  as  we  have  now  briefly  sketched,  the  State  of 
Michigan  may  well  be  proud  ;  and  the  results  are  every  day  developing  in 
the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  her  people. 

AGRICULTURE. 

In  1860  the  population  of  Michigan  was  about  seven  hundred  and  forty- 
two  thousand,  but  at  the  present  time  it  is  supposed  to  exceed  a  million  and 
two  handred  thousand.  This  is  an  increase  of  more  than  thirty-three  per 
cent,  in  ten  years.  Now,  in  the  absence  of  accurate  data  connected  with  the 
present  year  of  1870,  we  can  only  suggest  an  approximation  to  the  present 
condition  of  agriculture  in  the  State,  and  this  may  be  ascertained  by 
adding  the  above  per  centage  to  the  figures  contained  in  the  census  reports 
of  1860,  which,  with  regard  to  the  most  important  particulars,  are  as  fol 
lows : 

Improved  farm  lands,  3,476,296  acres. 

Unimproved  farm  lands,  3,554,538  acres. 

Cash  value  of  farm  lands,  $160,836,495. 

Number  of  horses  in  the  State,  137,917. 

Number  of  cattle,  478,344. 

Number  of  sheep,  1,271,743. 

Number  of  swine,  372,386. 

Value  of  live  stock,  $23,714,771. 

Bushels  of  wheat,  8,336,368. 

Bushels  of  Indian  corn,  12,444,676. 

Bushels  of  oats,  4,036,980. 

Pounds  of  wool,  3,960,888. 

Bushels  of  potatoes,  5,261,245. 

Value  of  orchard  productions,  $1,122,074. 

Pounds  of  butter,  15,503,482. 

Pounds  of  cheese,  1,641,897. 

Pounds  of  maple  sugar,  4,051,822. 

Gallons  of  sorgham  molasses,  86,953. 

Gallons  of  maple  molasses,  78,988. 

Pounds  of  honey,  769,282. 

Value  of  slaughtered  animals,  $5,093,362. 

In  1860  the  value  of  the  live  stock  in  the  State  was  $23,714,791,  and  at  the 
beginning  of  the  year  1869  it  had  increased  to  $54,426,109.  The  wheat  crop 
for  1867,  a  good  average  year,  amounted  to  16,000,000  bushels  of  what  is 
known  as  winter  wheat ;  the  clip  of  wool  reached  10,500,000  pounds ;  and 
the  apple  crop  amounted  to  410,000  barrels,  the  estimated  value  of  which 
was  $1  500,000.  But  the  latest  authentic  figures  by  which  we  can  exhibit 


CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 


the  wealth  of  Michigan  in  leading  agricultural  products  are  for  the  years 
1866,  1867,  and  1868,  as  follows : 


Products. 

Amount 
of  crop. 

Average 
yield  per 
acre. 

Number  of 
acres  in  each 
crop. 

Value  per 
bushel  or 
pound. 

Total  valuation. 

1866. 

16  118  680 

32 

503  709 

82 

13  217  318 

Wheat  bushels  

14  740  639 

13.8 

1,068.162 

255 

37,588,630 

413  150 

15  5 

26  655 

1  05 

437  939 

8  293  877 

347 

236  135 

47 

3  898  122 

418971 

25 

16,759 

102 

427,350 

1  306  819 

20 

65  341 

98 

1  280  683 

Potatoes,  bushels  

5  037  298 

110 

45,793 

56 

2,820,877 

278  786 

1200 

232 

15 

48  818 

Hay   tons  

1,218  959 

1.3 

937,651 

1375 

16,760,682 

Total  

2,900,447 

76,473,423 

1867. 

15  118  000 

31  4 

481  464 

96 

14  513  280 

Wheat  bushels                  .           

15  ''50,000 

12.4 

1  229  838 

234 

35,685  000 

600  000 

17  2 

34  883 

1  30 

780  000 

Oats  bushels          

8  045  000 

29.5 

272  711 

68 

5,470.600 

418  000 

20.9 

20  000 

1  36 

568  480 

1  293  000 

17  2 

75  174 

1  04 

1  341  720 

Potatoes  bushels                 

5  750  000 

97.5 

58  974 

93 

4,197.500 

3  500  000 

1000 

3  500 

21 

735  000 

Hay,  tons                             

1  377  000 

1.3 

1,059  230 

1614 

22  224,780 

Total  

3  235  774 

85,519,360 

1868. 
Indian  corn,  bushels        

18  815  000 

33 

570  151 

76 

14,299  400 

Wheat,  bushels 

16  012  000 

12  5 

1  280  9CO 

1  64 

26  259  680 

Rye,  bushels  

606  000 

181 

33  480 

109 

660640 

Oats,  bushels   

7  562  000 

301 

251  229 

50 

3  781  000 

Barley,  bushels  

430000 

233 

18  454 

1  56 

670,800 

Buckwheat,  bushels.  . 

1  267  000 

194 

63  309 

82 

1  638  940 

Potatoes,  bushels  

5  65C  000 

94 

60.106 

.56 

3,164.000 

Tobacco,  pounds  

3  430  000 

1100 

3  118 

21 

720  360 

Hay,  tons  

1  473  000 

125 

1,178,400 

15.00 

22,095.000 

Total  

3,461,207 

72,689,660 

The  several  incorporated  bodies  to  whose  care  the  farming  interests  have 
been  assigned  are  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  the  Michigan  Agricultural 
Society,  and  the  Agricultural  College,  already  noticed  in  these  pages.  Ac 
cording  to  R.  F.  Johnstone,  who  holds  the  position  of  secretary  of  the  society 
jdst  named,  "  the  general  system  of  agriculture  in  Michigan  has  been  largely 
governed  by  the  necessity  which  has  compelled  each  farmer  to  apply  all  his 
abilities  to  the  clearing  and  amelioration  of  the  surface  of  the  land.  But 
the  time  has  come  when  this  system  must  be  changed,  the  necessity  for 
which  is  indicated  by  the  decreased  production  of  fields  longest  under  culti 
vation.  Farms  that  formerly  produced  thirty  to  forty  bushels  of  the  choicest 
wheat  to  the  acre  now  seldom  yield  over  twenty-five,  and  in  many  cases  the 
quality  is  inferior;  and  where  this  yield  is  exceeded  it  is  upon  the  new  and 
recently  cleared  lands,  where  the  soil  is  yet  rich  in  the  elements  of  fertility 
with  which  nature  has  supplied  the  surface." 

Of  government  lands  undisposed  of,  lately  lying  in  the  State  of  Michigan, 
there  were  more  than  four  and  a  half  millions  of  acres;  and,  in  view  of  that 
fact,  the  following  particulars  are  worth  reproducing :  That  part  of  the  south 
ern  peninsula  known  as  the  "  Grand  Traverse  Country  "  has  recently  been 
attracting  the  attention  of  actual  settlers  and  parties  speculating  in  lands. 
In  this  district  the  State  Agricultural  College  has  located  over  one  hundred 
thousand  acres.  The  climate  and  soil  are  favorable  to  the  growth  of  peaches, 
pears,  grapes,  and  other  fruits.  Wheat  of  the  best  quality,  comparing  favor- 


AGRICULTURE.  105 

ably  with  any  raised  in  other  parts  of  the  State,  is  successfully  cultivated. 
Its  sheep-walks  are  highly  commended.  Concerning  the  timber  there,  the 
secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  remarks  as  follows :  "  The  pre 
vailing  growth  over  a  large  portion  of  the  country,  embracing  the  best  soil 
for  cultivation,  is  the  sugar-maple.  Having  considerable  acquaintance  with 
this  species  of  tree,  from  the  Penobscot  to  the  Potomac  and  Ohio,  the  writer 
can  safely  say  that  he  never  saw  such  grand  specimens  as  are  to  be  met  with 
in  countless  numbers  in  the  Grand  Traverse  Country.  They  are  frequently 
found  of  a  height  of  sixty  to  seventy  feet,  without  a  limb,  of  a  diameter  of 
three  feet  or  more  at  the  ground,  and  very  straight.  Of  course,  such  large 
trees  cannot  stand  as  closely  together  as  smaller  ones ;  they  hold  possession 
of  the  ground,  however,  which  in  many  cases  is  free  from  undergrowth,  so  that 
the  forest  presents  the  appearance  of  an  artificial  plantation  or  park  through 
which  the  people  on  horseback  may  readily  pass  in  any  direction." 

With  regard  to  the  condition  of  the  public  lands  of  Michigan,  we  gather 
from  the  records  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  the  subjoined  infor 
mation.  Of  the  primary  school  land,  during  the  year  1869,  there  were  sold 
25,940  acres  for  $103,936,  against  28,848  for  $115,393  in  the  year  preceding. 
Swamp  lands  sold,  7,369  acres,  for  $11,253;  University  land,  88  acres,  for 
$1,053  ;  Agricultural  School  land,  13,480  acres,  for  $43,000;  Asylum  land, 
80  acres,  for  $640;  State  Building  land  for  $260;  Salt  Spring  land,  196 
acres,  for  $945 ;  Internal  Improvement  land,  559  acres,  for  $699  ;  and  Normal 
School  land  for  $160,  making  a  grand  total  of  45,475  acres  for  $161,948.  Ac 
cording  to  the  State  census  of  1865  the  public  lands  amounted  to  35,995,520 
acres ;  of  which  3,647,645  were  improved,  and  12,086,660  were  liable  to  pay 
taxes. 

The  grant  to  the  State,  under  the  act  of  Congress  known  as  the  Swamp 
Land  Act,  was  about  six  millions  of  acres.  The  lands  wrere  located  in  all 
parts  of  the  State.  Though  known  as  swamp  lands,  a  large  proportion  of 
them  were  well  adapted  to  agricultural  purposes,  and  many  of  them  were 
covered  with  valuable  forests.  The  appropriations  made  by  the  State  Legis 
latures  prior  to  1868  amounted  to  more  than  4,000,000  of  acres. 

With  the  above  figures  before  him,  taken  in  connection  with  the  general 
descriptions  in  the  first  part  of  this  volume,  the  reader  will  obtain  a  fair 
idea  of  the  condition  of  agriculture  in  the  State  of  Michigan  in  1868. 

Another  statement  which  may  be  added  in  this  connection  is  that  of  the 
aggregate  cash  value  per  acre  of  the  farm  products  of  the  State  for  the  year 
1869;  which  is  as  follows :  Corn,  $25.08  ;  wheat,  $20.50;  rye,  $19.72;  oats, 
$15.05 ;  barley,  $36.34 ;  buckwheat,  $15.90 ;  potatoes,  $52.64 ;  tobacco,  $231 ; 
hay,  $18.75 ;  and  aggregate  of  all  crops  per  acre,  $21. 

With  regard  to  the  fruit  culture,  we  submit  the  following  returns  for 
1869  :  From  12,000  to  15,000  acres  of  land  are  devoted  to  fruit  culture  in 
Western  Michigan,  the  greater  portion  of  which  is  planted  in  trees  not  yet 
bearing.  The  average  prices  of  fruit  during  the  season  were  about  as 
follows :  Strawberries  per  quart,  10  cents ;  raspberries,  12  cents  ;  blackber 
ries,  8  cents  ;  apples  ber  bushel,  80  cents ;  pears,  $3  ;  cherries,  $4 ;  plums, 
$3;  quinces,  $4;  peaches,  per  box  or  basket,  75  cents;  grapes  per  pound, 
10  cents.  The  value  of  the  fruit  crop  of  the  season  is  estimated  as  follows : 
Apples,  $113,392;  peaches,  $563,722;  pears,  $11,262;  cherries,  $2,520; 
grapes,  $7,110;  blackberries,  $107,705;  raspberries,  $50,617;  strawberries, 
$12,737;  and  plums,  $1,100;  total,  $870,165.  The  total  shipments  from 
twelve  ports  in  the  region  named  are  stated  as  follows :  Apples,  bushels, 
141,740;  peaches,  baskets,  751,630;  quinces,  baskets,  446;  pears,  baskets, 
3,754 ;  plums,  baskets,  490  ;  cherries,  baskets,  630 ;  grapes,  pounds,  71,100; 

G* 


106  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

blackberries,  quarts,  1,346,324 ;  raspberries,  quarts,  421,812 ;  strawberries, 
quarts,  127,372;  cranberries,  bushels,  370;  cider,  barrels,  660;  tomatoes, 
baskets,  145. 

The  appropriations  made  by  the  State  for  the  support  of  the  Agricultural 
College  in  1869  amounted  to  $45,000. 

Having  elsewhere  spoken  of  the  total  area  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  we 
insert  in  this  place  a  summary  of  the  counties  in  which  it  is  divided.  Of 
course,  in  the  extent  of  their  population,  there  is  great  difference,  and  while 
some  of  them  are  not  fully  organized,  we  find  the  number  to  be  seventy- 
five,  and  their  names  as  follows,  with  the  population  according  to  the  cen 
sus  of  1870,  excepting  those  marked  with  a  star,  which  are  from  the  census 
of  1864,  there  being  no  later  returns  at  this  date : 

Alcona,  population,  693 ;  Allegan,  18,831 ;  Alpena,  includes  "  Thunder 
Bay,"  of  Lake  Huron,  2,756 ;  Antrim,  Grand  Traverse  Kegion,  1,985 ;  Bar 
ry,  22,070;  Bay,  on  Saginaw  Bay,  15,900;  *Berrien,  25,856 ;  Benzie,  2,184; 
Branch,  26,244;  Calhoun,  36,172;  *Cass,  17,776;  Cheboygan,  includes  island 
of  Mackinaw,  2,197  ;  Chippeway,  includes  Saute  St.  Marie,  1,690 ;  Clare,  — ; 

Clinton,  22,886 ;  Crawford, ;  Delta,  2,421 ;  Eaton,  25,196 ;  *Emmet, 

extreme  northern  part  of  Lower  Peninsula,  and  includes  Mackinaw  City, 
1,211;  Genessee,  33,910;  Gladwin,  14;  Grand  Traverse,  Grand  Traverse 
Kegion,  4,332;  Gratiot,  17,869;  Hillsdale,  31,705;  Houghton,  includes 
Copper  Region  and  Porcupine  Mountains,  13,905 ;  Huron,  on  Saginaw  Bay, 
9,053;  Ingham,  includes  Lansing,  State  capital,  25,281;  Ionia,  27,682; 
losco,  on  Saginaw  Bay,  3,155;  Isabella,  4,479;  Jackson,  36,082;  Kala- 
mazoo,  32,068 ;  Kalcasca,  Grand  Traverse  Region,  424 ;  Kent,  50,330;  Ke- 
wenaw,  includes  Copper  Region,  Porcupine  Mountains,  and  Isle  Royal,  4,206 ; 
Lake,  548 ;  Lapeer,  21,355 ;  Leelenaw,  Grand  Traverse  Region,  4,569 ; 
Lenawee,  45,635;  Livingston,  19,339  ;  Macomb,  on  Lake  St.  Clair,  27,617; 
Manistee,  6,084 ;  Manitou,  1,043 ;  Marquette,  Iron  Region,  14,982 ;  *Mason, 
844;  Mecosta,  5,645;  Menominee,  on  Green  Bay,  1,892;  Macinac,  head  of 
Lake  Michigan,  1,716;  Midland,  3,021 ;  Missaukee,  130  ;  Monroe,  on  west 
end  of  Lake  Erie,  27,486 ;  Montcalm,  13,351 ;  Montmorency,  -  — ;  Mus- 
kegon,  14,899 ;  *Newaygo,  3,481  ;  Oakland,  40,898  ;  *Oceana,  2,379  ;  Oge- 
maw,  12 ;  Ontonagon,  includes  Copper  Region  and  Porcupine  Mountains, 

2,895;  Osceola,  2,105 ;  Oscoda,  70  ;  Otsego, ;  Ottawa,  26,558  ;  Presque 

Isle,  355;  Roscommon, ;  Saginaw,  includes  Salt  Region,  38,902 ;  San- 

ilac,  14,564 ;  Schoolcraft,  includes  "  Pictured  Rocks "  of  Lake  Superior, 
52 ;  Shiawassee,  20,856 ;  St.  Clair,  on  Lake  St.  Clair,  36,837 ;  St.  Joseph, 
26,669;  Tuscola,  on  Saginaw  Bay,  13,715;  *Van  Buren,  17,830 ;  Washte- 
naw,  includes  "University  of  Michigan,"  at  Ann  Arbor,  41,449;  Wayne, 
includes  City  of  Detroit,  and  partly  on  Lake  St.  Clair,  119,685 ;  Wexford, 
950. 

As  the  general  census  for  1870  is  not  likely  to  be  published  for  one  or  two 
years,  our  only  way  to  study  the  recent  progress  of  Michigan  is  by  mention 
ing  such  statements  as  may  happen  to  come,  in  an  isolated  form,  to  our 
knowledge.  For  example,  here  is  a  significant  paragraph  bearing  upon  the 
city  of  Detroit.  In  1860  the  total  population  was  about  46,000,  and  the 
number  of  families  in  the  city  was  8,963.  In  1870  it  contained  about  80,000 
inhabitants  and  14,698  families;  and  to  these  figures  maybe  added  of  mer 
cantile  shops  718,  groceries  381,  offices  446,  hotels  63,  boarding-houses  196, 
churches  54,  public  halls  13,  public  schools  108,  machine  shops  893,  and 
restaurants  669.  Barring  one  or  two  items,  these  results  are  certainly  cred 
itable  to  the  people,  whose  progress  in  material  prosperity  is  remarkable. 

Every  intelligent  and  thoughtful  man  occasionally  looks  forward  to  the 


MINERAL  WEALTH.  107 

future,  and  wonders  what  his  State  and  country  are  to  be  in  years  to  come. 
Of  course  we  cannot  lift  the  veil  and  view  the  State  as  it  will  be  a  genera 
tion  or  a  century  hence.  But  we  can  look  back  and  see  what  it  was  a  half 
century  since.  We  can  trace  its  progress  from  that  time  to  the  present,  and 
from  its  growth  in  the  past  we  may  form  a  tolerably  correct  idea  of  what  it 
may  be  in  the  future. 

The  first  census  of  Michigan  was  taken  in  1810,  and  showed  a  population 
of  4,618  whites,  120  free  colored,  and  24  slaves.  Total,  4,762. 

In  1820  there  were  8,591  whites,  174  colored.     Total,  8,765. 

In  1830,  31,346  whites,  261  colored,  32  slaves.     Total,  31,639. 

In  1840,  211,560  whites,  707  colored.     Total,  212,267. 

In  1850,  395,071  whites,  2,583  colored.     Total,  397,654. 

In  1860,  742,314  whites,  6,798  colored.     Total,  749,213. 

In  1864,  according  to  the  State  census,  the  population  was  805,379. 

The  vote  of  the  State  at  the  election  of  1869  was  over  220,000.  This, 
allowing  one  voter  to  every  five  persons,  would  indicate  a  population  in  1870 
of  over  1,100,000.  There  is  scarcely  a  doubt  that  the  census  of  1870  will 
show  a  population  in  the  two  peninsulas  of  more  than  1,200,000. 

The  ratio  of  increase  from  1840  to  1850  was  873-  per  cent.  From  1850  to 
1860,  88i  A  fraction  over  60  per  cent,  increase  from  1860  to  1870  would 
make  the  population  of  the  State  at  the  latter  date  1,200,000,  as  above  esti 
mated.  And  the  same  ratio  of  increase  from  1870  to  1880  would  swell  the 
population  to  about  two  millions. 

We  confidently  expect  that  the  above  figures  will  be  found  none  too  high 
ten  years  hence.  We  see  no  reason  why  we  may  not  expect  an  increase  of 
sixty  per  cent,  during  that  time.  No  part  of  the  State  can  yet  be  said  to  be 
densely  populated,  while  large  portions  of  it  are  yet  covered  with  primeval 
forests,  in  which  the  sound  of  the  settler's  axe  has  never  been  heard. 

Only  at  one  time  since  the  first  settlement  of  the  State,  and  then  but  for 
a  brief  period,  has  the  advance  been  as  rapid  as  at  present.  Everywhere, 
in  city,  village,  and  country,  there  is  a  substantial  and  healthful  progress. 
With  judicious  legislation,  both  State  and  National,  this  progress  should 
continue.  Such  legislation  it  is  proper  to  expect ;  and  hence,  if  made  the 
recipient  of  such,  the  continued  prosperity  and  rapid  development  of  Mich 
igan,  is  undoubtedly  assured. 

MINERAL  WEALTH. 

The  copper  interest  of  Michigan  was  first  brought  into  public  notice  by 
the  speculation  excitement  of  1845.  The  large  spur  of  country  which  pro 
jects  into  Lake  Superior,  called  Keweenaw  Point,  became  the  El  Dorado 
of  that  day.  In  that  year  the  first  active  operations  were  commenced  near 
Eagle  Harbor,  and  the  Cliff  mine  was  developed ;  in  1848  the  mines  on  the 
Ontonagon  were  first  opened ;  and  in  1855  operations  were  commenced  in 
what  is  known  as  the  Pewabic  mine.  For  several  years  after  these  mines 
were  discovered  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary  were  a  great  stumbling-block  in  the 
way  of  success,  but  the  opening  of  the  canal  between  the  waters  of  Lakes 
Huron  and  Superior  gave  a  wonderful  impetus  to  the  whole  business,  which 
steadily  increased  from  a  yield  of  about  twenty-five  hundred  tons  of  pure 
copper  in  1853  to  eighty-five  hundred  tons  in  1861.  During  the  twenty 
years  succeeding  1845  there  were  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  twenty 
copper-mining  companies  organized  under  the  laws  of  Michigan, 
amount  of  capital  invested  was  not  less  than  twelve  millions  of  dollars. 
What  is  known  as  the  copper  region,  extending  about  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  miles  in  length  and  from  one  to  six  in  width,  is  divided  into  three 


108  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

districts,  each  one  of  which  has  some  peculiarities  of  product ;  the  Ontona- 
gon  or  western  district  developing  more  masses ;  while  the  other  two,  the 
Keweenaw  Point  and  Portage  Lake  districts,  are  more  prolific  in  the  vein 
rocks,  the  copper  being  generally  scattered.  The  copper  product  of  Michi 
gan  from  1845  to  1868  amounted  to  128,275  tons,  the  total  value  of  which 
has  been  put  down  at  more  than  seventy-three  millions  of  dollars. 

Another  mineral  interest  of  Michigan,  which  promises  to  become  an  import 
ant  source  of  revenue,  is  that  of  iron.  The  first  shipment  of  pig-iron  of  any 
consequence  was  made  in  1858,  although  the  mines  were  opened  in  1857  by 
the  "  Pioneer  Iron  Company."  The.  centre  of  this  business  is  Marquette,  on 
Lake  Superior,  and  from  that  county  is  obtained  one-fifth  of  all  the  iron  ore 
used  in  the  United  States.  In  the  village  and  vicinity  are  several  shafts 
more  than  a  hundred  feet  deep,  a  number  of  blast  furnaces,  and  several 
machine-shops  where  various  kinds  of  castings  and  iron  manufactures  are 
turned  oat.  It  has  been  demonstrated  that  there  is  no  better  iron  to  be 
found  anywhere  than  among  the  hills  of  Lake  Superior,  and  shipments  of 
ore  are  now  regularly  made  to  the  States  of  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  and  New 
York.  The  ore  is  found  in  a  slate  formation,  and  is  granular,  specular,  and 
hermatite,  yielding  75  per  cent,  of  pure  iron.  For  car-wheels,  gearing,  shaft 
ing,  for  cranks  and  flanges  nothing  has  been  found  to  surpass  or  even  equal 
the  iron  of  Michigan.  The  whole  region  lying  back  of  Marquette  is  said 
to  contain  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  iron  ore,  and  there  are  people  who 
believe  that  Lake  Superior  is  surrounded  with  a  belt  of  the  same  ore. 

These  facts,  as  it  has  been  truly  said  by  another,  exhibit  the  untold  wealth 
of  Michigan  in  iron  ore  alone,  and  point  with  certainty  to  an  extent  of  busi 
ness  that  will  add  millions  to  the  invested  capital  of  the  State,  dot  it  with 
iron  manufactories  of  all  kinds,  and  furnish  regular  employment  to  thou 
sands  of  citizens,  while  the  wares  of  the  State  and  the  raw  material  will  be 
found  in  all  the  markets  of  the  country.  The  product  of  Michigan  iron  for 
1869  was  in  advance  of  all  previous  years,  wTas  sold  at  the  rate  of  two  dol 
lars  per  ton,  and  gave  employment  to  about  two  hundred  vessels,  the  demand 
having  been  greater  than  the  supply.  For  purposes  of  reference  we  subjoin 
the  value  of  the  product  annually  for  a  term  of  years :  1858,  $249,202 ; 
1859,  $575,529 ;  1860,  $736,496 ;  1861,  $419,401 ;  1862,  $984,977 ;  1863, 
$1,416,935;  1864,  $1,867,215;  1865,  $1,590,430;  1866,  $2,405,960;  1867, 
$3,475,720;  1868,  $3,676,705 ;  1869,  $5,296,315. 

We  now  come  to  the  salt  interest  of  the  State.  It  was  demonstrated  by 
the  late  Douglass  Houghton  that  the  Salt  Springs  of  Michigan  would  prove 
to  be  valuable,  but  it  was  not  until  1859  that  salt  became  a  staple  article 
of  merchandise  for  home  consumption.  It  was  in  that  year  that  certain 
enterprising  citizens  of  East  Saginaw  petitioned  to  the  Legislature  for  the 
passage  of  laws  to  protect  the  salt  interest ;  and  an  act  was  at  once  passed 
allowing  a  bounty  of  ten  cents  per  bushel  and  an  exemption  from  taxation 
on  real  and  personal  property  used  in  the  manufacture,  the  bounty  to  be 
paid  when  five  thousand  bushels  had  been  made  by  the  manufacturers. 
This  gave  an  impulse  to  the  business,  and  operations  were  commenced  at 
Grand  Rapids  and  East  Saginaw.  The  law  allowing  a  bounty  was  amended 
in  1860  greatly  reducing  the  amount,  and  providing  that  all  companies 
which  commenced  manufacturing  previous  to  the  first  of  August,  1861, 
should  be  allowed  five  cents  per  barrel,  until  they  received  one  thousand 
dollars,  after  which  all  bounties  ceased.  The  property  was  exempt  from 
taxation  for  five  years,  and  t  none  of  the  companies  formed  since  1861  re 
ceived  any  bounty. 

In  1869  the  Saginaw  Valley  turned  out  not  less  than  596,873  barrels  of 


MINERAL  WEALTH.  109 

salt,  and  the  Legislature  provided  by  law  for  the  appointment  of  a  State 
inspector  of  salt,  the  first  man  appointed  having  been  Dr.  S.  S.  Garrigues. 
At  that  date  there  were  in  the  Saginaw  Valley  59  companies,  119  salt 
blocks,  4,198  covers,  4,045  kettles,  123  grainers;  3,000  men  were  employed 
in  the  business,  and  the  cost  of  producing  was  thirty  cents  per  bushel,  and 
the  capital  invested  amounted  to  $2,632,500.  At  Port  Austin  the  yield  for 
1869  was  14,000  barrels. 

In  1833  certain  plaster  beds  were  discovered  in  Kent  county;  in  the  vicin 
ity  of  Grand  Rapids,  which  have  been  found  to  be  inexhaustible.  They 
were  first  brought  to  market  through  the  enterprise  of  De  Garmo  Jones,  of 
Detroit.  The  mineral  is  found  imbedded  in  slate,  and  is  cut  out  clear;  and 
the  demand  for  it  having  been  great  in  all  parts  of  the  western  country,  it 
finds  a  ready  market,  to  which  it  is  transported  by  the  Detroit  and  Mil 
waukee  railroad.  The  amount  annually  manufactured  in  this  locality 
varies  from  ten  to  twenty  thousand  tons. 

It  is  worthy  of  mention,  in  this  connection,  that  during  the  summer 
of  1870  there  was  quite  a  rush  of  people  to  the  town  of  Eaton  Rapids,  seek 
ing  health  from  the  magnetic  waters  of  that  place.  These  waters  are  very 
copious,  and.  certain  properties  have  been  discovered  in  them  which  are  said 
to  upset  many  of  the  old  opinions  of  scientific  men.  That  they  are  of  great 
value  in  curing  certain  types  of  disease,  seems  to  have  been  fully  demon 
strated.  But  the  town  of  St.  Louis,  in  Gratiot  county,  claims  to  be  equally 
supplied  with  magnetic  waters  with  Eaton  Rapids,  and  a  report  made  by 
Professor  Samuel  P.  Duffield  claims  for  them  a  variety  of  valuable  qualities. 
In  a  paper  which  Professor  Alexander  Winchell  read  before  the  association, 
for  the  advancement  of  science  on  the  magnetic  wells  of  the  State,  he  sub 
mitted  many  interesting  particulars.  The  wells  are  widely  separated  in 
position,  and  their  waters  are  derived  from  different  geological  formations. 
Some  are  supplied  from  the  bottom  of  the  coal  measures,  and  others  from 
geological  positions  five  hundred  and  one  thousand  feet  lower.  Nor  is  there 
any  greater  correspondence  in  the  chemical  constitution  of  the  waters.  They 
are  all,  however,  more  or  less  alkaline,  and  some  of  them  saline  and  chalyb 
eate.  The  conclusions  arrived  at  by  the  professor  are  as  follows:  1.  Nearly 
all  pieces  of  iron  and  steel  are  found  possessed  of  permanent  and  varying 
polarity.  2.  Neutral  iron  is  polarized  by  being  placed  in  the  magnetic 
meridian  or  in  a  vertical  position.  3.  This  induced  polarity  can  be  detected 
in  its  effects  upon  a  permanent  magnet.  4.  The  mineral  waters  of  Michi 
gan  tend  to  induce  polarity  (i.  e.,  the  same  as  the  south  end  of  the  needle) 
in  the  outer  end  of  a  rod  of  soft  iron  passed  through  a  cork  into  a  bottle  of 
the  water.  5.  This  property  is  retained  by  the  water  for  weeks  and  months. 
6.  A  rod  of  steel,  or  a  knife  blade,  immersed  in  the  water  from  twenty  min 
utes  to  ten  hours  acquires  very  sensible  polarity,  though  practically  neutral 
before  immersion.  7.  No  satisfactory  evidence  exists  that  the  water  itself 
is  polarized  or  that  magnetism  can  be  bottled  up  in  it.  8.  The  phenomena 
are  more  likely  to  arise  from  some  chemical  action  between  the  water  and 
the  iron ;  and  this  supposition  is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  they  arise 
equally  when  the  rod  is  simply  moistened,  when  it  is  immersed  in  water 
rendered  artificially  alkaline  or  salt,  and  when  the  surface  of  the  steel  is 
unpolished,  and,  or  not,  arise  when  pure  rain  water  is  employed;  9.  Should 
it  be  shown  that  the  magnetism  is  not  excited  by  chemical  action,  and  that 
the  water  itself  possesses  a  feeble  polarity,  we  may  recall  to  mind  the  moun 
tains  of  magnetic  oxyd  of  iron  near  Lake  Superior,  the  disintegration  of 
which,  in  former  ages,  has  supplied  an  enormous  amount  of  magnetic  iron 
sand,  which  is  strewn  along  the  shores  of  the  great  lakes,  and  enters  largely 


HO  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

into  the  constitution  of  the  palaeozoic  strata,  forming  sometimes,  it  may  be, 
real  lodestone  strata,  as  alleged,  and  that  particles  of  this  magnetic  oxyd 
may  float,  polarized,  in  water  flowing  from  subterranean  reservoirs  in  any 
part  of  the  lower  peninsula  of  Michigan. 

Vast  coal  beds  underlie  nearly  the  whole  central  portion  of  Michigan, 
most  of  it  of  very  good  quality,  yet  nearly  all  the  coal  consumed  in  the  State 
is  brought  from  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  at  a  very  heavy  cost  in  the  way 
of  lake  and  railroad  freight  charges.  In  view  of  these  facts  it  is  a  matter 
of  individual  interest  to  nearly  all  the  people  of  the  State  to  have  the  coal 
veins  of  Michigan  opened  and  worked.  The  developments  thus  far  in  mining 
it  have  not  reached  important  results,  although  beds  of  it  have  been  worked 
in  Shiawassee  and  Jackson  counties  with  success ;  but  it  is  gratifying  to 
state  that  a  very  great  improvement  is  soon  to  take  place  in  the  develop 
ment  of  this  important  element  of  wealth.  The  coal-field  of  Michigan, 
according  to  Professor  J.  W.  Foster,  is  about  one  hundred  feet  thick,  and 
extends  over  an  area  of  five  thousand  square  miles. 

In  1869  the  Governor  of  Michigan,  Henry  P.  Baldwin  submitted  to  the 
Legislature  the  importance  of  a  thorough  and  complete  geological  survey 
of  the  State,  and  an  interesting  report  made  by  the  joint  committees  of  the 
two  houses,  and  signed  by  Lyman  D.  Norris  and  John  Q.  McKernan,  was 
made  the  basis  of  farther  legislation.  From  that  report  we  are  permitted 
to  extract  the  subjoined  summary  of  geological  exploration  and  legislation 
in  Michigan  from  the  earliest  to  the  present  times : 

1659. — First  mention  of  copper  in  the  Upper  Peninsula,  in  the  Relations 
of  the  Jesuit  Fathers  concerning  their  mission  in  the  New  World. 

1771. — First  mining  enterprise,  near  the  forks  of  the  Ontonagon  river,  by 
Alexander  Henry.  (See,  farther  on,  the  speech  of  an  Indian  chief  of  On 
tonagon,  at  the  treaty  of  Fond  du  Lac.) 

1789. — Explorations  of  Alexander  McKenzie,  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Su 
perior. 

1800. — Under  the  elder  Adams,  Congressional  resolution  providing  for 
an  agent  to  collect  information  of  the  copper  mines  of  Lake  Superior. 

No  results  extant. 

1819.— Expedition  of  Governor  Cass  and  H.  R.  Schoolcraft  along  the 
south  shore  of  Lake  Superior. 

Results  meager  ;  published  in  Schoolcraft's  "  Journal  of  Travels,"  etc., 
1821. 

1823. — Expedition  of  Major  Long,  with  several  scientific  gentleman, 
who,  on  their  return  from  the  Red  River  of  the  North,  coasted  the  north 
shore  of  Lake  Superior. 

Reports  of  the  War  Department. 

1823. — Expedition  of  Governor  Cass  and  Colonel  McKenney,  of  the 
Indian  Department,  to  Fond  du  Lac,  to  negotiate  the  treaty  with  the  Chip- 
pewas. 

The  Governor,  in  his  speech  in  the  Council,  says :  "  We  also  wish  that 
you  would  allow  your  Great  Father  to  look  through  the  country,  and  take 
such  copper  as  he  may  find.  This  copper  does  you  no  good,  and  it  would 
be  useful  to  us  to  make  into  kettles,  buttons,  bells,  and  a  great  many  other 
things." 

The  replies  of  the  chiefs  are  quite  characteristic  and  piquant,  and  are 
models  of  brevity  and  point,  quite  suggestive  to  legislative  councils  of  later 
day. 

Shin-gaw-ba  W'ossin,  Chief  of  Saute  St.  Marie  band,  says : 

"  If  you  have  any  copper  on  your  lands  I  advise  you  to  sell  it.     It  is  of 


MINERAL  WEALTH.  m 

no  advantage  to  us.  *  *  *  If  any  of  you  have  any  knowledge,  bring  it 
to  light," 

Yellow  Thunder. — "  In  my  country  there  is  no  copper.  If  I  said  there 
was  I  should  lie." 

Plover,  (of  Ontonagon.) — "  I  have  no  knowledge  of  any  copper  in  my 
country.  There  is  a  rock  there.  I  met  some  of  your  people  in  search  of 
it.  I  told  them  if  they  took  it,  to  steal  it,  and  not  let  me  catch  them." 

Another  chief,  (of  Ontoganon,)  name  not  known. — "  You  have  heard  the 
words  of  the  Plover  on  this  rock.  This,  Fathers,  is  the  property  of  no  one 
man.  It  belongs  alike  to  us.  It  was  put  there  by  the  Great  Spirit,  and  it 
is  ours.  In  the  life  of  my  father,  the  British  were  busy  working  it.  It 
was  then  big,  like  that  table.  They  tried  to  raise  it  to -the  top  of  the  hill, 
and  they  failed.  They  then  said  the  copper  was  not  in  the  rock,  but  in  the 
banks  of  the  river.  They  dug  for  it  by  a  light,  working  under  ground. 
The  earth  fell  in  and  killed  three  of  their  men.  It  was  then  left  until  now. 
Fathers,  at  the  time  of  which  I  speak,  a  great  price  was  paid  by  the  Eng 
lish  for  our  permission.  We  expect  no  less  from  you.  If  you  take  this 
rock,  Fathers,  the  benefit  must  be  to  our  children  who  are  now  but  this 
high  (a  foot.)  For  ourselves  we  care  but  little.  We  are  old  and  nearly 
worn  out." 

Another  chief,  (name  not  known.) — "Fathers,  the  copper  I  brought  here 
was  taken  from  the  bed  of  the  river.  I  will  point  out  the  place." 

Maw-gaw-gid. — "  There  is  no  metal  in  our  part  of  the  country.  I  have 
heard  neither  our  old  nor  young  men  speak  of  any."' 

This  copper  rock  was  found  by  Captain  Porter,  lying  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  Ontonagon,  about  thirty-four  miles  from  its  mouth,  weighing  about 
one  ton,  and  two-thirds  pure  copper  ;  but  as  three  cataracts,  with  a  descent 
of  seventy  feet,  was  between  the  rock  and  the  lake,  the  captain  did  not 
"  steal "  the  copper.  Touching  the  land  that  the  Great  Spirit  had  given 
the  red  men,  the  commissioners  were  more  successful. 

"  Sketches  of  a  Tour  to  the  Lakes,"  by  Thomas  L.  McKenney,  Balti 
more.  1827. 

1831. — Dr.  Houghton  was  with  Schoolcraft  in  an  United  States  expe 
dition  to  find  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi,  and  in  his  reports  refers  to  the 
aid  received  from  this  exploration. 

State  of  Michigan. — 1837. — Session  laws,  page  14,  provides  for  a  geolog 
ical,  zoological,  botanical,  and  topographical  survey.  Dr.  Douglass 
Houghton  as  chief,  and  five  assistants,  were  appointed.  These  assistants 
were  Dr.  Abram  Sager,  (botany  and  zoology,)  S.  W.  Higgins,  (topographer,) 
C.  C.  Douglass,  Bela  Hubbard,  William  P.  Smith,  and  later,  Dr.  John 
Wright,  botanist,  was  added. 

1838. — Session  laws,  page  119,  is  a  new  and  enlarged  act. 

The  reports  made  under  these  acts  were  as  follows : 

1838,  January  26th.— General  Geology.     37  pp. 

1839,  February  4. — A  report  of  153  pp.,  devoted  to  Geology,  Zoology, 
Botany,  Topography,  and  to  the  local  geology  in  Eaton,  Ingham,  Jackson, 
Wayne,  and  Monroe.     This  year  the  department  of  Zoology  and  Botany 
were  suspended. 

1840,  January  6. — A  special  Report  on  Salt  Springs. 

1840,  February  3.— A  report  of  109  pp.  upon  Geology  and  Topography, 
and  local  examination  of  the  geology  and  coal  measures  of  Jackson,  Cal- 
houn,  Kalamazoo,  Ionia,  and  Kent,  Lenawee,  Hillsdale,  Branch,  St.  Joseph, 
Cass,  Berrien,  Washtenaw,  Oakland,  and  Livingston  counties. 

1841,  February  1.— Came  the  fourth  annual  report,  169  pp.,  (89  pp.  de- 


112  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

voted  to  Geology,  etc.,  of  Lake  Superior  country,)  Latitudes  and  Magnetic 
Variations,  rise  and  fall  of  lake  water,  and  general  geology  of  the  organized 
counties,  and  "  furs,  fish,  and  harbors  of  Lake  Superior." 

1841,  February  4. — A  brief  report  relative  to  State  and  county  maps. 
Four  county  maps  were  published  and  sold.     Ten  were  finished  and  ready 
for  the  engravers.     They  are  waiting  yet,  if  extant. 

1842,  January  25. — Dr.  Houghton  sends  in  his  last  (5th)  Annual  Report 
of  only  6  pages,  with  notices  of  the  geology  of  the  western  portion  of  the 
Lake  Superior  country. 

By  the  act  of  1837  $29,000  were  appropriated,  $3,000  for  1837,  $6,000  for 
1838,  $8,000  for  1839,  and  $12,000  for  1840. 

By  the  act  of  1838  this  appropriation  was  so  modified  as  to  give  $12,000 
a  year  for  three  years,  with  a  conditional  drawback  upon  the  University 
fund  of  $4,000. 

The  financial  pressure  of  the  times  cut  short  the  labors  of  Dr.  Houghton, 
and  while  he  was  in  the  active  prosecution  of  a  plan  for  connecting  the 
linear  surveys  of  the  public  lands  with  a  geological  survey,  his  death,  by 
drowning,  near  Eagle  river,  on  the  night  of  October  13th,  1845,  put  an  end 
to  his1  usefulness,  and  all  the  people  of  our  young  State  are  mourning  over"his 
untimely  death.  His  was  truly  a  sad  loss  to  the  State  and  nation. 

An  enthusiastic  lover  of  science  for  itself  and  for  no  selfish  ends,  with  a 
constitution  that  seemed  never  to  know  fatigue  or  fear,  labor  or  danger, 
he  had  withal  a  kindly,  loving  heart,  that  drew  to  itself  all  who.  were 
brought  within  his  circle.  Simple  as  a  child  and  as  unassuming  as  he  was 
scholarly,  he  wrote  his  name  in  the  history  of  this  State,  there  to  remain 
forever. 

The  influence  that  such  men  have  lives  after  them,  and  if  there  is  any 
thing  of  unsensational  enthusiasm  in  the  advocacy  of  the  writer  of  this  report 
of  such  thorough  geologic  work  as  would  most  gratify  the  spirit  of  that  great 
and  good  man  of  science,  (if  he  is  permitted  "  to  participate  in  the  cares  and 
concerns  of  this  mortal  life,")  it  springs  from  the  recollection  of  many  months 
of  intimate  personal  intercourse  had  with  him  in  the  earliest  days  of  our 
University.  His  low,  compact,  sinewy  figure,  crowned  with  a  dome-like 
brain,  always  bent  downward  like  a  full  head  of  wheat,  as  he  sauntered 
across  the  college  campus,  surrounded  by  the  baker's  dozen  of  the  students 
of  those  days — always  welcome  companions  to  him — is  one  of  memory's  pic 
tures  never  to  be  effaced.  With  his  forward  and  downward  look  he  seemed 
ever  to  be  interrogating  mother  Earth  and  asking  for  her  secrets,  while 
no  rare  bug,  or  beetle,  or  blade  of  grass,  or  stone  escaped  his  notice,  but  wras 
seized  and  examined  and  taken  as  the  text  for  many  pleasant  and  instruc 
tive  lectures  to  the  loving  group  that  stood  around. 

"  Peace  to  the  just  man's  memory."  He  is  at  rest  from  his  labors  in  the 
bosom  of  that  common  mother  whose  secrets  he  sought  so  earnestly  to  ex 
plore.  We  may  confidently  believe  that  his  title  to  the  six  feet  finally  to  be 
allotted  to  us  all  is  under  the  good  old  common  law  tenure :  "  Cujus  est 
solum,  ejus  est  usque  ad  crelum."  He  who  owns  the  soil,  owns  it  to  the 
Heavens. 

And  what  were  the  results  of  his  labors  ?  Necessarily  fragmentary  and 
incomplete,  they  were  not  inconsiderable.  His  discoveries  and  develop 
ments  of  the  Gypsum,  Marl,  Mineral  Springs,  Bog  Iron  Ore,  Coal,  Iron, 
Copper  and  Brine  Springs,  (of  which  latter  many  analyses  and  locations  are 
given  now  fully  verified,)  in  various  localities  in  this  State,  disclosed  a  world 
of  undeveloped  wealth,  the  rapid  returns  from  which  were  many  years  de 
layed  by  the  financial  troubles  of  his  day,  the  sparseness  of  settlements,  the 


MINERAL  WEALTH.  U3 

want  of  surplus  capital,  and  the  necessities  among  the  pioneers  of  every 
State,  to  labor  first  for  bread  and  a  foothold. 

1847,  March  1. — Reference  should  here  be  made  to  an  act  of  Congress  of 
this  date,  under  which  Dr.  C.  T.  Jackson  spent  two  seasons  in  an  explora 
tion  of  the  Lake  Superior  region,  and  in  1849-50  made  a  report  thereon  of 
801  pages. 

This  work  was  continued  by  Foster  and  Whitney,  in  their  two  reports, 
"  Copper  Lands  "  (224  pages)  and  "  Iron  Regions,"  (406  pages,)  given  to  the 
world,  the  first  1850,  April  15,  and  the  second  1851,  November  12. — See 
Ex.  Doc.,  No.  69,  First  Sess.  XXXI  Cong.,  vol.  9,  and  Ex.  Doc.  No.  4,  Special 
Sess.  XXXII  Cong.,  vol.  3. 

Since  then,  a  period  of  almost  twenty  years  of  unexampled  development 
of  mines  and  minerals  in  the  upper  peninsula,  nothing  has  been  done  there 
by  government,  State  or  national,  and  but  small  expenditures  have  been 
authorized  on  the  lower  peninsula,  as  hereinafter  detailed. 

1859. — By  act  No.  206,  the  Governor  was  authorized  to  appoint  a  geolo 
gist  and  assistants  to  finish  the  survey ;  and  $2,000  for  that  year,  $3,000  for 
the  following  were  appropriated. 

Professor  A.  Winchell  was  commissioned  by  Governor  Wisner,  and  sent 
in  his  first  report  December  31,  1860,  of  330  pages,  devoted  wholly  to  the 
lower  peninsula,  setting  forth  the  progress  of  the  work  for  the  years  1859 
and  1860.  Of  this  report,  210  pages  are  geological,  30  pages  zoological, 
(Professor  Miles',)  and  85  pages  botanical. 

During  the  first  year  fully  one-half  the  appropriation  was  absorbed  in 
zoological  work.  The  geological  results,  then,  are  properly  chargeable  with 
only  $4,000.  The  whole  two  years'  work  was,  at  the  request  of  Governor 
Wisner,  kept  in  the  lower  peninsula,  principally  because  the  means  pro 
vided  were  not  sufficient  to  inaugurate  effective  work  in  the  upper. 

The  work  indicated  from  this  report  is  a  general  survey  of  the  settled 
counties,  and  of  the  entire  lake  shores  of  the  lower  peninsula,  with  detailed 
examinations,  with  a  view  of  settling  questions  as  to  coal,  gypsum  and  brine, 
and  other  questions  connected  with  economic  geology. 

The  practical  results  of  Dr.  Houghton's  survey  are  too  far  from  our  day 
to  estimate ;  but  those  of  Professor  Winchell  are  nearer  our  time,  and  can 
be  found,  more  or  less,  in  the  current  and  contemporary  news  of  the  day. 

A  few  of  these  results,  addressed  to  those  members  of  both  houses,  who 
will  hinge  their  vote  upon  the  question,  "  Will  it  pay  ?"  your  committee  beg 
leave  to  refer  to.  Operations  for  coal  in  Hillsdale  were  arrested.  The  citi 
zens  of  Grand  Rapids  were  informed  that  if  they  would  find  brine,  they 
must  go  lower,  to  the  salina  formation.  The  deepest  and  most  productive 
salt  basin  was  located  beneath  the  Saginaw  Valley,  and  as  the  result  of  pure 
geological  induction  in  remote  portions  of  the  State,  before  the  first  brine 
was  seen,  850  feet  was  fixed  as  the  depth  at  which  good  brine  would  be 
found — a  prophesy  verified  almost  to  a  foot  by  Dr.  Lathrop  in  the  Saginaw 
Valley.  A  complete  table  of  geological  formations  of  the  lower  peninsula, 
and  their  equivalencies  with  recognized  groups  in  other  States,  was  for  the 
first  time  constructed.  The  existence  of  gypsum  beneath  a  ridge  of  clay  on 
the  shore  of  Tawas  Bay  was  insisted  on,  arid  the  discovery  of  that  deposit, 
the  commercial  value  of  which  is  now  a  matter  of  notoriety,  was  made  under 
the  direction  of  Professor  Winchell.  Projected  borings  for  artesian  water, 
searches  for  coal,  gypsum,  and  petroleum,  have  been  favored  or  discouraged, 
and  large  outlays  of  money  saved. 

The  existence  of  three  salt  basins  was  established,  the  upper  of  which  sup 
plies  Bay  City  and  vicinity,  (except  the  deep  wells;)  the  middle,  the  Sagi- 

H 


114  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

naw ;  and  the  lower,  the  wells  at  St.  Clair,  Mt.  Clemens  and  Port  Austin. 
The  wells  at  the  three  last  named  places  were  undertaken  under  the  advice 
of  the  State  Geologist,  purely  upon  geological  calculations,  according  to  the 
methods  of  rigorous  science.  In  the  case  of  the  St.  Clair  well,  the  commu 
nications  of  the  Geologist  with  Colonel  Whiting,  as  to  depth,  supply  and 
strength  of  brine,  are  instructive  indications  of  the  value  of  science  in  busi 
ness  enterprises. 

The  special  survey  and  report  upon  the  geology  and  climatology  of  the 
Grand  Traverse  Region,  1866-7,  has  been  the  means  (though  wholly  a  pri 
vate  work)  of  turning  the  attention  of  the  people  to  that  country,  and  has 
largely  increased  its  population,  particularly  of  those  interested  in  fruit 
culture,  under  the  tempering  influence  of  the  waters  of  Lake  Michigan. 

More  might  be  added,  but  this  ought,  in  the  opinion  of  your  committee, 
to  secure  a  liberal  appropriation. 

1861. — By  joint  resolution  No.  7,  provision  was  made  for  printing  and 
distributing  five  thousand  copies  of  the  report  made  in  1859. 

1861. — By  act  No.  64,  two  thousand  dollars  for  the  year,  and  a  like  sum 
for  the  next,  were  appropriated  for  continuing  the  geological  survey,  with 
direction  to  restrict  labor  to  geology  exclusively,  except  so  far  as  the  col 
lection  of  specimens  in  botany  and  natural  science  may  not  materially 
interfere  with  the  same. 

Under  this  act  but  one  thousand  dollars  was  drawn  and  expended.  Gov 
ernor  Blair  failed  to  draw  his  warrant  for  the  remainder,  rather  procrasti 
nating  than  refusing,  and  the  season  for  field  work  passed,  and  the  country 
was  soon  involved  in  the  tumult  of  war,  and  the  continuance  of  the  survey 
was  not  pressed  by  the  officers  in  charge. 

1863. — By  act  No.  212,  a  special  appropriation  of  fifteen  hundred  dol 
lars  for  that  year,  and  a  like  sum  for  1864,  was  appropiated  to  provide  that 
a  suitable  person  (presumably  a  geologist)  should  visit  the  salt  localities  of 
the  State,  and  make  a  special  survey  thereof,  with  direct  reference  to  the 
feasibility  of  salt  boring ;  also,  to  collect  and  arrange  suitable  specimens  of 
the  different  strata  obtained  from  salt  borings,  and  the  same  to  arrange  in 
a  cabinet  suitable  for  the  same,  in  some  room  of  the  Capitol,  (possibly  the 
library  room,  as  the  least  crowded  and  most  capacious.) 

Your  committee  are  unable  to  find  any  public  report  showing  the  expen 
diture  of  this  appropriation. 

In  the  same  year,  by  joint  resolution  No.  10,  Professor  Winchell,  desig 
nated  as  "late"  State  geologist,  is  required  to  turn  over  to  the  board  of 
State  auditors  all  instruments,  material,  and  property  of  any  description, 
of  the  State,  used  by  him  and  his  assistants  ;  also,  all  specimens,  and  the 
geological  survey  was  closed — leaving,  as  your  committee  believe,  six  thou 
sand  dollars  of  unexpended  appropriations,  and  a  considerable  amount  of 
geological  labor  and  material  half  done,  but  yet  extant,  and  in  condition 
to  be  saved  and  made  of  practical  use  to  the  people  of  this  State. 

It  will  be  seen  from  this  condensed  review  that,  aside  from  the  89  pages  of 
the  reports  of  February  1,  1841,  and  a  few  brief  notices  subsequent  thereto, 
a  period  of  twenty-eight  years  of  general  growth,  prosperity,  and  development 
has  been  allowed  to  pass,  and  the  richest  mineral  territory  in  iron  and 
copper  in  the  world  has  been  left  wholly  unaided  by  State  appropriations  in 
the  development  of  its  gigantic  possibilities.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  the 
enterprising  people  of  that  far  away  region,  who  have  accomplished  so  much 
with  such  little  means,  grow  restive  in  a  connection  that  brings  them  no 
share  of  the  public  money  derived  from  a  common  taxation,  that  has  been 
profusely  scattered  over  the  lower  half  of  the  State,  in  the  shape  of  Prisons, 


RAILROADS.  H5 

Reform  Schools,  Insane,  Deaf,  Dumb,  and  Blind  Asylums,  Normal  School, 
Agricultural  College,  University,  geological  surveys,  and  internal  improve 
ments,  and  all  the  thousand  and  one  ways  that  those  nearest  to  the  public 
treasury  reach  for  its  contents  ? 

In  the  meanwhile,  those  hardy  pioneers  have  labored  and  waited,  until 
now,  with  a  population  of  nearly  35,000,  a  capital  invested  in  112  companies 
for  developing  copper  of  $16,250,500,  upon  which  has  been  paid  dividends 
of  $5,880,000,  and  an  iron  interest  which,  in  the  twelfth  year  of  its  com 
mercial  life,  produced  over  one-fifth  of  all  the  iron  mined  in  the  United 
States,  they  have  rights,  and  the  State  has  duties — long-neglected  duties — 
toward  them,  which  it  were  wise  to  no  longer  neglect. 

Your  committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  State  is  fully  able,  and  ought  to 
be  willing,  to  enter  now  upon  an  enlarged  and  liberal  geologic  survey  of 
both  peninsulas ;  that  if  but  one  can  be  undertaken,  the  Lake  Superior 
country  is  entitled  to  the  preference  ;  and  that  the  survey  there,  in  addition 
to  the  duties  usually  assigned  to  such  officials,  should  also  include  the  sta 
tistics  and  history  of  the  mineral,  mining,  smelting,  manufacturing,  and 
transportation  interests ;  the  compilation  of  accurate  maps,  showing  the 
topography,  geology,  and  timber,  and  the  position  of  all  mines,  furnaces, 
and  roads  of  the  iron  and  copper  region.  Your  committee  would  further 
note  the  fact  that  within  the  limits  of  the  proposed  survey,  the  State  owns  a 
large  amount  of  swamp  and  school  land,  reserved  from  market  on  account 
of  its  supposed  mineral  value,  the  determination  of  which  value  is  a  matter 
of  common  interest  to  all  the  people,  while  the  United  States  are  also 
holders  of  large  tracts  of  supposed  mineral  land,  whose  value  is  wholly 
unknown,  as  much  of  the  data  given  by  Foster  and  Whitney,  nearly  twenty 
years  ago,  is  shown  by  private  examination  to  have  been  erroneous  and  im 
perfect. 

RAILROADS. 

We  have  already  alluded  to  the  origin  and  building  of  the  principal  rail 
roads  of  the  State,  and  we  now  propose  to  speak  of  their  success  and  present 
condition.  The  oldest  and  most  successful  is  the  Michigan  Central.  After 
passing  into  the  hands  of  a  private  company  it  was  extended  to  Chicago,  a 
distance  of  284  miles  from  Detroit ;  and  in  regard  to  its  equipment,  man 
agement,  and  general  success  it  occupies  a  first-class  position. 

In  May,  1849,  it  was  completed  and  in  operation  from  Detroit  to  New 
Buffalo.  New  Buffalo  was  a  small  village  at  the  southern  extremity  of 
Lake  Michigan,  a  few  miles  east  of  the  present  Michigan  City.  It  has  now 
entirely  disappeared  from  the  map.  The  Michigan  Central  Railroad  termi 
nated  there,  and  from  this  point  two  daily  lines  of  steamers  ran  to  Chicago, 
a  distance  of  nearly  forty-five  miles.  The  time  between  Chicago  and  New 
York  became  thus  reduced  to  two  and  a  half  days.  The  Galena  Railroad 
of  Illinois  was  at  that  time  completed  and  in  operation  from  Chicago  to 
Elgin,  a  distance  of  forty-two  miles.  The  Galena  Railroad  Company  for  a 
time  entertained  the  design  of  completing  the  Michigan  Central  road  from 
New  Buffalo  into  Chicago,  but  that  was  finally  done  by  the  Michigan  Cen 
tral  Railroad  Company  themselves.  On  its  line  have  sprung  up  a  large 
number  of  beautiful  towns  and  villages ;  the  older  places  along  the  route 
have  greatly  increased,  and  the  country  through  which  it  passes  exhibits  a 
degree  of  thrift  and  prosperity  that  will  compare  favorably  with  the  most 
flourishing  sections  of  the  country.  Its  business  arrangements  are  such  that 
goods  may  now  be  shipped  fronTChicago  to  Portland,  in  Maine,  with  only 
one  change  of  cars,  and  four  passenger  trains  leave  the  two  cities  of  Chicago 


116  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

and  Detroit  daily.  The  eastern  terminus  being  at  the  latter  city,  it  has  full 
advantage  of  the  various  connections  at  that  point,  viz :  The  Great  Western 
and  Grand  Trunk  Railways,  the  important  steamboat  routes  to  Cleveland, 
Buffalo,  and  Lake  Superior,  and  the  different  freight  routes  to  the  different 
lake  ports  of  which  Detroit  is  the  nucleus.  By  means  of  what  is  called  the 
"  Joliet  cut-off"  it  is  connected  with  St.  Louis  by  the  "  Chicago,  Alton,  and 
St.  Louis  Railroad."  As  this  is  the  leading  railroad  artery  of  the  State  we 
submit  the  following  particulars  furnished  from  an  official  source : 

In  reference  to  connections  with  other  roads  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  it 
is  evident  that  the  managers  are  pursuing  the  wise  policy  of  assisting  such 
new  lines  as  must  increase  the  local  business,  and  whose  friendship  must  be 
permanently  beneficial.  In  furtherance  of  these  views,  aid  was  given  to  the 
Jackson,  Lansing,  and  Saginaw  Railroad,  which  has  now  become  a  valuable 
ally ;  and  also  to  the  Grand  River  Valley  Railroad,  extending  from  Jack 
son  to  Grand  Rapids,  a  distance  of  ninety-four  miles.  The  latter  road  is 
now  operated  as  the  Grand  River  Valley  Division  of  the  Michigan  Cen 
tral  Railroad,  under  terms  of  an  agreement  whereby  certain  money  was 
advanced  to  complete  and  equip  it,  the  lessees  covenanting  to  pay  the  inter 
est  on  its  bonds,  and  a  maximum  rental  after  three  years,  equivalent  to  five 
per  cent,  upon  its  capital  stock.  Although  this  road  has  only  been  in  work 
ing  order  for  a  short  period  it  is  earning  a  fair  revenue  and  contributing  a 
large  and  remunerative  business  to  the  main  line.  Arrangements  have  also 
been  made  with  the  directors  of  the  Michigan  Air-line  Railroad  for  a  lease 
of  that  portion  of  their  road  between  Niles  and  Jackson,  at  a  rental  which 
should  be  equal  to  the  interest  on  bonds  which  might  be  used  in  completing 
it,  not  exceeding  $18,000  per  mile,  at  eight  per  cent,  interest.  The  distance 
by  this  line  between  Niles  and  Jackson  is  sixteen  miles  shorter  than  the  one 
now  in  use,  and  renders  the  business  of  a  rich  section  of  country  lying  in 
many  places  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  south  of  the  Michigan  Central  Rail 
road  directly  tributary  to  it.  The  Peninsular  Railway,  extending  from  Bat 
tle  Creek  to  Lansing ;  the  Kalamazoo  and  South  Haven  Railroad,  running 
from  Kalamazoo  to  Bloomingdale ;  the  Fort  Wayne,  Jackson,  and  /Saginaw 
Railroad,  and  the  Chicago  and  Michigan  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  are  all  valu 
able  tributaries  to  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  especially  the  latter, 
which  opens  up  the  finest  fruit-growing  section  of  the  State.  Arrangements 
were  made  in  1869  conducing  to  more  harmonious  relations  and  greater 
unity  of  action  between  the  Great  Western  Railway  of  Canada  and  the 
Michigan  Central  Railroad ;  and  on  January  1st,  1870,  the  eastern  and 
western  agencies  of  both  roads  were  consolidated.  The  benefits  of  this  con 
solidation  are  apparent  in  the  reduction  of  expenses  and  in  a  more  active 
co-operation  for  securing  business ;  but  the  North  Shore  Route  will  be  able 
to  compete  for  traffic  on  much  better  terms  when  the  projected  line  from 
Glencoe  to  Buffalo  is  built,  and  when  it  is  able  to  obtain  at  the  latter  place 
benefits  which  are  now  only  conceded  to  the  South  Shore  Route  in  conse 
quence  of  the  rivalry  existing  between  the  New  York  Central  and  Erie  Rail 
roads.  The  new  line  from  Glencoe  to  Buffalo  will  be  nearly  an  air-line  from 
Detroit,  with  easy  grades,  and  can  be  operated  very  economically  at  a  high 
rate  of  speed.  It  is  estimated  that  the  distance  between  New  York  and 
Chicago  via  Buffalo,  Glencoe,  Detroit,  and  the  short  cut-off  between  Niles 
and  Jackson,  alluded  to  before,  will  not  exceed  900  miles,  and  that  much 
faster  time  can  be  made  over  the  new  route  than  over  the  present  short  line 
via  Pittsburg. 

The  Michigan  Southern  is  another  of  the  great  lines  of  travel  and  freight 
transportation  to  which  the  State  owes  much  of  its  prosperity.  The  history 


RAILROADS.  H7 

of  this  road,  for  which  we  are  indebted  to  Henry  M.  Flint,  Esq.,  afford  an 
other  example  of  the  benefits  of  railroad  consolidation : 

The  Michigan  Southern  and  Northern  Indiana  Railroad  Company  was 
formed  on  the  25th  of  April,  1855,  by  the  consolidation  of  two  railroads 
which  had  existed  for  some  time  previously,  namely,  the  Michigan  Southern 
railroad,  and  the  Northern  Indiana  railroad.  The  Northern  Indiana  rail 
road,  as  it  existed  at  the  time  of  its  consolidation  with  the  Michigan  South 
ern  Railroad  Company  in  1855,  originated  in  a  company  formed  in  Indiana, 
as  early  as  1835,  under  a  charter  from  the  State,  as  the  Buffalo  and  Missis 
sippi  Railroad  Company.  The  Northern  Indiana  Railroad  Company  com 
menced  its  operations  in  the  year  1852,  under  the  provisions  of  a  charter 
from  the  State  of  Ohio,  which  was  granted  on  the  3d  of  March,  1851.  The 
Northern  Indiana  and  Chicago  railroad  had  also  commenced  its  operations 
about  the  same  time,  under  a  charter  from  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  three 
roads  last  named  became  merged  into  one  about  the  year  1854,  under  the 
name  of  the  Northern  Railroad  Company. 

The  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  Company  was  formed  under  a  charter 
from  the  State  of  Michigan,  on  the  9th  of  May,  1846,  and  in  pursuance  of 
an  act  authorizing  the  sale  to  them  of  the  existing  Michigan  Southern  rail 
road  and  the  Jackson  and  Tecumseh  Branch  thereof,  which  were  both  owned 
and  operated  by  the  State  of  Michigan.  The  organization  was  completed, 
and  the  conditions  of  the  act  were  complied  with  in  December,  1846,  so  that 
the  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  Company  entered  into  possession  of  the 
railroad  and  its  branch  that  year.  The  railroad  from  Monroe  westward 
was  commenced  by  the  State  of  Michigan  about  1838,  but  it  was  only  fin 
ished  as  far  as  Hillsdale  at  the  time  of  its  sale  to  the  Michigan  Southern 
Railroad  Company  in  1846.  It  was  extended  by  that  company  in  1852  to 
the  Indiana  State  line,  near  Middlebury,  and  was  connected  there  with  the 
Northern  Indiana  railroad.  The  latter  road  was  completed  to  Chicago  in 
June,  1852. 

The  Jackson  and  Tecumseh  Branch  was  extended  to  Jackson  in  1855, 
and  a  branch  was  built  from  Constantine,  which  was  the  terminus  of  the 
old  Michigan  Southern  railroad,  to  Three  Rivers,  in  Michigan,  in  1853. 
The  Goshen  Branch  forms  part  of  the  Goshen  air-line  from  Toledo  to  Elk- 
hart,  where  it  makes  connection  with  the  old  line  from  Chicago  to  Monroe. 

The  Erie  and  Kalamazoo  railroad  from  Toledo  to  Adrian,  leased  from 
the  Erie  and  Kalamazoo  Railroad  Company,  is  run  and  used  as  part  of  the 
main  line  of  the  Michigan  Southern  railroad  from  Chicago  to  Toledo.  Part 
of  the  Detroit,  Monroe,  and  Toledo  railroad,  which  was  mostly  built  by  the 
Michigan  Southern  Railroad  Company,  and  is  exclusively  controlled  and 
operated  by  them,  is  used  as  far  as  Monroe  as  part  of  the  Michigan  South 
ern  railroad  from  Chicago  to  Detroit.  The  Detroit,  Monroe,  and  Toledo 
road  is  also  used  as  a  line  from  Detroit  to  Toledo,  connecting  at  Toledo  with 
roads  to  Cincinnati  and  Cleveland. 

The  number  of  miles  of  road  now  owned  and  operated  by  the  Michigan 
Southern  and  Northern  Indiana  Railroad  Company  is  as  follows : 

Toledo  to  Chicago  via  old  line,  243;  Toledo  to  Elkhart,  air-line,  ^132; 
Detroit  to  Toledo,  65 ;  Monroe  to  Adrian,  33 ;  Jackson  Branch,  42 ;  Three 
Rivers  Branch,  sub-leased,  12.  Total  miles,  527. 

In  September,  1849,  soon  after  the  organization  of  the  Michigan  Southern 
Railroad  Company,  a  statement  was  submitted  to  the  stockholders  by  the 
Board  of  Directors,  exhibiting  the  condition  of  the  road  and  the  finances 
of  the  company,  and  soliciting  a  new  subscription  of  a  quarter  of  a  million 
of  dollars  to  provide  means  for  extending  the  road  west  from  Hillsdale.  A 


118  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

portion  of  the  stock  was  subscribed,  and  in  the  spring  of  1850  the  line  from 
Hillsdale  to  Cold  water,  a  distance  of  twenty-two  miles,  was  put  under  con 
tract.  The  road  then  in  operation  from  Monroe  to  Hillsdale,  a  distance  of 
sixty-nine  miles,  was  that  which  had  been  originally  constructed  by  the 
State  of  Michigan.  It  had  a  wooden  rail  covered  by  a  flat  bar  of  iron. 
The  company  had  released  the  Erie  and  Kalamazoo  road,  extending  from 
Adrian  to  Toledo,  thirty-three  miles  in  length,  making  a  total  of  one  hun 
dred  and  eleven  miles  then  operated  by  the  company. 

In  the  original  grading  of  these  roads  the  crossing  of  the  valleys  was 
effected,  for  the  most  part,  by  bridges  of  timber.  Since  that  time,  however, 
the  whole  extent  of  the  tracks  on  these  roads  has  been  relaid  with  heavy 
rails,  and  the  valleys  on  the  route  have  been  filled  with  permanent  embank 
ments,  with  new  bridges  and  culverts  for  the  streams  and  water-courses. 
Heavy  expenses  have  also  been  incurred  in  providing  abundant  station 
accommodation  all  along  the  line. 

In  the  summer  of  1850  the  line  was  put  under  contract  from  Coldwater 
to  Sturgis,  a  distance  of  twenty-three  miles,  and  in  March,  1851,  this  por 
tion  of  the  road  was  completed  and  opened.  Some  delay  was  experienced 
in  determining  upon  the  location  of  the  line  west  of  Sturgis,  and  contracts 
for  the  remainder  of  the  road  in  Michigan  were  not  made  until  May,  1851. 
During  the  winter  and  spring  of  1851  the  Indiana  road  was  put  under  con 
tract.  The  Michigan  Southern  road  was  opened  to  White  Pigeon  in  the 
latter  part  of  July,  1851.  The  Northern  Indiana  road  was  opened  in  suc 
cessive  stages :  During  the  fall  of  1851,  to  South  Bend,  and  on  the  9th  of 
January,  1852,  to  La  Porte.  In  February,  1852,  the  road  was  opened 
from  Michigan  City  to  Ainsworth,  in  Illinois,  and  to  Chicago  in  March, 
1852.  On  the  22d  of  May,  1852,  the  entire  line  was  opened,  and  a  passen 
ger  train  went  through  from  Toledo  to  Chicago.  Thus,  in  the  space  of 
twenty  months,  embracing  two  severe  winters,  the  company  constructed  one 
hundred  and  sixty  miles  of  new  road,  and  relaid  and  nearly  rebuilt  fifty 
miles  of  old  road. 

The  last  act  of  legislation  necessary  to  the  consolidation  of  the  companies 
owning  the  Michigan  Southern  and  the  Northern  Indiana  lines  of  railroad, 
was  passed  by  the  Michigan  Legislature  on  the  13th  of  February,  1855 ; 
full  authority  therefor  having  previously  been  given  by  the  States  of  Illi 
nois,  Indiana,  and  Ohio.  Immediately  after  the  passage  of  the  last-men 
tioned  act,  the  necessary  measures  were  taken  to  carry  the  same  into  effect, 
and  on  the  26th  of  April,  1855,  the  articles  of  consolidation  were  finally 
sanctioned  and  approved  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  stockholders  of  the 
respective  corporations. 

Improvements  of  every  kind  at  once  sprang  up  in  all  directions,  through 
the  region  in  which  the  roads  run.  At  Toledo,  the  new  depot  grounds  were 
soon  brought  into  use,  and  the  whole  business  of  that  terminus  was  trans 
ferred  to  them.  These  grounds  were  situated  on  the  Maumee  river.  At 
this  point  the  Cleveland  and  Toledo  railroad  unites  with  the  Michigan 
Southern.  The  inconvenient  ferry  which  formerly  existed  at  this  point  has 
long  since  been  dispensed  with,  and  in  place  of  it  a  handsome  bridge  has 
been  erected.  This  point  is  also  the  eastern  terminus  of  the  Toledo,  Wa- 
bash  and  Western  railroad,  whose  trains  run  into  the  passenger  depot  of  the 
Michigan  Southern  road. 

In  February,  1868,  a  contract  was  entered  into  with  the  Erie  railway,  of 
New  York,  by  the  terms  of  which  that  company  guarantees  the  building  a 
broad  gauge  railroad  from  a  point  on  the  Atlantic  and  Great  Western  rail 
way,  near  Akron,  Ohio,  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  less  than  one  hundred  miles.  The 


RAILROADS.  119 

Michigan  Southern  and  Northern  Indiana  railroad  agree  to  lay  a  third  rail 
on  their  line  to  Chicago,  thus  to  perfect  a  broad  gauge  route  from  Chicago 
to  New  York  by  one  of  the  shortest  lines.  The  new  road  will  be  completed 
within  a  year,  and  will  effect  a  revolution  in  travel  between  New  York  and 
Chicago,  as  the  wide  and  comfortable  cars  of  the  Erie  road  can  then  carry 
passengers  from  one  city  to  the  other  without  change. 

The  next  road  which  we  have  to  mention  is  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee 
Kailroad,  with  which  was  incorporated  the  Detroit  and  Pontiac  and  the 
Oakland  and  Ottawa  Railroads.  It  was  first  opened  its  entire  distance,  one 
hundred  and  eighty-eight  miles,  from  Detroit  to  Grand  Haven,  in  Novem 
ber,  1858.  It  has  been  the  means  of  opening  up  one  of  the  best  farming 
regions  of  the  State.  The  principal  cities  and  towns  upon  its  line  are  Pon 
tiac,  Fentonville,  St.  John's,  Ionia,  Grand  Rapids,  and  Grand  Haven,  and 
the  growth  of  these  places  has  received  a  great  impetus  since  its  comple 
tion  ;  while  numerous  villages  have  also  sprung  into  being,  as  if  by  magic, 
at  numerous  points  along  the  line.  These  changes  are  plainly  visible  in  the 
improved  trade  of  Detroit,  and  the  increase  from  the  same  cause  must  con 
tinue  to  be  strongly  marked.  In  1858  the  company  completed  one  of  the 
finest  railroad  wharves  in  the  world :  it  is  fifteen  hundred  feet  long  by  ninety 
broad,  the  west  end  of  which  is  occupied  by  the  freight  house,  the  dimen 
sions  of  which  are  four  hundred  and  fifty  by  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  feet. 
In  connection  with  this  road,  at  its  western  terminus — Grand  Haven — splen 
did  steamships  ply  regularly  between  that  place  and  the  city  of  Milwaukee, 
having  the  most  sumptuous  accommodations  for  passengers,  together  with 
ample  room  for  all  classes  of  freight. 

The  population  of  that  section  of  Michigan  which  is  directly  tributary  to 
or  dependent  upon  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad  as  a  means  of  out 
let  is  at  the  present  time  more  than  250,000,  having  upward  of  one  million 
acres  of  improved  land.  At  Corunna,  in  Shiawassee  county,  the  road  crosses 
the  immense  bituminous  coal  bed,  which  stretches  throughout  the  central 
portion  of  the  State,  and  which  is  undoubtedly  destined,  at  no  very  distant 
day,  to  prove  a  source  of  immense  business  to  the  road  and  of  wealth  to  the 
mine  owners.  Opening,  as  it  does,  a  road  through  the  very  heart  of  the 
State,  and  intersecting  for  two  hundred  miles  much  good  farming  land,  the 
local  business  alone  is  now,  and  is  destined  to  be,  truly  immense.  The  cost 
of  this  road  was  a  little  more  than  nine  millions  of  dollars. 

Although  isolated  and  not  extensive  the  Flint  and  Pere  Marquette  Rail 
road  deserves  a  brief  notice  for  what  it  has  accomplished  for  the  Saginaw 
valley.  In  1856,  when  Congress  adopted  a  general  system  of  donations  of 
the  public  lands  in  the  Western  States  to  aid  in  constructing  railroads,  lands 
were  granted  to  Michigan  for  a  similar  purpose.  In  1857  these  lauds  were 
conferred  by  the  Legislature  upon  the  Pere  Marquette  Company,  which  sur 
veyed  the  route  of  its  road  from  Flint  to  Pere  Marquette,  in  the  county  of 
Mason,  upon  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  a  distance  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy-two  miles,  and  located  the  line  in  the  summer  of  1857.  In  Sep 
tember  of  that  year,  the  commercial  world  was  fearfully  convulsed,  and, 
owing  to  the  constant  disasters,  the  work  of  construction  was  not  commenced 
until  the  fall  of  1858.  In  the  following  year  some  thirteen  miles  of  road 
were  graded,  and  five  miles  of  track  was  laid  with  Michigan  iron  manufac 
tured  at  Wyandotte.  The  next  year,  1858,  the  work  of  grading  was  con 
tinued,  but  the  financial  difficulties  of  the  times  were  such  as  to  preclude 
the  company  from  obtaining  their  iron  that  season  so  as  to  extend  the  track. 
In  1860  the  time  had  expired  wherein  the  company  were  to  complete  the 
first  twenty  miles  of  the  road,  so  as  to  entitle  it  to  the  benefit  of  the  law  of 


120  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

the  State  conferring  upon  the  companies  the  lands  granted  by  Congress  to 
aid  in  its  construction.  In  this  dilemma,  with  the  apprehension  of  a  possi 
ble  forfeiture  being  declared  by  the  State,  the  company  received  from  the 
governor  and  other  influential  officers  and  citizens  of  the  State,  such  assur 
ances  of  good  will,  that  no  advantage  or  exception  would  be  taken  if  the 
company  would  prosecute  the  enterprise  in  good  faith,  and  the  contractors 
were  induced  to  proceed  and  complete  the  first  twenty-six  and  a  half  miles 
of  the  route. 

Another  State  railroad  is  that  of  Amboy,  Lansing,  and  Traverse  Bay, 
which  is  designed  to  connect  the  great  northern  lumber  region  of  the  State 
with  the  markets  of  Indiana,  Ohio,  and  Illinois.  Although  not  belonging 
to  Michigan,  the  great  Canadian  railways  have  exerted  an  important  effect 
upon  its  prosperity,  and  the  official  intercourse  between  the  managers  of  the 
Great  Western  and  Grand  Trunk  roads  and  those  of  Michigan  has  been 
honorable  as  well  as  profitable  to  all  the  parties  concerned. 

The  condition  of  the  new  railroads  in  the  State  on  the  first  of  January, 
1870,  was,  in  substance,  as  follows :  The  Allegan  and  Holland  road,  twenty- 
two  miles  long,  was  completed.  The  Flint  and  Pere  Marquette  road  is  ex 
pected  to  be  finished  as  far  as  Henry,  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  before 
the  year  1871.  The  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  road  is  expected  to  be 
completed  before  the  close  of  1870.  The  Michigan  Air-line  road  is  finished 
from  Three  Rivers  to  Centreville ;  and  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Lake  Shore 
road  is  progressing  with  despatch  to  Pentwater.  In  June,  1870,  the  Lake 
Superior  and  Mississippi  Railroad  was  completed ;  it  is  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  in  length,  and  is  the  connecting  link  between  Duluth  and  St. 
Paul.  Steamers  of  a  large  class  now  leave  Cleveland  and  Detroit  almost 
daily  for  Duluth,  a  distance  of  one  thousand  miles,  making  landings  at  all 
the  American »ports  on  Lakes  Huron  and  Superior;  and  this  new  route  to 
the  far  Northwest  not  only  promises  to  be  eminently  popular  with  summer 
tourists,  but  will  become  a  favorite  line  of  travel  for  all  emigrants  bound  to 
the  head-waters  of  the  Mississippi.  On  the  1st  of  August,  1870,  it  was  an 
nounced  that  the  State  of  Michigan  had  in  operation  not  less  than  thirteen 
hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  of  railroad,  the  cost  and  equipment  of  which 
was  estimated  at  about  $60,000,000 ;  but  with  this  fact  we  have  to  chronicle 
the  following  information :  In  the  spring  of  1870  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Michigan  decided  that  a  certain  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  in  1864, 
authorizing  municipalities  to  issue  bonds  in  aid  of  railroad  companies  was 
unconstitutional,  and  the  bonds  issued  under  said  act  invalid.  On  the  27th 
of  July  following  the  Legislature  met  in  extraordinary  session  for  the  pur 
pose  of  considering  this  question ;  and  although  the  Governor  in  his  message 
proposed  that  the  said  bonds  should  be  made  good,  the  Legislature  by  a 
decided  vote  refused  to  entertain  the  proposition.  The  debt  thus  set  aside 
was  stated  to  amount  to  $5,367,175.50,  equivalent  to  a  tax  of  $27.44  per 
capita  on  the  total  vote  of  the  State  at  the  preceding  Presidential  election. 
In  September,  1870,  the  Fort  Wayne,  Jackson,  and  Saginaw  railroad  was 
completed,  the  distance  from  Jackson  to  Fort  Wayne  being  95  miles ;  at 
the  latter  place  it  is  connected  with  the  Jackson,  Lansing,  and  Saginaw 
road,  of  which  it  virtually  forms  a  part,  the  two  lines  making  a  distance  of 
211  miles.  The  lines  of  railroad  which  have  been  surveyed,  but  are  not  yet 
completed,  amount  to  968  miles. 

LUMBERING  INTEREST. 

The  pine  forests  of  Michigan  are  a  leading  feature  of  its  undeveloped 
wealth,  and  vet  it  ha.s  been  estimated  that  its  hard-wood  forests  are  equally 


LUMBERING  INTEREST.  121 

extensive  and  valuable.  The  pine  lands  are  so  located  and  distributed  as 
to  bring  almost  every  portion  of  the  State,  sooner  or  later,  in  connection 
with  the  commerce  of  the  lakes.  The  pine  timber  is  generally  interspersed 
with  many  other  varieties,  such  as  beach,  maple,  white  ash,  oak,  cherry, 
etc.,  and  in  most  cases  the  soil  is  suited  to  agricultural  purposes.  This  is 
particularly  the  case  on  the  western  slope  of  the  peninsula,  on  the  waters 
of  Lake  Michigan,  and  along  the  central  portion  of  the  State.  On  the  east 
and  near  Lake  Huron,  the  pine  districts  are  more  extensively  covered  with 
pine  timber,  and  generally  not  so  desirable  for  farming  purposes.  There  are 
good  farming  lands,  however,  all  along  the  coast  of  Lake  Huron,  and  ex 
tending  back  into  the  interior. 

A  large  portion  of  the  pine  lands  of  the  State  are  in.  the  hands  of  the  St. 
Mary  Canal  Company  and  individuals,  who  are  holding  them  as  an  invest 
ment,  and  it  is  no  detriment  to  this  great  interest,  that  the  whole  State  has 
been  thus  explored  and  the  choicest  of  the  lands  secured.  The  develop 
ments  which  have  thus  been  made  of  the  quality  and  extent  of  the  pine  dis 
tricts,  have  given  stability  and  confidence  to  the  lumbering  interest.  And 
these  lands  are  not  held  at  exorbitant  prices,  but  are  sold  upon  fair  and 
reasonable  terms,  such  as  practical  business  men  and  lumbermen  will  not 
usually  object  to. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  almost  every  stream  of  water  in  the  State, 
north  of  Grand  river,  penetrates  a  district  of  pine  lands,  and  the  mouths  of 
nearly  all  these  streams  are  already  occupied  with  lumbering  establishments 
of  greater  or  less  magnitude.  These  lumber  colonies  are  the  pioneers,  and 
generally  attract  around  them  others  who  engage  in  agriculture,  and  thus, 
almost  imperceptibly,  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  State  are  spreading 
and  developing  in  every  direction.  The  want  of  suitable  means  of  access 
alone  prevents  the  rapid  settlement  of  large  and  fertile  districts  of  the  State, 
which  are  not  unknown  to  the  more  enterprising  and  persevering  pioneers, 
who  have  led  the  way  through  the  wilderness,  and  are  now  engaged  almost 
single-handed  in  their  labors,  not  shrinking  from  the  privations  and  suffer 
ings  which  are  sure  to  surround  these  first  settlements. in  the  new  districts. 

The  Grand  Traverse  region,  with  its  excellent  soil,  comparatively  mild 
climate,  and  abundance  of  timber  of  .every  description,  is  attracting  much 
attention,  and  extensive  settlements  have  already  commenced  in  many 
localities  in  that  region.  The  coast  of  Lake  Michigan,  from  Grand  river 
north,  for  upwards  of  one  hundred  miles  to  Manistee  river,  presents,  gene 
rally,  a  barren,  sandy  appearance,  the  sand  hills  of  that  coast  almost  inva 
riably  shutting  out  from  the  view  the  surrounding  country. 

North  of  the  Manistee,  however,  this  characteristic  of  the  coast  changes, 
and  the  hard  timber  comes  out  to  the  lake  and  presents  a  fine  region  of 
country,  extending  from  Lake  Michigan  to  Grand  Traverse  Bay,  and  be 
yond,  embracing  the  head  waters  of  the  Manistee  river.  This  large  tract 
of  agricultural  land  is  one  of  the  richest  portions  of  the  State,  and  having 
throughout  its  whole  extent  extensive  groves  of  excellent  pine  timber  inter 
spersed,  it  is  one  of  the  most  desirable  portions  of  the  peninsula.  Grand 
Traverse  Bay,  the  Manistee  river,  and  River  Aux  Bees  Scies  are  the  outlets 
for  the  pine  timber,  and  afford  ample  means  of  communication  between  the 
interior  and  the  lake  for  such  purposes.  The  proposed  State  roads  will,  if 
built,  do  much  towards  the  settlement  of  this  region.  A  natural  harbor, 
which  is  being  improved  by  private  enterprise,  is  found  at  the  mouth  of  the 
River  Aux  Bees  Scies,  and  a  new  settlement  or  town  has  been  started  at 
this  point.  This  is  a  natural  outlet  for  a  considerable  portion  of  the  region 
just  described.  The  lands  here,  as  in  other  localities  in  the  new  portions 

H  * 


122  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

of  the  State,  are  such  as  must  induce  a  rapid  settlement  whenever  the 
means  of  communication  shall  be  opened. 

The  valley  of  the  Muskegon  embraces  every  variety  of  soil  and  timber, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  portions  of  the  peninsula.  The  pine  lands 
upon  this  river  are  scattered  all  along  the  valleys  in  groups  or  tracts  con 
taining  several  thousand  acres  each,  interspersed  with  hard  timber,  and  sur 
rounded  by  fine  agricultural  lands. 

The  Pere  Marquette  river  and  White  river,  large  streams  emptying  into 
Lake  Michigan,  pass  through  a  region  possessing  much  the  same  character 
istics.  This  whole  region  rests  on  a  lime  rock,  has  a  rich  soil,  and  is  well 
watered  with  living  springs,  resembling,  in  many  features,  the  Grand  river 
valley.  Beds  of  gypsum  have  been  discovered  on  the  head  waters  of  the 
Pere  Marquette. 

The  unsettled  counties  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  State,  the  northern 
portion  of  Montcalm  and  Gratiot,  Isabella,  Glad  win,  Clair,  and  a  portion 
of  Midland,  are  not  inferior  to  any  other  portion.  There  is  a  magnificent 
body  of  pine  stretching  from  the  head  of  Flat  river,  in  Montcalm  county, 
to  the  upper  waters  of  the  Tittabawassee,  and  growing  upon  a  fine  soil,  well 
adapted  to  agriculture.  This  embraces  a  portion  of  the  Saginaw  valley, 
and  covers  the  high  ground  dividing  the  waters  of  Lakes  Huron  and 
Michigan. 

The  eastern  slope  of  the  peninsula  embraces  a  variety  of  soil  and  timber 
somewhat  different,  in  its  general  features,  from  other  portions  of  the  State. 
The  pine  lands  of  this  region  are  near  the  coast  of  the  lake,  and  lie  in  large 
tracts,  but  with  good  agricultural  land  adjoining. 

There  are  in  the  lower  peninsula,  in  round  numbers,  about  twenty-four 
million  acres  of  land.  Taking  Houghton  lake,  near  the  centre  of  the  State, 
as  a  point  of  view,  the  general  surface  may  be  comprehended  as  follows  : 
The  Muskegon  valley  to  the  southwest,  following  the  Muskegon  river  in  its 
course  to  Lake  Michigan.  The  western  slope  of  the  peninsula  directly 
west,  embracing  the  pine  and  agricultural  districts  along  the  valleys  of 
several  large  streams  emptying  into  Lake  Michigan.  The  large  and  beau 
tiful  region  to  the  northwest,  embracing  the  valley  of  the  Manistee  and  the 
undulating  lands  around  Grand  Traverse  Bay.  Northward,  the  region 
embraces  the  head  waters  of  the  Manistee  and  Au  Sauble,  with  the  large 
tracts  of  excellent  pine  in  that  locality,  and  beyond,  the  agricultural  region 
extending  to  Little  Traverse  Bay  and  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw.  To  the 
northeast,  the  valley  of  the  Au  Sauble  and  the  pine  region  of  Thunder  Bay. 
To  the  east,  the  pine  and  hard  timber  extending  to  Saginaw  Bay.  To  the 
southeast,  the  Saginaw  valley ;  and  to  the  south,  the  high  lands  before  de 
scribed  in  the  central  counties. 

Thus  we  have  yet  undeveloped  over  half  of  the  surface  of  this  peninsula, 
embracing  certainly  twelve  to  fifteen  millions  of  acres,  possessing  stores  of 
wealth  in  the  timber  upon  its  surface,  reserving  the  soil  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who,  as  the  means  of  communication  are  opened,  will  come  in  and 
possess  it,  and  thus  introduce  property  into  the  region.  It  is  estimated  that 
one-tenth  of  the  area  north  of  the  Grand  river  is  embraced  in  the  pine 
region.  The  swamp  lands  granted  to  the  State  will  probably  cover  nearly 
double  the  area  of  the  pine  lands  proper,  the  remainder,  for  the  most  part, 
being  covered  with  a  growth  of  hard  timber  suited  to  the  necessities  of  the 
increasing  population.  It  has  been  estimated  that  in  good  years  the  pine 
lumber  of  the  State  yields  not  far  from  ten  millions  of  dollars,  and  yet  it  is 
thought  that  the  various  hard  woods  might  be  made  to  yield  a  larger  in 
come.  For  example,  the  region  around  Saginaw  Bay  is  perhaps .  the  most 


LUMBERING  INTEREST.  123 

remarkable  locality  in  the  world  in  regard  to  the  quality  and  variety  of  its 
hard-wood  timber.  There,  for  nearly  a  hundred  miles  in  extent,  upon 
streams  debouching  into  the  bay,  are  dense  forests  of  the  choicest  oak,  with 
a  great  profusion  of  hickory,  black  walnut,  white  ash,  white  wood,  bird's- 
eye  maple,  red  elm,  and  other  valuable  varieties.  The  manufacture  of  agri 
cultural  implements  will  probably,  in  the  future,  be  extensively  carried  on 
in  this  region.  The  profusion  of  this  growth  is  only  equalled  by  its  accessi 
bility  to  market,  by  the  streams  upon  which  it  abounds.  But  hard-wood 
forests  are  found  in  other  parts  of  the  State,  which  are  nearly  as  valuable 
as  those  of  the  Saginaw  region.  And  to  crown  all,  it  has  been  demonstrated 
that  the  lumber  manufactured  in  Michigan,  including  all  its  varieties,  is 
unsurpassed  in  its  soundness  and  durability  by  that  of  any  other  in  the 
country.  In  the  lumber  districts  of  the  eastern  shore  there  are  212  saw 
mills  with  an  invested  capital  of  $6,822,000,  which  in  1869  cut  738,641,700 
feet  of  lumber,  149,901,000  laths,  and  243,820,000  shingles.  Number  of 
men  employed  at  mills,  5,204.  In  the  lumber  woods  it  is  estimated  that 
10,250  men  were  employed  at  wages  varying  from  $20  to  $25  per  month 
with  board  ;  mill  labor,  $2  and  $2.50  per  day.  The  western  shore  lumber 
region  includes  the  districts  of  Muskegon,  Manistee,  Ottawa,  and  Oceana. 
About  1,000  men  are  employed  in  the  mills  at  Muskegon,  exclusive  of  men 
in  the  woods.  In  that  district  260,000,000  feet  of  lumber  were  cut  in  1869. 
The  products  of  the  other  districts  in  1869  are  not  given,  but  they  produced 
in  1869  480,000,000  feet  of  lumber  and  250,000,000  laths.  The  season's 
work  on  the  Black  river,  it  is  estimated,  was  about  100,000,000  feet  of  logs, 
including  a  few  million  feet  left  over  from  the  previous  season.  The  pro 
gress  which  the  lumber  trade  is  making  in  the  northern  part  of  the  southern 
peninsula  is  said  to  be  remarkable. 

In  concluding  this  chapter,  we  may  with  propriety  make  an  allusion  to 
the  climate  of  the  State.  As  the  presence  of  the  ocean  tends  to  mitigate 
the  excessive  temperature  of  the  Atlantic  slope,  so  do  the  great  lakes  exer 
cise  a  similar  influence  over  the  two  peninsulas  of  Michigan,  lessening  the 
winter's  cold  and  the  summer's  heat.  The  temperature  of  the  State  has 
been  fixed  as  follows : 

Ann  Arbor. — Spring,  45.5 ;  summer,  66.3 ;  autumn,  48.4 ;  winter,  25.3  ; 
year,  46.4. 

Fort  Brady. — Spring,  37.6 ;  summer,  62.0 ;  autumn,  43.5 ;  winter,  18.3 ; 
year,  40.4. 

The  annual  precipitation  of  rain  is  as  follows : 

Ann  Arbor. — Spring,  7.30;  summer,  11.20;  autumn,  7.00;  winter,  3.10; 
year,  28.60. 

Mackinac. — Spring,  4.67 ;  summer,  8.88  ;  autumn,  9.01 ;  winter,  3.31 ; 
year,  23.87. 

Fort  Brady. — Spring,  5.44 ;  summer,  9.97 ;  autumn,  10.76 ;  winter,  5.18  ; 
year,  31.35. 

With  these  facts  before  us,  and  remembering  what  has  been  recorded 
respecting  the  soil  and  vegetable  productions  of  Michigan,  and  its  peculiar 
position,  it  would  seem  that  so  far  as  the  climate  of  the  State  is  concerned, 
we  are  warranted  in  coming  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  a  most  fortunate 
region  of  country.  If  the  more  southern  portions,  in  this  respect,  are  found 
to  be  on  a  par  with  the  neighboring  States  of  Ohio  and  Indiana,  when  we 
come  to  look  at  the  northern  peninsula  we  find  it  abounding  in  charms  which 
are  peculiarly  its  own,  unless  we  admit  northern  Wisconsin  into  the  partner 
ship.  Those  portions  of  the  State  which  are  washed  by  the  northern  part 
of  Lake  Michigan,  Lake  Huron,  and  Lake  Superior,  and  where  the  pine 


124  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

forests  abound,  have  but  two  seasons,  summer  and  winter.  In  September 
the  wild  geese  and  other  water-fowl  commence  their  migrations ;  in  October 
the  first  snows  appear,  and  these,  with  the  dense  woods,  retain  a  warmth  in 
the  soil  until  the  opening  of  spring ;  and,  although  the  thermometer  may 
fall  to  — 30°,  the  dry,  cold,  and  elastic  winds  rob  the  temperature  of  its 
intensity,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  the  human  system.  And  then,  during  the 
long  winter  nights,  the  wonderful  Northern  Lights  come  forth  in  all  their 
pomp ;  and  after  they  have  delighted  and  bewildered  us  with  their  beauty 
and  splendor,  would  seem  to  say  to  the  dwellers  in  Southern  Michigan,  who 
are  wont  to  boast  of  their  bright  skies,  brilliant  sunsets,  and  matchless  In 
dian  summer,  that  to  the  North  belong  the  chief  glory  of  these  phenomena 
of  the  seasons.  It  is  in  winter,  too,  and  in  the  North,  that  the  wild  animals 
attain  their  greatest  perf  ection — the  beaver  his  coat  of  velvet,  and  the  part 
ridge  and  owl  their  snow-white  plumage.  In  April  the  lakes  and  streams 
are  released  from  their  icy  fetters,  and  summer,  without  oppressive  heat,  but 
with  charming  influences  and  associations,  then  comes  forth  like  a  queen, 
and  spreads  a  quiet  gladness  from  lake  to  lake  and  from  shore  to  shore,  and 
when  once  enjoyed,  can  never  be  forgotten. 

THE   FISHERIES. 

Hemmed  in,  as  is  the  State  of  Michigan,  by  four  of  the  largest  lakes  in 
the  world,  and  all  of  them  filled  with  the  purest  water,  it  is  not  to  be  won 
dered  at  that  its  fisheries  should  have  become  an  important  item  in  its  com 
merce.  We  have  not  the  data  to  give  an  accurate  account  of  the  yield  of 
fish,  but  we  can  safely  say  that  they  bring  in  a  revenue  of  more  than  a 
million  of  dollars  per  annum,  give  employment  to  many  hundred  men  and 
boats,  and  find  a  ready  market  in  the  States  of  Ohio  and  Indiana,  as  well 
as  Michigan  itself.  The  most  important  fish  taken  in  these  waters  is  the 
white  fish,  and  while  the  largest  proportion  of  them  are  salted,  large  num 
bers  of  them  are  sold  in  a  fresh  state,  and  are  popular  in  markets  as  dis 
tant  as  Washington  city,  whither  they  are  sent,  neatly  packed  in  ice.  They 
are  found  in  the  straits  and  all  the  lakes  ;  are  taken  with  seines,  gill  nets, 
trap  nets,  and  with  spears,  but  never  with  the  hook.  They  are  celebrated 
for  their  edible  qualities,  and  in  the  Western  States  occupy  a  similar  posi 
tion  to  that  of  the  shad  along  the  Atlantic  coast.  Their  average  weight  is 
from  three  to  five  pounds,  but  specimens  are  occasionally  taken  weighing 
fifteen  pounds. 

The  Detroit  river  white  fish — in  the  capture  and  shipment  of  which  Mr. 
George  Clark  has  become  celebrated — are  more  juicy  and  better  flavored 
than  those  caught  in  the  upper  lakes,  probably  from  the  fact  that  they 
feed  on  more  delicate  food,  but  those  found  in  Lake  Superior  surpass  all 
others  in  size.  They  were  once  so  numerous  that  eight  thousand  were  taken 
at  a  single  haul.  At  present  a  haul  of  one  or  two  thousand  is  thought  a 
very  good  one.  In  all  the  rivers  they  are  growing  scarce  very  gradually, 
but  surely.  The  ratio  of  decrease  cannot  be  arrived  at  with  any  degree  of 
precision.  A  few  years  ago  they  were  mostly  taken  with  gill  nets,  and 
when  they  fell  off  in  one  place,  a  corresponding  increase  would  be  found  in 
another.  Now  they  are  taken  with  trap  nets  along  the  shore.  The  trap 
nets  are  a  decided  advantage  over  gill  nets.  They  allow  the  fish  to  be  kept 
alive,  and  then  are  taken  out  at  leisure;  they  are,  therefore,  of  better 
quality. 

Pickerel. — This  variety  is  also  held  in  high  esteem.  They  are  good, 
either  fresh  or  salted  and  dried,  and  for  packing  rank  next  in  value  to 


THE  FISHERIES.  125 

white,  although  held  nominally  at  the  same  price  as  trout  when  packed. 
They  generally  run  up  the  rivers  and  lakes  in  the  spring  to  spawn,  where 
they  are  caught  in  considerable  numbers.  Average  weight,  two  pounds, 
although  occasionally  weighing  ten  pounds. 

Lake  or  Mackinaw  Trout. — This  species  are  as  voracious  as  pickerel. 
They  are  chiefly  caught  in  Lake  Huron  with  gill  nets  and  hooks.  Saginaw 
bay  appears  to  be  a  favorite  resort  with  them.  Some  winters,  large  quan 
tities  are  caught  in  the  bay  through  the  ice,  with  a  decoy  fish  and  spear. 
They  spawn  in  the  fall,  generally  in  the  bays  and  inlets.  Average  weight, 
five  pounds  ;  large  specimens  reaching  seventy-five  pounds. 

/Siscowit. — These  are  mostly  found  in  Lake  Superior,  and  are  preferred 
by  some  to  any  other  kind.  They  are  of  the  trout  family,  and  for  fat  are 
unequalled ;  they  are  mostly  taken  in  gill  nets.  They  spawn  in  the  fall,  and 
are  very  superior  for  packing.  They  are  also  of  some  value  for  their  oil. 
Common  weight,  four  pounds. 

Large  Herring. — These  are  very  good  fish,  found  only  in  the  straits  and 
large  lakes.  They  spawn  in  the  fall ;  but  few  are  caught.  Average  weight, 
one  pound  and  three-quarters. 

In  addition  to'  the  above,  the  muscalonge — a  large  and  delicious  variety — 
black  and  white  bass,  rock  bass,  perch,  sturgeon,  catfish,  eels,  gar,  mullet, 
sucker,  perch,  sunfish,  as  well  as  the  lovely  and  valuable  common  trout,  and 
many  other  kinds  abound  in  the  waters  of  Michigan. 

White  fish  are  taken  both  in  the  spring  and  fall,  chiefly  the  latter;  spring 
is  the  season  for  pickerel ;  trout  are  taken  at  all  seasons. 

The  localities  where  the  commercial  fish  abound  are  numerous,  but  the 
following  are  the  most  important,  and  we  mention  them  in  the  order  of 
their  importance:  Mackinaw,  Detroit  river,  An  Sauble,  Thunder  Bay, 
Saginaw  Bay,  Beaver  Islands,  Grand  Haven,  St.  Joseph,  Michigan  City, 
Green  Bay,  Saugatuck,  Point  Sauble,  White  Lake,  and  Port  Huron.  The 
total  proceeds,  as  already  mentioned,  of  all  the  Michigan  fisheries  is  esti 
mated  at  more  than  one  million  of  dollars  per  annum. 

That  the  fishing  business  of  the  great  lakes  is  yet  in  its  infancy  must  be 
apparent  to  all  who  reflect  upon  the  inexhaustible  supplies  to  be  found  in 
these  lakes  and  their  tributaries  ;  and  for  this  kind  of  food  the  surrounding 
market  is  almost  without  a  limit.  The  barrels  for  packing  constitute  no 
inconsiderable  item  of  this  vast  and  constantly  growing  trade.  Their  manu 
facture  is  a  regular  branch  of  business  in  some  localities,  but  large  numbers 
are  also  made  by  the  fishermen  themselves  when  not  engaged  upon  the  wa 
ters.  The  nets  employed  come  chiefly  from  Massachusetts,  and  the  large 
item  of  salt  used  is  obtained  from  within  the  limits  of  the  State.  Of  the 
men  who  originated  the  trade  on  Lake  Huron,  perhaps  none  have  been 
more  successful  than  Mr.  Harvey  Williams,  of  Saginaw.  Around  Macki 
naw,  on  Lakes  Superior  and  Michigan,  the  more  successful  men  engaged  in 
the  business  have  been  the  Canadian  French  and  Norwegians,  the  last  of 
whom  are  wont  to  perform  exploits  upon  the  stormy  waters  which  some 
times  astonish  the  natives  of  the  surrounding  shores.  It  has  been  estimated 
by  the  more  sanguine  citizens  of  Michigan  that  the  value  of  her  fisheries, 
when  fully  developed,  will  exceed  the  product  of  all  the  interior  States  of 
the  Union  added  together ;  but  however  that  may  be,  the  fact  remains  that 
Michigan  has  been  bountifully  treated  by  the  hand  of  Nature  in  this  parti 
cular,  as  well  as  in  many  others,  and  it  should  not  falter  in  its  duty  as  a 
faithful  steward. 


126 


CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 


COMMERCE. 

As  nearly  all  the  interests  hitherto  touched  upon  in  this  compilation  are 
directly  connected  with  the  commerce  of  the  State,  there  is  but  little  to  add 
in  further  illustration  of  that  subject.  It  is  admitted  on  all  sides  that  there 
is  not  a  State  in  the  Union  which  surpasses  Michigan  in  her  commercial 
advantages,  and  if  her  natural  resources  are  properly  fostered  arid  developed 
they  will  keep  her  for  a  long  time  to  come  in  the  van  of  prosperous  com 
monwealths.  She  is  also  unequalled  among  the  States  in  the  extent  of  her 
coast  line,  which  measures  about  fourteen  hundred  miles,  and  her  natural 
harbors  are  numerous,  and,  generally  speaking,  so  favorably  located  as  to 
require  but  little  expense  or  labor  to  make  them  available  iii  all  seasons  for 
all  classes  of  shipping. 

The  combined  area  of  all  the  great  lakes,  according  to  Professor  J.  "W. 
Foster,  is  approximately  estimated  to  exceed  90,000  square  miles,  and  the 
depression  in  most  of  them  is  sufficiently  profound  to  reach  below  the  sea 
bed.  The  following  table,  though  not  strictly  accurate,  is  believed  to  em 
brace  their  prominent  features,  and  are  the  latest  conclusions  arrived  at  by 
scientific  men : 


Length. 

Breadth. 

Depth. 

Height  above 
sea. 

Area  in 
miles. 

s 

355 

104 

900 

605 

32  000 

310 

84 

600 

383 

22  000 

168 

120 

600 

578 

20  400 

Erie   

246 

60 

300 

564 

9  600 

Ontario             •  •  • 

190 

50 

800 

233 

6  300 

90  300 

In  the  absence  of  minute  and  authentic  statistics  respecting  the  shipping 
of  the  State,  we  can  only  draw  conclusions  from  isolated  particulars.  For 
example,  the  commercial  value  of  wheat  passed  through  the  St.  Mary  canal 
in  1856,  the  year  after  it  was  completed,  was  not  less  than  five  millions  of 
dollars.  In  1854  Lake  Superior  boasted  of  two  steamboats  and  five  sailing 
vessels,  but  at  the  end  of  two  years  from  that  date  there  were  forty  steamers 
and  sixteen  sail  vessels  upon  its  waters.  In  1839  the  number  of  steamboats 
which  navigated  the  great  lakes  was  fifty-four,  and  in  splendor  of  equip 
ments  many  of  them,  such  as  the  Michigan  and  Illinois,  the  Detroit,  the 
Western  World,  Plymouth  Rock,  Buckeye,  and  Sandusky,  the  Cleveland, 
and  the  Buffalo,  were  at  that  time  unsurpassed  by  any  other  vessels  of  their 
kind  in  the  United  States,  the  burthen  of  several  of  them  measuring  two 
thousand  tons.  In  1827  there  were  only  three  steamers  running  from  De 
troit  to  Buffalo  during  an  entire  week,  but  in  1855,  when  that  class  of  ships 
was  mostly  popular,  there  were  from  eight  to  ten  departures  from  Detroit 
every  day.  The  Walk-in-the-  Water,  Captain  Jedediah  Rogers,  the  celebrated 
pioneer  steamer,  arrived  at  Detroit  May  20,  1819,  and  she  occupied  a  whole 
week  in  making  one  trip  to  Black  Rock,  advertising  to  touch  at  all  the 
towns  on  the  American  side  of  Lake  Erie.  She  was  wrecked  near  Buffalo 
in  1821.  In  1855  the  two  miles  of  wharf  at  Detroit  were  hardly  sufficient 
to  accommodate  the  shipping  of  that  port,  but  the  steamboat  business  has 
of  late  years  been  materially  interfered  with  by  the  numerous  lines  of  rail 
road.  In  1859  the  total  number  of  vessels  navigating  the  waters  of  the  five 
great  lakes,  which  all  paid  some  tribute  to  Michigan,  was  more  than  sixteen 
hundred,  and  their  aggregate  burthen  was  over  four  hundred  thousand  tons. 
They  were  manned  by  over  thirteen  thousand  seamen,  navigating  over  five 


COMMERCE.  127 

thousand  miles  of  lake  and  river  coast,  and  transporting  over  six  hundred 
millions  of  exports  and  imports.  To  use  the  language  of  W.  P.  Strickland, 
the  State  of  Michigan  is  the  greatest  lumber  region  in  the  world,  not  only 
on  account  of  its  interminable  forests,  but  for  getting  its  lumber  product  to 
market.  With  a  lake  coast,  on  the  lower  peninsula  alone,  of  more  than  one 
thousand  miles — with  numberless  water-courses  emptying  at  convenient  dis 
tances  into  her  inland  seas — she  enjoys  advantages  which  many  empires 
might  envy.  Her  white-winged  carriers  are  sent  to  almost  every  point  of 
the  compass  with  the  product  of  her  forests,  which,  wherever  it  may  go,  is 
the  sign  of  improvement  and  progress  ;  while  by  the  large  expenditures  in 
volved  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber  and  the  employment  of  thousands  of 
hardy  laborers,  the  general  prosperity  is  materially  enhanced  and  a  market 
opened  within  her  own  borders  for  a  considerable  share  of  the  productions 
of  her  own  soil.  In  1867,  or  two  years  after  the  rebellion,  the  total  tonnage 
of  the  United  States  was  3,957,514,  and  the  total  amount  assigned  to  the 
State  of  Michigan  was  112,797,  or  to  the  district  of  Detroit  87,999, 
Mackinaw  2,703,  Port  Huron  14,662,  and  the  district  known  as  Michigan 
9,433. 

Within  the  last  few  years  the  European  consumers  of  grain  and  other 
products  have  been  convinced  that  their  wants  can  be  supplied  with  prompt 
ness,  and  to  a  large  extent  from  the  State  of  Michigan  alone.  Her  resources 
are  amply  sufficient  to  afford  employment  for  half  a  century  to  a  tenfold 
larger  number  of  vessels  than  have  hitherto  been  employed.  The  foreign 
ports  to  which  shipments  of  lumber  and  staves  have  been  made  are  Liver 
pool,  Cork,  Greenock,  Glasgow,  London,  Hamburg,  Cadiz,  and  Calais ;  and 
to  many  of  them  large  shipments  have  been  made  of  flour  and  grain,  but 
chiefly  to  Liverpool.  Surrounded  as  it  is  on  three  sides  by  navigable  waters, 
the  State  of  Michigan  is  favorably  situated  for  carrying  on  an  extensive 
commerce.  The  total  lake  trade  of  the  State,  valued  at  $30,000,000  in  1851, 
was  in  1863  estimated  at  $65,000,000,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the 
development  of  the  gigantic  railroads  of  the  West  has  absorbed  a  large  por 
tion  of  the  trade  that  would  otherwise  have  been  conducted  through  the 
lakes.  The  great  mining  district  of  the  northern  peninsula,  to  which  as  yet 
no  railroad  has  been  constructed,  finds  an  outlet  for  its  productions  only 
through  the  lakes,  and  yearly  adds  a  large  quota  to  the  already  heavy  com 
merce  of  the  State.  The  shipping,  estimated  in  1850  at  38,144  tons,  was  in 
1863  increased  to  upwards  of  100,000  tons.  The  internal  and  transit  trade 
of  the  State,  by  means  of  its  railroads,  etc.,  is  also  immense,  and  has  been 
largely  increased  since  the  completion  of  the  great  Canadian  lines  of  rail 
road. 

As  bearing  directly  upon  the  commerce  of  Michigan,  the  following  gen 
eral  remarks  respecting  the  later  developments  in  the  aspect  of  the  country 
are  worthy  of  consideration  : 

That  section  of  the  State  known  as  the  "  Northern  Peninsula,"  lying  be 
tween  Lake  Superior  and  Lake  Michigan  is  three  hundred  and  sixty  miles 
long,  and  from  thirty-six  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  wide.  This  por 
tion  of  the  State  is  as  yet  comparatively  unsettled,  though  its  advantages 
are  such  as  to  induce  a  rapid  immigration.  The  general  surface  is  much 
diversified  by  mountains,  hills,  valleys,  and  plains.  The  eastern  portion  to 
the  "  pictured  rocks,"  is  undulating,  rising  gradually  from  the  lakes  to  the 
interior,  where  it  assumes  the  character  of  an  elevated  table-land.  West 
ward  the  country  becomes  broken  into  hills,  with  intervening  plains,  until 
it  is  interrupted  by  the  Porcupine  Mountains,  which  form  the  dividing  ridge 
separating  the  waters  of  Lake  Superior  from  those  of  Lake  Michigan.  The 


128  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

highest  peaks  toward  the  western  boundary  are  from  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  to  two  thousand  feet  high.  The  ridge  is  often  broken  through  by 
the  larger  streams,  bordered  by  extensive  valleys.  The  spurs  of  these  moun 
tains  project  in  different  directions,  often  exhibiting  their  denuded  cliffs 
upon  the  northern  shores.  The  greater  portion  of  the  peninsula,  the  sand 
plains  excepted,  is  covered  with  immense  forests,  principally  of  white  and 
yellow  pine.  Of  the  pine  lands,  there  are  millions  of  acres  stretching  be 
tween  the  Saute  de  Ste.  Marie  and  the  Ontonagon  and  Montreal  rivers. 
The  country  is  abundantly  supplied  with  water,  and  though  none  of  the 
streams  are  large,  yet  they  furnish  immense  power,  and  the  means  of  inter 
nal  navigation.  The  head  branches  of  those  flowing  in  different  directions 
frequently  interlock.  The  lake  coast  of  this  section  of  the  State  is  estimated 
at  between  seven  hundred  and  eight  hundred  miles  in  length,  and  it  is  be 
lieved  that  five-sevenths  of  the  entire  peninsula  may  be  reached  by  the  com 
mon  lake  vessels. 

The  "  Southern  Peninsula,"  which  is  four  hundred  and  twelve  miles  long 
by  from  fifty  to  three  hundred  in  width,  has  generally  a  level  or  rolling 
surface,  in  some  parts  broken  and  hilly.  The  eastern  portion,  for  a  distance 
varying  from  five  to  twenty-five  miles  from  the  shore,  is  almost  a  dead  level, 
but  westward  the  land  rises  into  an  irregular  ridge,  in  some  parts  attaining 
the  height  of  six  hundred  or  seven  hundred  feet  above  the  level.  This  ridge 
has  much  greater  proximity  to  the  eastern  than  to  the  western  shore,  and 
serves  to  separate  the  waters  flowing  into  the  lakes  on  each  side.  The  portion 
of  the  southern  part  of  the  State  denominated  hilly,  branches  off  from  the 
principal  ridge  in  different  directions  through  the  adjoining  country.  The 
hills  consist  of  an  irregular  assemblage  of  somewhat  conical  elevations,  occa 
sionally  attaining  the  height  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  feet, 
but  ordinarily  of  not  more  than  from  thirty  to  forty  feet.  The  main  portion 
of  the  table-land  passing  westward  to  Lake  Michigan,  with  the  exceptions 
noted,  assumes  a  very  gradual  descent,  exhibiting  a  gently  undulating  and 
very  rarely  broken  surface.  The  ridge  of  land  before  spoken  of  again  takes 
a  rise  near  the  mouth  of  Au  Sauble  river,  and  is  seen  from  the  lake  to  stretch 
on  for  many  miles  along  and  beyond  the  coast.  It  has  been  considered 
the  highest  land  of  the  region,  and  is  certainly  the  most  rugged  part  of 
the  lower  peninsula.  Taking  the  great  extent  of  this  peninsula  into  consid 
eration,  however,  it  may,  in  a  comparative  point  of  view,  be  said  to  possess 
a  great  evenness  of  surface,  with  a  sufficient  declivity,  nevertheless,  to  allow 
the  waters  to  drain  off  in  lively  and  healthy  streams.  The  coasts,  both 
towards  Lakes  Michigan  and  Huron,  are  sometimes  exhibited  in  high,  steep 
banks,  and  those  of  the  former  are  frequently  seen  in  bluffs  and  sand  hills, 
varying  from  one  hundred  to  three  hundred  feet  in  height. 

Among  the  citizens  of  Michigan  who  have  long  been  paying  special  atten 
tion  to  the  geographical  and  other  interests  of  the  State  of  Michigan  is  Al 
bert  D.  Rust,  editor  of  the  Michigan  Advance;  and  he  has  divided  the  re 
sources  of  the  State  into  five  classes,  as  follows  : 

1st,  Mining.  2d.  Fruit  culture.  3d.  Manufacture  of  salt.  4th.  Manu 
facture  of  lumber.  5th.  Agriculture.  He  believes  that  the  cultivation  of 
the  soil  will  eventually  be  the  most  independent  and  remunerative  of  all 
occupations. 

As  the  ship  canal  of  St.  Mary  is  now  performing  an  important  part  in 
developing  the  commerce  of  Michigan,  the  subjoined  facts,  taken  from  the 
inaugural  message  of  Governor  Baldwin,  will  be  read  with  interest : 

The  gross  earnings  of  the  canal  for  1867  were  $33,515.54.  This  was 
$10,446  more  than  was  received  in  1866.  Of  this  increase,  $4,666.96  were 


COMMERCE.  129 

the  result  of  the  increase  of  the  rate  of  tolls  from  4 1  to  6  cents  per  ton 
upon  the  tonnage  of  steamers. 

The  entire  receipts  for  tolls  for  the  year  1868  were  $25,977.14;  being 
$7,538.40  less  than  the  year  before.  This  falling  off  was  owing,  in  a  great 
degree,  to  the  exceedingly  depressed  condition  of  the  copper  mining  interest, 

The  canal  had  been  in  operation  fourteen  seasons  prior  to  1869.  Very 
considerable  repairs  had  been  made  during  the  two  preceding  years,  which", 
with  those  now  being  prosecuted,  will  place  it  in  as  good  condition  as  the 
wear  and  tear  of  this  length  of  time  would  allow. 

The  board  of  control  in  1868  authorized  it  to  be  dredged,  to  clear  it  of 
the  mud  and  stone  which  had  been  borne  down  by  the  ice  and  current. 
Three  hundred  feet  of  a  new  pier  were  to  be  built  on  the  north  side,  at  its 
western  terminus.  The  valves  of  the  lock  gates  and  the  slope  walls  were 
to  be  repaired  and  improved.  These  improvements  to  be  made  under  the 
charge  of  the  superintendent,  during  the  winter  months. 

This  canal,  though  located  in  Michigan  and  under  State  control,  is  a 
national  work,  and  of  great  national  importance.  At  the  time  of  its  pro 
jection  it  was  supposed  to  be  of  sufficient  capacity  for  the  transit  of  any 
vessels  which  the  trade  of  Lake  Superior  would  ever  require,  or  which 
could  pass  through  the  shallow  waters  of  the  St.  Clair  Flats  or  the  St. 
Mary  river. 

For  the  removal  of  these  river  and  lake  obstructions  Congress  has  made 
large  appropriations,  and  the  work  is  now  in  progress. 

Already  the  commerce  which  has  been  developed  along  the  shores  of 
Lake  Superior  has  become  so  extended  that  the  class  of  vessels  which  has 
been  found  most  advantageous  to  be  used  in  this  trade  cannot  be  loaded  to 
their  full  capacity,  for  the  lack  of  sufficient  depth  of  water  in  the  canal. 

The  great  Northwest  is  yet  in  its  infancy.  Population  is  pressing  into 
the  States  and  Territories  with  wonderful  rapidity.  A  railroad  is  already 
being  constructed  from  the  Mississippi,  at  St.  Paul,  to  the  head  of  Lake 
Superior,  (completed  in  1870,)  which,  during  the  season  of  navigation, 
must  make  this  canal  the  great  outlet  for  the  products  of  northern  Wis 
consin,  Minnesota,  and  the  Territories  beyond.  Should  the  Northern 
Pacific  railroad  be  constructed,  Lake  Superior  would  become  emphatically 
the  key  to  the  Northwest,  and  thus  this  canal,  as  its  outlet,  of  still  greater 
national  importance. 

Although  this  is  a  national  work,  Michigan — not  alone  the  upper  penin 
sula,  but  the  whole  State — is  deeply  interested  in  its  improvement,  and  in 
all  that  will  tend  to  make  it  the  great  avenue  of  the  trade  of  Lake  Supe 
rior  and  the  Northwest.  Since  its  construction,  other  avenues  have  been 
opened,  through  which  no  small  portion  of  the  trade  and  wealth  of  this 
region  is  being  diverted  to  other  States. 

As  not  out  of  place  in  this  connection,  we  submit  a  few  particulars  re 
specting  the  indebtedness  of  the  State.  On  the  first  of  January,  1867,  the 
debt  of  Michigan  amounted  to  $3,976,185,  and  in  July,  1870,  it  had  been 
reduced  to  $2,444,528.  Besides  this,  the  county  and  municipal  debts  of  the 
State  incurred  during  the  late  war,  have  been  greatly  reduced.  There  have 
also  been  large  reductions  in  the  rates  of  taxation.  In  1867,  the  apportioned 
taxes  amounted  to  $880,739,  but  before  the  close  of  1868  they  had  been 
reduced  to  $713,747 ;  and  in  1869  the  apportionment  had  been  reduced  to 
$465,264.  The  State  derives  its  revenues  from  direct  taxation,  and  also 
from  specific  taxes.  The  specific  taxes  are  paid  by  railroads,  mining  com 
panies,  Masonic  lodges,  banks,  insurance,  and  express  companies,  etc. 
These  taxes  yield  annually  an  increasing  revenue,  which  does  not  come 

I 


130  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

directly  from  the  pockets  of  the  people,  but  from  rich  corporations ;  and 
these  taxes  are  devoted  to  paying  the  interest  and  principal  of  the  State  in 
debtedness.  The  revenue  from  these  specific  taxes,  in  1866,  was  8101,606.88  ; 
in  1867,  it  was  $251,325.42;  1868,  $280,952.07;  in  1869,  the  law  taxing 
National  bank  shares  having  been  pronounced  by  the  courts  illegal,  it  fell 
to  $268,530.51.  As  the  wealth  of  the  State  increases,  the  revenue  from  these 
sources  must  constantly  grow,  unless  the  rates  are  diminished.  And  the 
last  report  of  the  Auditor-General  shows  that,  within  another  year,  it  is 
likely  the  specific  taxes  alone  will  yield  sufficient  revenue  to  provide  for  the 
State  debt,  so  that  the  people  may  be  entirely  relieved  of  direct  taxation  on 
that  account.  With  regard  to  the  Banking  institutions  of  the  State,  we 
may  mention  that  the  National  Banks  number  forty-two,  and  have  a  capi 
tal  of  $5,535,000 ;  State  Banks  two,  with  a  capital  of  $200,000 ;  and  the 
private  Banking  Houses  and  Savings  Institutions  also  number  forty-two  ; 
and  there  are  in  the  State  thirty  Insurance  Companies. 


THE  INDIANS  AND  ANTIQUITIES  OF  THE  STATE. 

As  a  matter  of  convenience,  we  submit  in  this  place  a  few  particulars 
respecting  the  Indians  and  the  antiquities  of  Michigan.  The  total  number 
of  the  former,  consisting  of  Chippewas,  Ottawas,  and  Pottowatamies,  is 
about  twelve  thousand,  among  whom  are  located  a  few  schools,  supported 
by  the  Methodist,  Presbyterian,  and  Roman  Catholic  denominations. 

The  Government  pays  to  these  Indians  annually,  in  cash  annuities,  about 
$40,000,  and  in  goods  $3,000.  It  also  pays  for  the  support  of  schools,  for 
smiths  and  smith-shop  supplies,  and  for  agricultural  and  mechanical  pur 
poses,  some  $20,000,  and  for  agency  expenses,  including  salary  of  agent  and 
assistant,  pay  of  interpreters,  etc.,  nearly  $8,000.  Thus,  the  annual  dis- 
bursments  for  Indian  purposes  in  the  State  amount  to  something  over  seventy 
thousand  dollars. 

The  Chippewas  of  Lake  Superior  mostly  reside  in  Houghton  county, 
near  the  head  of  Keweeuaw  bay.  The  Ottawas  and  Chippewas  are  prin 
cipally  in  the  counties  of  Oceana,  Mason,  Grand  Traverse,  Emmet,  Che- 
boygan,  Mackinaw,  and  Chippewa.  The  Chippewas  of  Saginaw,  Swan 
creek,  and  Black  river,  are  mostly  in  the  counties  of  Isabella  and  Bay. 
The  Chippewas,  Ottawas,  and  Pottowatamies  are  in  Cass  and  Van  Buren 
counties,  and  the  Pottowatamies  of  Huron  are  in  Calhoun  county. 

The  early  history  of  the  State  is  replete  with  accounts  of  the  labors  of 
the  old  French  missions.  Many  were  the  lives  sacrificed  and  privations 
encountered  by  these  men  to  win  the  native  tribes  to  the  standard  of  the 
cross.  So  long  as  the  missionary  was  in  their  midst  and  superintended  their 
labors,  they  yielded  to  his  guidance  and  adopted  his  recommendations,  so 
far,  at  least,  as  conduced  to  their  comfort ;  but  when  he  withdrew,  with 
equal  facility  they  glided  into  their  former  habits.  The  superstructure 
raised  with  so  much  care  fell  to  the  ground  the  moment  the  sustaining  hand 
was  withdrawn.  At  present,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  points  in  the 
upper  peninsula,  there  are  to  be  found  few  traces  of  the  Catholic  religion 
among  the  Indians  of  the  State. 

As  a  general  thing,  it  is  impossible  to  induce  them  to  conform  to  the 
usages  of  civilized  life,  and,  except  in  the  manufacture  of  a  few  baskets 
and  the  supply  of  a  few  furs,  we  see  no  evidence  of  their  industry. 

The  effect  of  the  contact  of  the  two  races  has  been  to  afford  the  Indian 
additional  incentives  to  vice,  while  his  intellectual  and  moral  elevation  has 


THE  INDIANS  AND  ANTIQUITIES  OF  THE  STATE.  131 

been  little  advanced  ;  and  at  this  day,  it  cannot  be  said  that  he  stands 
higher  in  the  scale  of  civilization  than  when  first  known  by  the  white  man. 

With  regard  to  the  antiquities  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  it  affords  us 
pleasure  to  submit  the  following,  which  has  been  supplied  to  us  by  the 
writer : 

In  common  with  her  sister  States  of  the  great  West,  Michigan  can  boast 
of  her  antiquities,  the  undoubted  remains  of  a  great  people,  who  claimed  for 
their  land,  long  anterior  to  the  so-called  "  aborigines  " — a  people  of  whom 
the  earliest  known  Indians  have  no  traditions.  Of  a  precisely  similar  char 
acter  with  the  "  tumuli,"  "  forts,"  and  "  mounds"  of  the  Ohio  valley,  are  the 
ancient  remains  in  Michigan,  and  in  addition  to  these  are  the  remains  of 
ancient  "  gardens  " — traces  of  which  are  found  in  no  other  portion  of  the 
continent  so  distinctly  marked  as  those  of  southern  Michigan.  The  ancient 
"  mounds,"  the  probable  use  of  which  has  given  rise  to  more  controversy 
than  any  of  the  other  antiquities  of  the  country,  are  of  quite  frequent  occur 
rence  in  Michigan,  being  found  in  all  parts  of  the  State,  especially  upon  or 
near  the  banks  of  the  large  rivers — the  St.  Joseph,  Kalamazoo,  Grand,  Rai 
sin,  and  Huron.  The  so-called  "  forts  "  are  but  seldom  met  with,  and  are 
uniformly  of  small  dimensions,  the  principal  ones  being  in  the  southeast, 
along  the  shores  of  the  Detroit,  Huron,  and  Raisin  rivers,  and  occasionally 
upon  Lake  Erie,  between  the  Detroit  and  Maumee  rivers.  The  gardens 
are  found  principally  in  the  rich  prairies  and  "  oak-openings  "  of  southern 
Michigan,  where  their  antiquity  is  clearly  evinced  by  the  fact  that  in  the 
centre  of  the  garden  beds  immense  oak  trees,  evidently  several  hundred 
years  old,  are  found  growing.  In  the  counties  of  St.  Joseph,  Cass,  arid  Ber- 
rien,  there  are  many  of  these  ancient  gardens  still  in  excellent  preservation, 
and  having  undoubted  traces  of  their  original  uses. 

In  addition  to  the  remains  above  alluded  to,  there  are  to  be  found  in  the 
great  iron  and  copper  mining  regions  of  the  northern  peninsula,  the  most 
indisputable  evidences  that  this  region  was  once  inhabited  by  a  race  supe 
rior  in  every  respect  to  the  American  Indians  of  the  present  day — a  race 
that  understood  the  mode  of  working  and  the  value  of  metals.  The  high 
antiquity  of  the  evidences  of  ancient  mining  discovered  by  the  present  cop 
per  and  iron  miners  of  the  Keweenaw,  Ontonagon,  and  Marquette  districts 
is  inferred  not  only  from  the  fact  that  the  existing  race  of  Indians  were  in 
perfect  ignorance  of  the  locality  of  the  mines  until  pointed  out  by  the  whites, 
but  that  the  ancient  stone  and  metal  tools  discovered:  are  entirely  unlike 
anything  now  in  use  by  the  Indians  in  any  part  of  the  country.  Still  an 
other  evidence  is  had,  as  is  the  case  with  the  gardens  of  southern  Michigan, 
in  the  fact  that  trees  of  the  largest  size,  evidently  at  least  five  hundred  years 
old,  are  found  growing  upon  the  piles  of  rubbish  that  must  have  been  thrown 
from  the  mines  by  the  ancient  miners.  In  the  winter  of  1847,  while  pass 
ing  over  a  portion  of  the  location  now  occupied  by  the  Minnesota  Mining 
Company,  Mr.  Samuel  Knapp,  the  intelligent  agent  of  the  company,  ob 
served  a  continuous  depression  of  the  soil,  which  he  rightly  conjectured  was 
caused  by  the  disintegration  of  a  vein.  There  was  a  bed  of  snow  on  the 
ground  three  feet  in  depth,  but  it  had  been  so  little  disturbed  by  the  wind 
that  it  conformed  to  the  inequalities  of  the  surface.  Following  up  these  in 
dications  along  the  southern  escarpment  of  the  hill,  where  the  company's 
works  are  now  erected,  he  came  to  a  longitudinal  cavern,  into  which  he 
crept.  He  saw  numerous  evidences  to  convince  him  that  this  was  an  artifi 
cial  excavation,  and  at  a  subsequent  day,  with  the  assistance  of  two  or  three 
men,  proceeded  to  explore  it.  In  clearing  out  the  rubbish  they  found  nu 
merous  stone  hammers,  showing  clearly  that  they  were  the  mining  imple- 


132  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

ments  of  a  past  race.  The  following  spring  he  explored  another  excava 
tion  in  the  neighborhood,  which  was  twenty-six  feet  deep,  filled  with  clay 
and  a  mass  of  decayed  vegetable  matter.  When  he  had  penetrated  to  the 
depth  of  eighteen  feet  he  came  to  a  mass  of  native  copper,  ten  feet  long, 
three  feet  wide,  and  nearly  two  feet  thick,  weighing  over  six  tons.  On  dig 
ging  around  it  the  mass  was  found  to  rest  on  billets  of  oak,  supported  by 
sleepers  of  the  same  wood.  The  ancient  miners  had  evidently  raised  the 
mass  about  five  feet,  and  then  abandoned  it  as  too  laborious.  The  vein  was 
wrought  in  the  form  of  an  open  trench,  and  where  the  copper  was  most 
abundant  the  excavation  extended  deepest.  The  rubbish  taken  from  the 
mine  is  thrown  out  in  mounds,  which  can  easily  be  distinguished  from  the 
surrounding  ground,  and  upon  which  large  trees  are  now  growing.  In  va 
rious  other  localities  of  the  northern  peninsula  the  most  convincing  traces 
are  discovered,  that  go  to  prove  that  the  mines  were  extensively  worked  by 
an  intelligent  race — at  least  far  more  intelligent  than  the  present  Indians. 
The  workings  appear  to  have  been  effected  by  the  use  of  stone  hammers  and 
wedges,  specimens  of  which  are  to  be  found  in  the  greatest  abundance  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  mines.  In  some  instances  there  are  traces  of  fire,  and  pieces 
of  charcoal  have  been  discovered,  showing  that  fire  was  used  as  an  agent  to 
destroy  the  cohesion  of  the  copper  with  the  surrounding  stone.  Metallic 
hammers  and  knives  have  been  discovered  in  the  mines,  though  the  instances 
are  very  rare,  the  copper  being  evidently  carried  to  a  distance,  where  it  was 
fashioned  into  the  rings  and  ornaments  frequently  found  in  the  tumuli  of 
the  Ohio.  The  immense  labor  required  to  sink  these  ancient  mines — fre 
quently  through  several  feet  of  solid  rock — is  another  evidence  that  the 
present  race  of  Indians,  or  any  race  of  men  possessing  their  characteristics, 
could  not  have  performed  the  work,  for  no  amount  of  personal  benefit  could 
induce  the  Indian  to  undergo  such  physical  exertion.  According  to  Pro 
fessor  J.  W.  Foster,  these  ancient  miners  were  none  other  than  the  Mound 
Builders,  whose  works  are  known  to  be  scattered  throughout  the  entire 
Northwestern  States.  The  specimens  of  their  genius  which  we  find  in  Mich 
igan  are  generally  small,  varying  in  height  from  six  to  ten  feet,  and  in  rare 
instances  reaching  a  height  of  twenty  feet.  Some  of  the  most  remarkable 
that  have  been  noticed  are  in  Girard  township,  Branch  county,  and  in  Rai 
sin  township,  in  the  county  of  Lenawee.  One  of  the  latter  was  opened  many 
years  since  and  found  to  contain  a  mass  of  human  bones.  On  the  north  side 
of  Grand  river,  ten 'miles  from  its  mouth,  there  is  an  ancient  mound  about 
ten  feet  high,  with  an  immense  pine  tree,  nearly  one  hundred  feet  high, 

f  rowing  from  its  apex.  A  mound  in  the  vicinity  was  opened,  and  nothing 
)und  until  the  ground  below  was  penetrated  to  the  distance  of  about  three 
feet  below  the  original  level,  where  were  discovered  a  quantity  of  human 
bones,  several  pieces  of  iron  three  or  four  inches  long,  several  arrow  heads, 
some  pieces  of  brass,  and  the  remnant  of  a  brazen  vessel  much  mutilated. 
In  the  southwest  corner  of  the  county  of  Calhoun,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
St.  Joseph  river,  is  a  semicircular  fort  two  hundred  feet  in  diameter,  and 
another  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  county,  of  the  same  dimensions,  with 
an  embankment  from  one  to  three  feet  high.  In  the  county  of  Wayne,  in 
Springwells  township,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Detroit  river,  is  a  fort  of  the 
circular  or  elliptical  kind,  with  an  embankment  two  or  three  feet  in  height, 
and  encompassing  perhaps  one  acre,  situated  on  firm  land  and  surrounded 
by  a  swamp.  On  the  east  side,  in  approaching  the  fort,  there  are  two  par 
allel  embankments  of  earth,  within  a  lew  feet  of  each  other,  rising  four  or 
five  feet,  and  crossing  the  swamp  in  a  direct  4ine  towards  the  fort.  Forts 
of  the  square  or  the  rectangular  kind  are  sometimes  found.  There  is  said 


RECENT  DEVELOPMENTS.  133 

to  be  one  two  miles  below  the  village  of  Marshall,  one  in  the  township  of 
Prairie  Ronde,  several  on  the  Kalamazoo,  and  in  some  other  places.  In 
Bruce  township,  in  the  county  of  Maconib,  on  the  north  fork  of  the  Clinton, 
are  several.  The  latter  consist  mostly  of  an  irregular  embankment,  with  a 
ditch  on  the  outside,  and  including  from  two  to  ten  acres,  with  entrances, 
which  were  evidently  gateways,  and  a  mound  on  the  inside  opposite  each 
entrance.  In  the  vicinity  there  are  a  number  of  mounds.  Several  small 
mounds  have  been  found  on  a  bluff  of  the  Clinton  river,  eight  miles  from 
Lake  St.  Clair.  In  sinking  the  cellar  of  a  building  for  a  missionary,  sixteen 
baskets  full  of  human  bones  were  found  of  a  remarkable  size.  Near  the 
mouth  of  this  river,  on  the  east  bank,  are  ancient  works  representing  a  for 
tress,  with  walls  of  earth  thrown  up  similar  to  those  in  Ohio  and  Indiana. 

In  this  connection,  after  mentioning  the  fact  that  the  popular  name  of 
Michigan  is  the  Hoosier  State,  it  may  interest  the  reader  to  look  at  the 
meanings  of  the  following  Indian  names  associated  with  the  State  of  Michi 
gan  :  Kalamazoo,  which  means  Looming,  or  Wuragi  river;  Numma-sapee, 
or  River  Raisin,  River  of  Sturgeons;  Minosa-goink,  or  River  Rouge,  Singe 
ing  Skin  River ;  Waweawtonong,  or  Detroit,  Place  where  you  go  round  the  sun 
in  approaching ;  Getchigomme,  or  Lake  Superior,  Sea  Water ;  Equabaw, 
End  of  deep  water;  Wassawassepee,  River  where  fish  are  speared  by  torch 
light  ;  losco,  Water  of  Light ;  Keewenaw,  or  The  canoe  is  carried  back;  Mus- 
kegon,  or  Marshy  River;  Moskego-sepee,  or  Moskegon,  Marshy  River; 
Pocagonk,  The  Rib  River;  Titebawassee,  River  that  runs  alongside ;  Ottawa, 
or  The  Traders ;  Tuscola,  or  Warrior's  Prairie ;  Nundee  Norgon,  or  Onto- 
nogon,  Hunting  River;  Wrockumiteogoc,  or  Huron  river,  Clear  Water; 
O  wosso,  Person  warming  himself;  Cheboygan,  or  A  place  of  metals;  Nagaikur- 
Sebee,  or  River  Ecorce,  Bark  River ;  Sac-e-nong,  or  Saginaw,  Sac  Town; 
Michisawgyegan,  or  Lake  Michigan,  Great  Lake ;  Manistee,  or  River  with 
Islands;  Chippewas,  or  Ojibways,  The  Ruling  People;  Mackinaw,  Place  of 
Giant  Fairies,  or  Great  Turtle;  Washtenaw  and  Washtenong,  or  Grand 
River,  Running  over  Shining  Pebbles;  Shiawassee,  or  Strait  Running ;  Pow- 
etink,  or  Grand  Rapids,  Falling  Waters ;  Powating,  the  Saute  Ste.  Marie, 
or  Water  Shallow  on  the  Rocks;  Yondotia,  or  Detroit,  Great  Town;  and 
Cowthenake-Sepee,  or  Au  Glaize  river,  Falling  Tree  River.  According  to 
J.  H.  Lauman,  the  Indian  names  which  marked  the  prominent  points  of 
Michigan  exhibit  the  mode  in  which  the  savages  defined  the  topography  of 
the  country,  and  were  used  as  land  marks  to  guide  them  in  their  migra 
tions.  A  general*  term,  founded  on  a  certain  feature  of  natural  scenery, 
was  often  used  to  designate  a  wide  tract  of  territory. 

RECENT   DEVELOPMENTS. 

Under  this  heading  we  propose  to  speak  of  several  distinct  localities, 
which  have  been,  and  are  at  the  present  time,  attracting  the  special  atten 
tion  of  the  public,  viz — the  Grand  Traverse  Region,  the  Saginaw  Valley,  the 
Straits  of  Mackinaw,  and  the  Cheboygan  Region.  With  regard  to  the  first, 
Professor  Alexander  Winchell  has  declared  it  to  be  the  most  remarkable 
and  desirable  section  of  country  in  the  Northwest,  and  as  he  is  the  only 
man  who  has  thoroughly  explored  it,  the  value  of  his  opinion  cannot  be 
questioned.  In  1866^  he  published  a  report  on  its  geological  and  industrial 
resources,  and  it  is  from  that  production  that  we  gather  the  following  par 
ticulars  : 

Grand  Traverse  Bay  is  a  bay  of  Lake  Michigan,  about  thirty-four  miles 
long  and  of  ample  depth,  and  received  its  name  from  the  French  voyageurs. 


134  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

The  region  to  which  it  has  given  its  name  is  divided  into  five  counties,  viz : 
Antrim,  Leelanaw,  Grand  Traverse,  Benzie,  and  Kalkasca,  the  first  three 
alone  being  contiguous  to  the  Bay.  The  mean  elevation  of  this  country  is 
two  and  thirty  feet  above  Lake  Michigan,  and  it  is  intersected  with  a  great 
number  of  small  and  beautiful  lakes  and  rivers  of  the  purest  water,  and  its 
surface  is  undulating  and  picturesque,  and  its  low  or  swamp  lands  are  not 
worthy  of  mention.  Patches  of  clayey  soil  are  not  unfrequent,  but  a  well- 
mixed  sandy  loam  is  the  dominant  soil  on  the  hills,  and  their  productive 
ness  is  said  to  be  unsurpassed.  Generally  speaking,  the  region  is  covered 
by  a  magnificent  growth  of  hard-wood  timber,  the  sugar  maple  being  the 
most  abundant  species,  although  the  beech,  the  white  elm,  the  oak,  poplar, 
birch,  the  hemlock,  the  cedar,  white  pine,  and  arbor  vite  are  found  to  a 
considerable  extent  in  certain  localities.  For  the  most  part,  these  forests 
present  an  endless  colonnade  of  majestic  pillars,  and,  but  for  the  prostrate 
forms  of  the  fallen  patriarchs  of  the  wood,  a  vehicle  could  be  driven 
through  the  unbroken  forest  from  one  end  of  the  region  to  the  other.  All 
the  quadrupeds  and  birds  peculiar  to  the  State  are  found  in  this  particular 
section,  and  the  common  trout  is  abundant  in  its  beautiful  lakes  and 
streams.  Its  geological  formations  are  said  to  be  unusually  interesting  to 
scientific  men,  and  consist  of  lignite,  drift,  shales,  various  limestones,  and 
salt — the  last  of  which  underlies  the  whole  region.  With  regard  to  the 
farm  products,  Professor  Winchell  asserts  that  this  region  is  capable  of 
producing  any  crop  which  flourishes  in  the  Northwestern  States  and  as  far 
south  as  the  latitude  of  Cincinnati.  Winter  wheat  is  the  staple  crop,  and 
the  yield  varies  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  bushels  per  acre.  Corn  grows 
well,  and,  generally  speaking,  reaches  perfection.  Oats  are  very  profitable, 
yielding  fifty  bushels  to  the  acre.  Buckwheat  also  flourishes  luxuriantly. 
The  potatoes  of  the  region  cannot  be  excelled — will  grow  without  culti 
vation,  and  the  yield  is  frequently  three  hundred  bushels  to  the  acre ;  and 
timothy  hay  is  always  a  successful  crop.  As  a  fruit-growing  region  it  is 
doubtful  whether  any  other  part  of  the  United  States  will  compete  with 
this — the  apple,  peach,  pear,  plum,  cherry,  grape,  and  all  the  more  common 
berries  attaining  the  greatest  perfection.  According  to  the  latest  estimates, 
the  population  of  the  region  is  not  far  from  ten  thousand  ;  and,  although 
ample  access  is  had  to  it  by  propellors  from  all  the  lake  ports,  it  cannot  be 
long  before  it  will  be  easily  reached  by  means  of  all  the  usual  land  com 
munications.  Beyond  all  controversy,  writes  Professor  Winchell,  the 
Grand  Traverse  Region  offers  stronger  attractions  to  capital  and  settlement 
than  any  other  portion  of  the  State,  or  of  the  entire  Northwest.  Even  the 
mighty  forest,  which  has  to  be  felled  before  the  farmer  can  avail  himself  of 
the  soil,  is  probably  less  of  a  detriment  than  an  advantage.  Besides  in 
suring  him  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  fuel,  for  the  labor  of  cutting ;  be 
sides  furnishing  him  with  a  merchantable  commodity  in  the  form  of  cord 
wood,  upon  which  he  can  realize  for  each  day's  work ;  besides  protecting 
him  and  his  stock  and  crops  from  the  severity  of  the  wintry  blast — the 
forest  itself  is  a  source  of  food  to  horses  and  cattle,  both  in  summer  and 
winter.  And  it  is  a  cheering  fact  that  the  religious  and  educational 
accommodations  have  kept  pace  with  the  development  of  the  region. 

Professor  Winchell,  in  his  report,  makes  an  allusion  to  the  Sand-Dunes, 
w^hich  form  conspicuous  landmarks  along  the  western  coast  of  southern 
Michigan,  although  not  a  prominent  feature  in  the  Grand  Traverse  Region. 
They  consist  of  irregular  heaps  of  sand  which  have  been  accumulated  by 
the  winds  blowing  in  a  certain  direction  upon  specific  shores.  While  the 
dunes  of  Cape  Cod  seldom  measure  more  than  eighty  feet,  those  of  Michi- 


RECENT  DEVELOPMENTS.  135 

gan  sometimes  measure  more  than  a  hundred  feet.  It  is  generally  found, 
too,  that  they  assume  a  lee  and  strike  side, — the  gentle  and  long  slope  being 
to  the  windward,  and  the  steep  acclivity  towards  the  sheltered  portion.  The 
Sleeping  Bear  and  Pointe  Aux  Chenes,  near  the  foot  of  Lake  Michigan,  are 
conspicuous  examples  of  these  dune-like  formations,  while  at  the  head,  at 
New  Buffalo  and  Michigan  City,  they  are  equally  conspicuous.  All  these 
dunes  are  found  to  be  moist  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the  surface,  and  hence 
become  clothed  with  vegetation,  of  which  the  peric  tribe  is  the  most  observ 
able.  If,  down  to  the  present  time,  the  ingenuity  of  man  has  not  been  able 
to  make  them  useful,  it  is  a  source  of  thankfulness  that  they  have  not  done, 
and  are  not  doing,  any  particular  harm. 

With  regard  to  the  Saginaw  Valley,  we  may  begin  by  saying  that  its 
inhabitants  claim  it  to  be  the  largest  and  most  valuable  tract  of  timbered 
country  in  the  world.  The  bay  and  river  which  bear  the  same  name  have 
long  been  distinguished  for  their  natural  attractions,  and  have  an  abundance 
of  water  to  satisfy  all  the  demands  of  navigation.  From  the  earliest  time 
the  surrounding  region  has  been  famous  as  a  seat  of  the  fur-trade,  and  its 
earliest  white  inhabitants  were  two  Indian  traders,  named  Louis  Campau 
and  John  B.  Cushway.  It  was  first  settled  by  agricultural  emigrants  about 
the  year  1836,  but  did  not  make  any  advances  in  enterprise  until  1850,  when, 
under  the  leadership  of  Charles  Little  and  his  son  Norman  Little,  an  ex 
tensive  lumber  trade  was  commenced,  and  all  the  steps  taken  to  secure  the 
manifold  advantages  born  of  active  business  and  high  ideas  of  education. 
Its  leading  town,  originally  named  Buena  Vista,  but  now  called  East  Sagi 
naw,  was  incorporated  as  such  in  1859,  and  is  already  known  as  a  ship 
building  place  of  importance,  giving  profitable  employment  besides  to 
large  numbers  of  men  connected  with  the  lumber-trade  and  various  kinds 
of  wood  and  iron  manufactures ;  and  it  is  connected  with  Detroit  by  steam 
boat  lines  and  a  well  conducted  railway.  The  next  town  in  importance  is 
Saginaw  City,  which  is  mainly  dependent  for  its  prosperity  upon  the  salt 
interest,  which  has  its  centre  here.  The  packing  and  shipping  of  salt  has 
progressed  so  rapidly  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  Northwestern  States  look 
to  Michigan  for  their  supply ;  and  by  several  of  the  highest  authorities  of  the 
country,  the  salt  manufactured  in  the  Saginaw  Valley  has  been  pronounced 
of  the  most  superior  quality,  forty  gallons  of  brine  yielding  fifty-six  pounds 
of  salt,  which  is  a  larger  per  centage  than  the  yield  of  the  Syracuse  salt  works. 
There  is,  perhaps,  no  region  in  the  State  where  there  is  less  actual  waste 
land  than  in  Saginaw.  Wherever  it  is  cleared  and  properly  cultivated  it 
proves  to  be  of  unsurpassed  fertility.  The  proximity  of  the  heavy  timbered 
lands  to  a  ready  market  for  lumber,  affords  a  rich  reward  for  the  toil  and 
labor  of  clearing.  The  immense  oak  and  pine  timber  finds  a  ready  sale, 
while  the  less  valuable  varieties,  when  cut  up  for  fuel,  are  needed  by  the 
salt  manufacturers,  who  pay  remunerating  prices.  The  demand  for  this 
purpose  alone  is  immense,  and  must  increase  until  the  country  is  stripped 
of  its  forests.  These  advantages  are  not  overlooked  by  those  who  are  in 
search  of  new  homes  in  Michigan,  and  the  consequence  is  that  there  is  an 
active  demand  for  lands  for  farming  purposes. 

We  may  add,  in  this  connection,  that  the  gypsum  beds  located  on  the 
Bay  of  Saginaw  are  being  rapidly  developed,  and  becoming  of  great  value 
to  the  State.  In  1868  there  were  shipped  from  that  locality ^ twenty  thou 
sand  tons  of  crude  gypsum,  and  two  thousand  barrels  of  calcined  gypsum, 
while  the  yield  of  the  Grand  Rapids  bed  amounted  to  41,720  tons  of  the 
crude  and  116,630  pounds  of  calcined  gypsum. 

From  Mr.  Albert  D.  Rust,  who  resides  in  the  Saginaw  Valley,  and  is 


136  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

devoting  his  energies  as  an  editor  and  citizen  to  the  development  of  that 
portion  of  the  State,  we  have  received  the  subjoined  information: 

This  region  is  quite  well  adapted  to  agricultural  purposes,  but  will  ulti 
mately  be  more  of  a  grazing  country,  than  one  for  raising  grain. 

It  is  a  very  remarkable  circumstance  that  Michigan  did,  a  good  many 
years  ago,  get  the  reputation  of  being  sterile  and  unhealthy,  and  so  general 
was  the  impression  that  this  reputation  was  given  in  the  descriptive  geog 
raphies  ;  but,  so  far  from  this  being  the  fact,  the-  case  is,  that  for  the  last 
five  or  eight  years  Michigan  has  increased  in  population  and  celebrity  more 
rapidly  than  ever  before.  Amongst  the  best  wheat  in  the  New  York  mar 
ket  may  be  found  Michigan  wheat ;  the  best  quality  and  greatest  abundance 
of  fruits  is  from  Michigan.  No  State  is  less  subject  to  fatal  diseases.  To 
be  sure,  the  fever  and  ague  did  prevail  there  in  some  parts  several  years  ago  ; 
but  that  disease  is  scarcely  known  there  now,  save  in  a  few  localities;  as  in 
other  new  States,  it  has  come  and  gone  forever. 

The  winter  is  not  severe ;  it  is  much  less  so  than  in  other  States  in  the 
same  latitude  east.  Sleighing  does  not  appear  usually  until  January, 
and  lasts  about  three  months.  There  is  snow  enough  to  make  it  pleasant 
and  good  for  business.  The  rivers  break  up  the  first  of  April.  The  mer 
cury  seldom  ever  goes  below  ten  degrees  below  zero,  and  frequently  not  as 
low  as  zero.  We  think  that  this  part  of  the  State  is  better  adapted  for 
comfortable  homes  than  other  Western  States.  Almost  all  kinds  of  busi 
ness  found  in  any  country  may  be  followed  in  Saginaw  Valley. 

We  come  now  to  speak  of  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw.  This  locality  is  cer 
tainly  remarkable,  and  its  early  history  has  already  been  touched  upon  in 
the  first  part  of  the  present  volume.  It  is  the  centre  of  that  great  chain  of 
lakes  and  rivers,  which  well-nigh  divides  the  continent.  The  three  largest 
lakes  of  the  system,  Superior,  Michigan,  and  Huron,  are  spread  around, 
pointing  to  this  spot,  while  between  them,  three  vast  peninsulas  of  land  press 
down  upon  the  waters  until  they  are  compressed  into  a  river  only  four  miles 
in  width.  On  the  north  is  the  peninsula  of  Canada,  on  the  south  that  of 
Michigan,  and  on  the  west  that  of  the  Copper  Region.  Here  they  are 
divided  only  by  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw.  Land  and  water,  by  an  inevita 
ble  necessity,  seem  to  centre  here,  the  navigable  waters  covering  an  area  of 
eighty  thousand  square  miles,  and  surrounded  by  a  continuous  coast  of  five 
thousand  miles.  The  climate  has  been  found  to  be  as  favorable  as  that  of 
most  civilized  States,  either  for  the  production  of  food  or  the  pursuits  of 
commerce ;  and  as  to  the  productive  wealth  of  the  vast  country  which  they 
drain  it  has  been  fully  demonstrated  by  a  number  of  scientific  writers  to  be 
unsurpassed  in  any  other  quarter  of  the  world.  With  these  facts  before  us, 
we  can  begin  to  comprehend  the  remarkable  enterprise  of  Edgar  Conkling 
in  attempting  to  found  a  commercial  emporium  on  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw', 
which,  if  carried  out,  will  perpetuate  his  name,  as  a  man  of  mind  and  com 
mercial  courage,  for  ages  to  come.  At  this  point,  according  to  that  able 
and  sound  reasouer,  Edward  D.  Mansfield,  as  well  as  at  the  upper  end  of 
Lake  Superior,  there  must  be  large  cities  to  supply  the  demands  of  com 
merce.  It  is  not  a  matter  of  speculation,  but  a  necessity  of  nature.  The 
same  necessity  has  already  created  Buffalo,  Toledo,  Detroit,  Chicago,  and 
St.  Louis.  The  demand  for  such  towns  on  the  shores  of  Lakes  Huron  and 
Superior,  and  especially  at  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw,  whose  Bay  and  Lake 
Michigan  flow  together,  are  obviously  far  greater  than  those  which  have 
already  caused  the  growth  of  Buffalo  and  Chicago.  They  have  grown  to 
supply  the  commerce  of  comparatively  limited  districts.  One  means  of  test 
ing  this  is  to  apply  radial  lines  to  the  site  of  any  city  existent  or  proposed, 


RECENT  DEVELOPMENTS.  137 

so  as  to  include  what  naturally  belongs  to  them,  and  thus  compare  them 
with  one  another.  The  radial  lines  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  extend 
across  the  ocean  to  Europe  on  one  hand,  and  across  the  mountains  to  the 
Valley  of  the  Mississippi  on  the  other.  In  looking  to  this  fact  we  are  no 
longer  surprised  that  New  York  has  its  million  of  inhabitants,  and  Phila 
delphia  its  six  hundred  thousand. 

If  we  look  to  the  radial  lines  of  Chicago  we  find  that  they  are  limited  on 
the  south  by  the  competition  of  St.  Louis  and  on  the  north  by  Milwaukee. 
Yet  Chicago,  at  the  southern  end  of  Lake  Michigan,  has  risen  to  be  a  large 
city  by  a  sudden  and  extraordinary  growth,  arising  from  the  rich  though 
limited  country  about  it.  Apply  these  radial  lines  to  Mackinaw  and  we 
find  that  they  naturally  include  all  of  Michigan,  a  large  part  of  Wisconsin, 
and  a  large  part  of  Canada  West ;  but  in  reference  to  water  navigation  no 
interior  site  in  America  is  equal  to  that  of  Mackinaw.  Here  concentrate 
the  navigation  of  eighty  thousand  square  miles  of  water  surface,  which  has 
no  common  centre  but  that  of  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw.  Two  facts  must  be 
observed :  that  a  commercial  point  which  concentrates  the  trade  of  Lakes 
Superior  and  Michigan  must  lie  within  the  circuit  of  their  coasts;  but  there 
is  no  such  point  but  Mackinaw.  The  other  is  that  the  point  of  commerce 
which  offers  the  shortest  distance,  and  therefore  the  cheapest  to  the  great 
markets  of  the  Atlantic  will  be  preferred.  Mackinaw  is  five  hundred  miles 
nearer  to  Buffalo  than  is  Fond  du  Lac,  and  three  hundred  miles  nearer  than 
Chicago.  So  it  is  the  same  distance  nearer  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  or 
the  city  of  New  York.  It  is  on  the  south  side  only,  through  the  peninsula 
of  Michigan,  and  toward  the  States  of  Indiana  and  Ohio,  that  the  position 
of  Mackinaw  seems  deficient  in  communications.  But  we  no  sooner  see  this 
than  we  see  also  two  great  lines  of  railroad  progressing  from  the  South 
through  the  peninsula  toward  Mackinaw.  The  one  passes  on  the  west  side 
from  Fort  Wayne  (Indiana)  through  Grand  Rapids  and  Traverse  Bay ; 
the  other  through  Lansing  and  Amboy,  both  terminating  on  the  north  at 
Mackinaw,  and  both,  by  connection  with  Indiana  and  Ohio  roads,  at  Cin 
cinnati  on  the  south ;  thence  they  will  soon  be  carried  to  the  orange-grow 
ing  shores  of  Florida.  Thus  may  some  future  .traveller  be  borne  in  a  few 
hours  from  the  soft  air  of  the  southern  Atlantic  to  the  keen  breezes  of  the 
North  and  bathe  his  languid  limbs  in  the  clear  cold  waters  of  Michigan. 

These,  together  with  many  others  of  like  character,  are  the  considerations 
which  induced  Mr.  Conkling  (formerly  a  citizen  of  Cincinnati)  to  undertake 
his  gigantic  enterprise.  It  was  in  1853  that  he  purchased  a  large  tract  of 
land,  consisting  of  the  extreme  northern  point  of  the  southern  peninsula  of 
Michigan,  where  he  has  laid  out  a  town  and  seaport  which  he  named  Mack 
inaw  City ;  and  although  the  financial  troubles  of  1857  and  the  subsequent 
war  for  the  Union  did  much  to  retard  his  various  plans,  he  is  now  devoting 
his  best  energies  and  ample  means,  under  the  most  efficient  and  liberal 
policy  that  it  is  possible  to  devise,  for  the  varied  interests,  moral  and  mate 
rial,  of  all  who  may  settle  there.  The  city  has  three  safe  and  commodious 
harbors,  and  everything  is  being  done  to  make  it  a  profitable  and  agreeable 
place  of  residence ;  and  a  leading  idea  of  the  proprietor  is  to  establish  at 
this  point  an  educational  institution  equal  to  the  wants  of  the  country.  On 
this  point  he  has  communicated  to  us  the  following : 

"In  view  of  the  increasing  population  of  this  country,  and  their  needed 
increased  intelligence  to  rightly  develop  it,  and  to  promote  their  intellectual 
and  moral  happiness,  the  proprietor  takes  great  pleasure  in  carrying  out  a 
long-cherished  purpose  of  recognizing  his  obligation  to  forego  the  usual 
'nerely  selfish  accumulation  and  appropriation  of  personal  gains,  and  to 

I* 


138  OIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

participate  in  the  future  glory  of  this  the  grandest  country  and  Government 
of  the  world,  by  pledging  the  principal  avails  of  this  large  and  valuable 
property  of  near  5,000  acres  to  provide  for  the  building  up  and  endowment 
of  a  superior  '  University,'  with  common  school  branches,  for  the  free  edu 
cation  of  the  present  and  future  generations  of  this  locality,  who  must  take 
part  in  ruling  the  destinies  of  the  world. 

"  He  has  determined  that  the  free  educational  facilities  of  Mackinaw  City 
shall  not  be  excelled  by  any  other  city  of  this  country,  and  shall  be 
worthy  of  the  State  and  a  commercial  centre  so  highly  endowed  by  nature, 
second  only  to  Detroit  within  Michigan,  and  equalled  but  by  few  lake  cities. 

"  Thus  the  proprietor,  in  voluntarily  becoming  a  mere  trustee  for  the  citi 
zens  of  Mackinaw  City,  presents  the  most  powerful  incentive  to  invite  an 
intelligent,  enterprising,  and  wealthy  population  not  only  to  enjoy  all  the 
superior  natural  advantages  of  the  city  and  its  surroundings,  but  also  to 
enjoy  the  educational  fund  arising  from  the  purchase  of  their  homes  and  the 
value  of  the  property  resulting  from  their  own  enterprise  and  capital  in 
building  up  an  important  city." 

Another  of  the  later  developments  which  have  taken  place  within  the 
limits  of  the  State  is  that  of  the  Cheboygan  region,  and  for  the  only  satis 
factory  account  of  it  that  can  be  had,  we  are  indebted  to  Professor  N.  H. 
Winchell,  of  Ann  Arbor.  A  report  that  he  published  of  this  region  in 
1869  is  so  full  of  interest  that  we  subjoin  a  large  proportion  of  it,  as  fol 
lows  : 

The  Indian  word  (Chab-wa-e-gun)  of  which  Cheboygan  is  a  corruption, 
signifies  place  of  ore,  but  it  is  not  known  why  the  Indians  so  named  this 
region,  the  river  or  the  lake.  No  ore  to  justify  the  name  has  yet  been  dis 
covered. 

The  Cheboygan  and  its  tributaries  comprise  the  most  northern  river 
system  of  the  lower  peninsula,  its  outlet  into  Lake  Huron  being  within 
nine  miles  of  the  latitude  of  the  Straits  of  Mackinac.  Several  of  the  trib 
utaries  rise  as  far  south  as  the  mouth  of  Thunder  Bay  river,  in  the  heighth 
of  land  of  Otsego  county,  where  also  rise  the  Sauble  and  the  Manistee,  two 
of  the  largest  rivers  of  Michigan,  while  from  east  to  west  this  system  spans 
the  whole  peninsula,  its  most  western  source  being  within  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  of  the  head  of  Little  Traverse  Bay.  There  is  not  a  more  beautiful 
cluster  of  connected  inland  lakes  to  be  found  in  the  State,  or  in  any  other 
State,  than  those  which  find  outlet  through  the  Cheyboygan.  Mullett 
Lake,  within  ten  miles  of  Lake  Huron,  covers  about  thirty  square  miles,  or 
19,200  acres;  Burt's  Lake,  extending  twelve  miles  further  west,  covers 
about  the  same  area ;  Crooked  Lake,  eight  miles  still  farther  west,  about 
ten  square  miles,  or  6,400  acres;  Douglass  Lake,  with  the  small  lakes 
adjoining,  about  twelve  square  miles,  or  7,680  acres,  and  Cheboygan  Lake, 
about  twenty-five  square  miles,  or  16,000  acres.  The  water  of  these  lakes 
is  clear  and  pure,  and  contains  an  abundance  of  excellent  fish.  The 
famous  "  speckled  trout "  finds  its  favorite  haunts  in  these  waters,  and  for 
sporting  fishermen  there  is  no  more  attractive  region  in  the  United  States. 
The  district  occupied  by  these  lakes,  stretching  from  the  head  of  Little. 
Traverse  Bay  eastward  across  the  State,  is  dry,  elevated,  and  covered  with 
hard  wood  timber ;  and  hence  the  shores  of  the  lakes  are  rarely  low  or 
marshy.  The  streams  which  connect  them  generally  flow  with  a  smooth 
and  steady  current.  There  are  rapids,  however,  in  Cheboygan  river,  about 
a  mile  above  its  mouth,  where  water-power  mills  for  lumbering  and  for 
flouring  purposes  have  been  erected.  A  substantial  canal  and  lock  at  this 
place,  constructed  by  permission  of  the  State  Legislature,  to  aid  in  the  pas- 


RECENT  DEVELOPMENTS.  139 

sage  of  these  rapids,  and  the  dain  above,  somewhat  impede  the  navigation 
of  the  river,  as  they  are  regulated  by  the  local  convenience  of  the  mana 
gers.  Yet  their  capacity  is  sufficient  to  permit  the  passage  of  tugs  and 
scows  of  any  size  capable  of  navigating  the  river.  In  Black  river,  below 
Cheboygan  lake,  occurs  a  series  of  rapids,  which  extend  for  three  miles, 
having  an  aggregate  descent  of  between  fifty  and  sixty  feet.  This  water 
power  has  not  yet  been  improved.  The  country  adjacent  is  somewhat 
settled  by  farmers,  but  it  is  generally  an  unbroken  wilderness.  Black 
river,  above  Cheboygan  lake,  also  contains  rapids  in  which  there  is  a  per 
pendicular  fall,  in  some  places  of  four  or  five  feet.  These  occur  from  six  to 
ten  miles  above  the  lake.  At  this  place  the  bed  of  the  river  consists  of 
limestone  rock  in  situ,  but  at  the  rapids  below  Cheboygan  lake,  few  rocks 
are  visible,  except  metamorphic  boulders. 

The  soil  and  timber  of  the  Cheboygan  region  are  such  as  promise  to  make 
it,  when  cleared,  one  of  great  agricultural  resources.  The  soil  varies  within 
short  intervals,  so  that  a  single  farm  may  possess  such  a  diversity  of  soils  as 
to  adapt  it  to  the  culture  of  a  large  variety  of  products.  The  prevailing 
feature  of  the  soil  of  the  region  is  a  silico-calcareous  sand ;  yet  there  are 
places,  especially  along  the  branches  of  the  river  below  Mullett  and  Che 
boygan  Lakes,  and  extending  to  the  site  of  the  village  of  Cheboygan,  where 
the  clayey  element  is  most  prominent.  The  soil  in  some  places  is  a  copper- 
colored  clayey  loam ;  in  others  it  is  a  black  vegetable  loam,  resembling  the 
prairie  soil  of  Illinois.  Where  the  sandy  constituent  and  the  clay  or  loam 
become  mixed,  as  they  frequently  do,  a  very  superior  soil  for  agricultural 
purposes  results.  Much  of  the  country  is  rolling,  especially  where  the  clayey 
soil  predominates,  while  the  sandy  tracts  are  generally  level.  There  is  occa 
sionally  also,  a  patch  of  marly  soil,  which  when  plowed  crumbles  in  the 
atmosphere.  Soil  of  this  kind  occurs  on  the  east  and  north  shores  of  Mul 
let  Lake.  Calcareous  marl  is  often  found  also  in  the  bed  of  the  lakes, 
sometimes  in  the  form  of  pebbly  reefs  or  islands.  The  carbonate  of  lime  is 
deposited  from  the  water  on  little  fresh  water  shells,  (Planorbis,)  and  as  they 
:ire  rolled  by  the  ripples  they  increase  in  size  till  they  become  as  large  as 
walnuts.  Sometimes  they  become  crushed  and  form  a  calcareous  sand,  or 
eventually  a  calcareous  marl,  which  is  useful  not  only  as  a  fertilizer  of  the 
soil,  and  for  making  lime,  but  is  sometimes  mixed  directly  with  sand  to  form 
an  inferior  mortar,  or  with  water  to  form  a  whitewash. 

The  most  common  trees,  off  the  river  margins  and  the  low  lands,  are  beech, 
maple,  pine,  and  hemlock,  with  occasional  oaks  and  elms.  The  white  pine 
occurs  principally  along  the  streams,  where  it  is  mixed  with  other  timber, 
most  frequently  with  hemlock  or  Norway  pine.  The  Norway  pine  alone 
often  forms  extensive  orchard-like  tracts  on  the  sandy  plains.  Another 
common  but  worthless  species  of  pine,  known  among  the  lumber-men  as 
"  pitch  pine"  or  "  spruce  pine,"  is  a  scattered,  straggling  tree,  never  exceed 
ing  ten  inches  in  diameter,  properly  called  Bank's  pine,  (Pinus  Banksiana.) 
The  Jbeech  and  maple,  as  well  as  the  elm,  sometimes  grow  to  stately  dimen 
sions,  while  the  oaks  are  generally  small.  Of  course,  the  country  furnishes 
other  less  noticeable  species  of  timber,  as  iron-wood,  poplar,  balm  of  Gilead, 
white  birch,  ash,  and  bass,  while  the  ever-present  cedar,  larch,  and  spruce, 
of  the  northern  latitudes,  fill  up  the  low  lands.  There  is  no  butternut,  hick 
ory,  or  black- walnut ;  no  whitewood  or  chestnut. 

The  settlement  of  such  a  region,  of  course,  is  not  entirely  dependent  on  or 
controlled  by  the  lumber  interest.  Although  initial  impulse  may  have  been 
due  to  this  interest,  yet  the  settlement  of  the  Cheboygaii  region  lias  outgrown 
it,  and  has  developed  other  and  more  permanent  elements  of  prosperity. 


140  CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Permanency  in  a  new  settlement  must  be  based  upon  some  lasting  and 
important  resource.  In  the  Cheboygan  region,  strangely  enough,  that  re 
source  is,  or  will  soon  become,  chiefly  agricultural.  The  country  is  rapidly 
filling  up  with  farmers. 

The  farmers  raise  oats,  potatoes,  corn,  wheat,  in  short,  almost  anything 
that  can  be  raised  in  southern  Michigan,  though  not  always  with  the  same 
certainty.  Having  but  recently  settled  on  their  farms,  their  efforts  are 
mainly  expended  in  the  improvement  of  them,  and  in  the  production  of  a 
winter's  subsistence  for  themselves  and  their  stock.  Some  of  the  farmers 
told  the  writer  that  they  had  raised  wheat,  even  forty  bushels  to  the  acre, 
and  that  it  was  always  a  sure  crop.  One  old  settler  of  sixteen  years  ago, 
Mr.  E.  A.  Dodge,  on  Mullet  Lake,  raises,  together  with  the  products  of 
the  farm,  garden  vegetables  for  the  Cheboygan  market.  In  his  garden 
were  strawberries,  lettuce,  cucumbers,  cabbage,  onions,  etc.,  and  in  an 
adjoining  field  he  had  young  apple  and  cherry  trees,  and  several  choice 
varieties  of  grapes. 

Another  farmer  said  he  raised  from  three-fourths  of  a  bushel  of  winter 
wheat  a  crop  of  forty  bushels ;  and  from  ten  bushels  of  spring  wheat  he  re 
ceived  two  hundred  and  sixty-three  bushels.  The  cultivation  of  wheat  has 
not  been  carried  on  heretofore,  owing  to  the  lack  of  a  flouring-mill ;  and  it 
was  not  until  the  past  season  that  such  a  mill  was  supplied. 

Cheboygan  village  contains  about  800  inhabitants ;  stands  on  a  clayey 
soil ;  has  several  stores,  two  churches,  and  three  hotels.  Above  the  village, 
fields  of  wheat,  grass,  potatoes,  oats  and  peas  line  the  river  banks,  the  land 
on  both  sides  being  well  cleared.  In  the  channel  of  the  river  are  twelve- 
feet  of  water,  but  the  entrance  to  the  river  is  choked  by  a  bar  of  clay  and 
boulders.  This  obstruction  for  a  number  of  years  impeded  the  growth  of 
the  place,  by  shutting  off  communication  with  passing  steamers.  The 
officers  of  the  lake  survey  have  made  preliminary  examination  and  esti 
mates  for  the  dredging  of  a  channel  through  this  bar. 

Should  this  improvement  be  carried  out,  nothing  can  prevent  the  Che 
boygan  region  from  becoming  one  of  the  most  wealthy  and  important  por 
tions  of  the  Lake  Huron  shore. 

NOTR  FOR  PAGE  8*7. 

After  the  brief  allusion  to  the  Masonic  order,  it  was  intended,  as  a  matter  of  historical 
courtes}r,  to  mention  the  Order  of  Odd-Fellows  in  connection  with  Michigan,  and  we  do 
it  in  this  place.  The  date  of  introduction  in  the  State  was  the  year  1844  ;  the  first  and 
second  lodges  having  been  instituted  at  Detroit;  the  third  at  Pontiac;  the  fourth  at 
Jackson  ;  and  the  fifth  at  Marshall.  The  various  patriarchal  branches  were  also  estab 
lished  in  the  same  year.  The  Order  has  progressed  rapidly  in  the  State,  many  of  its 
best  citizens  taking  an  interest  in  its  success ;  so  that  at  the  present  time  the  total 
number  of  lodges  is  107  ;  the  number  of  members,  7,207;  amount  of  receipts  during  the 
last  year,  §41,749;  and  the  amount  expended  for  brothers  and  widows,  $7,221. 

NOTE  FOR  PAGE  107. 

It  is  too  soon  as  yet  to  give  the  result  of  the  census  for  1870,  but  for  purposes  of  refer 
ence  the  following  facts  are  submitted  respecting  the  nativities  of  the  population  of 
Michigan  in  18GO  :  Michigan,  294,828  ;  New  York,  191,128  ;  German  States,  38,787  ;  Brit 
ish  America,  36,482;  Ohio,  34,000:  Ireland,  30,049;  England,  25,743;  Pennsylvania, 
17,460;  Vermont,  13,779;  Massachusetts,  9,873;  Connecticut,  7,639;  New  Jersey,  7,531  ; 
Holland,  6,335;  Scotland,  5,705;  Indiana,  4,482;  New  Hampshire,  3,482;  France, 
2,446;  Maine,  2,214;  Virginia,  2,176;  Illinois,  2,167;  Wisconsin,  1,908;  Switzerland, 
1,269;  Rhode  Island,  1,122;  and  Kentucky,  1,054;  the  difference  between  the  above 
figures  and  the  total  population  of  749,113  having  been  born  in  a  great  variety  of  States 
and  countries.  It  is  supposed  that  the  census  of  1870  will  exhibit  the  same  ratio,  but 
a  total  population  nearly  twice  as  large. 


SECOND    I>ART. 

HISTORY  OP 

MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION, 


BY 


GENERAL  JOHN  ROBERTSON. 


HISTORY  OF 

MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


MILITARY  DEPARTMENT  OF  MICHIGAN— 1861  TO  1871. 


FROM 

TO 

Austin  Blair, 

Jackson, 

Gov.C'm-in-Cf 

Jan.     1,  1861 

Dec.  31,  1864 

Henry  H.  Crapo, 

Flint, 

((                           U 

Jan.     1,  1865 

Dec.  31,  1868 

H.  P.  Baldwin, 

Detroit, 

«                     « 

Jan.     1,  1869 

In  office. 

John  Robertson, 

Detroit, 

Adj.  General, 

Mar.  15,  1861 

In  office. 

J.  H.  Fountain, 

Manchester 

Q.M.  General, 

April   1,  1861 

Mar.  25,  1863 

Wm.  Hammond, 

Tekonsha, 

"     |Mar.  25,  1863 

Mar.  20,  1865 

Orrin  N.  Giddings, 

Kalamazoo, 

«            a 

Mar.  21,  1865 

Mar.  25,  1867 

Friend  Palmer,       Detroit, 

«            a 

Mar.  26,  1867 

In  office. 

James  E.  Pittman, 

Detroit, 

Paymaster, 

May  21,  1861 

Nov.    1,  1862 

James  E.  Pittman, 

Detroit, 

Insp.  General, 

Nov.    1,  1862 

Mar.  21,  1867 

Russell  A.  Alger, 

Detroit, 

a             « 

Mar.  21,  1867 

In  office. 

DeWitt  C.  Gage, 

E.  Saginaw, 

Judge  Adv. 

Mar.  10,  1865 

April  17,  1869 

L.  S.  Trowbridge, 

Detroit, 

a            a 

April  17,  1869 

In  office. 

Heber  Le  Favour, 

Detroit, 

Ass.  Adj.  Gen. 

April   1,  1861  June  14,  1861 

DeGarmo  Jones, 

Detroit, 

a                   a 

June  15,  1861  May    5,  1862 

Fred.  Morley,          Detroit, 

t(                   « 

May     6,  1862  Mar.  11,  1865 

Friend  Palmer,      i  Detroit, 

A.  Q.  M.  Gen. 

May  17,  1861  i  Mar.  26,  1867 

Eb.  O.  Grosvenor,  Jones  ville, 

Aid-de-Camp, 

May  15,  1861!  Mar.  10,  1865 

Wm.  Hammond,     Tekonsha, 

«             « 

May  15,  1861  Mar.  25,  1863 

John  F.  Miller,       Ann  Arbor, 

n            « 

Mav  15,  1861  1  Mar.  10,  1865 

Jerome  Croul,         Detroit, 

«             « 

May  15,  1861  1  Mar.  10,  1865 

James  A.  Dwight,  Ypsilanti, 

«            (( 

Oct.      1,  1863 

Mar.  10,  1865 

David  H.  Jerome,  Saginaw, 

((            « 

Mar.  10,  1865 

May  10,  1867 

H.  A.  Newland, 

Detroit, 

((            « 

Mar.  10,  1865 

April  17,  1869 

Ch.  J.  Dickerson, 

Hillsdale, 

«                           K 

Mar.  10,  1865  In  office. 

Jas.  W.  Romeyn, 
William  Phelps, 
Milo  E.  Gifford, 

Detroit, 
Detroit, 
Plain-well, 

fl                           « 
((                           « 

«                   « 

May     6,  1865!  April  17,  1869 
May  10,  1867  April  17,  1869 
April  17,  1869IIn  office. 

Alfred  B.  Wood, 

E.  Saginaw, 

t(                   tf 

April  17,  1869  In  office. 

G.  S.  Wormer, 
Wm.  K.  Gibson, 

Detroit, 
Jackson, 

((                   ft 

Mil.  Secretary 

April  17,  1869,  In  office. 
May  15,  1861  Sept.  13,  1862 

Eugene  Pringle, 

Jackson, 

((            « 

Sept.  13,  1862lMar.  10,  1865 

Isaac  Delano, 

Flint, 

«             « 

Mar.  10,  1865  Sept.  16,  1865 

Thomas  J.  Cobb, 

Flint, 

«             « 

Sept.  16,  1865IDec.  31,  1868 

144 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


FROM 

TO 

F.  G.  Russell, 

Detroit, 

Ste.Mil.Board  April  17,  1869 

In  office. 

A.  S.  Williams, 

Detroit, 

"      Mar.  11,  1859  Sept.  19,  1861 

A.  W.  Williams, 

Lansing, 

«            i< 

Mar.  11,  1859!  April  25,  1861 

H.  M.  Whittlesev,   Detroit7 

«            « 

Mar.  11,  1859  Sept.  19,  1861 

C.  W.  Leffingwell. 

Gr.  Rapids, 

a            « 

Mar.  11,  1859  Sept.  19,  1861 

John  Robertson, 

Detroit, 

it            <t 

Mar.  15,  1861 

Jan.  18,  1862 

J.  H.  Fountain, 

Manchester 

«            « 

April   1,  1861 

Jan.  18,  1862 

Win.  M.  Fenton, 

Flint, 

«            « 

June  17,  1861 

Aug.    7,  1861 

E.  H.  Thomson, 

Flint, 

((                  a 

Aug.  13,  1861  Dec.     6,  1862 

Eb.  O.  Grosvenor, 

Jonesville, 

«                  (i 

Sept.  19,  1861  Mar.  11,  1865 

John  F.  Miller, 

Ann  Arbor, 

K                  (( 

Sept.  19,  1861  Jan.  31,  1862 

James  E.  Pittman, 

Detroit, 

it                  « 

Sept.  19,  1861  |Dec.     6,  1862 

Win.  Hammond,     Tekonsha, 

"      Jan.  31,  1862 

Mar.  25,  1863 

Jerome  Croul,         'Detroit, 

"     IJan.  31,  1862 

In  office. 

N.  B.  Eldridge,      |Lapeer, 

«                           (C 

Jan.  31,  1862 

Dec.     6,  1862 

Omar  D.  Conger, 

Port  Huron, 

(I                 (( 

Dec.     6,  1862 

Jan.   19,  1869 

A.  T.  Grossman, 

Flint, 

((                 (i 

Dec.     6,  1862:  In  office. 

James  A.  Dwight, 

Ypsilanti, 

((                     « 

May  23,  1864  Mar.  11,  1865 

David  H.  Jerome, 

Saginaw, 

((                  (( 

Mar.  11,  1865 

In  office. 

Henry  L.  Hall, 

Hillsdale, 

i(                     « 

Mar.    5,1867 

In  office. 

S.  M.  Cutcheon, 

Ypsilanti, 

((                     « 

Jan.   19,  1869 

In  office. 

J.H.Edwards, 

Detroit, 

Cl'kA.G.office 

Dec.         1862 

Dec.         1864 

David  Wallace, 

Detroit, 

a            « 

April,       1863  Aug.         1865 

Geo.  G.  Wileox, 

Detroit, 

«            « 

June,        1863  In  office. 

Edw.  M.  Simons, 

Detroit, 

«             ( 

June,        1863|May,        1866 

Frank  G.  Baker,    i  Detroit, 

«             < 

Julv,        1864  Sept.,       1865 

Phillip  M.  Crapo,  I  Flint, 

'     iFeb'y,      1865|Dec.,        1867 

David  S.  Snow, 

Flint, 

«             < 

March,     1865;  March,     1867 

Wm.  R.  Noble, 

Detroit, 

«             ( 

August,    1865  'June,        1867 

Win.  J.  Handy,     |  Detroit, 

((             « 

Jan'v,      1866:April,       1869 

William  Hart* 

Adrian, 

ClkQ.M.Dept 

June,        1861  March,     1864 

Darwin  W.  Pratt, 

Detroit, 

«            « 

Sept.        1863INOV.,       1863 

Frank  S.  Clark, 

Detroit, 

«            « 

Jan.         1864April,      1867 

J.  T.  Hammond, 

Tekonsha, 

«<            « 

Mar.         1864!  May,        1865 

J.  A.  Fairfield, 
Frank  G.  Baker, 

Detroit, 
Detroit, 

"      Feb'y,      1864  April,       1864 
"      May,        1864  July,        1864 

T.  F.  Giddings,       Kalamazoo, 

"      Sept.,        1865jNov.,        1865 

Thomas  Kilcy,        Detroit, 

State  Armorer  April,      1862 

In  office. 

PREFATORY    NOTES. 

Michigan,  by  her  love  for  the  "Old  Flag,"  by  her  loyalty  and  patriotism, 
by  her  great  and  bloody  sacrifice,  and  by  the  unbounded  zeal  and  liberality 
of  her  people  in  the  cause  of  the  Union,  especially  by  the  bravery,  efficiency, 
and  great  prowess  of  her  troops  in  the  field,  has  acquired  an  exalted  position 
among^her  sister  States,  and  is  justly  the  recipient  of  much  credit  for  her 
part  in  suppressing  the  rebellion. 

The  propriety  and  duty  of  having  an  authentic  historical  record  of  the 

Eart  borne  in  that  sanguinary  struggle  by  her  soldiers  and  people,  and  which 
as  made  her  fame  so  national  in  this  respect,  will  be  universally  admitted. 


PREFATORY  NOTES.  145 

The  great  necessity  for  a  published  work  embracing  as  much  as  possible 
of  the  subject  had  impressed  the  mind  of  the  compiler  so  long  and  so  forci 
bly,  and  the  matter  failing  to  receive  the  attention  of  others,  induced,  and 
it  may  be  said,  compelled  him,  from  a  sense  of  duty  to  the  State  and  her 
troops  in  the  late  war,  to  attempt  its  production. 

In  undertaking  it,  he  is  fully  aware  that  much  more  responsibility  has 
been  assumed  than  is  successfully  or  satisfactorily  met,  and  he  is  very  sen 
sible  of  the  fact  that  the  subject  ought  to  have  fallen  in  more  capable 
hands. 

For  the  defects,  errors,  or  omissions,  which  unavoidably  occur  in  a  work 
of  this  description,  the  compiler  trusts  that  he  will  be  excused  or  pardoned, 
in  consideration  .of  an  honest  and  anxious  desire,  and  a  most  earnest  en 
deavor  to  effect  the  purpose  he  had  in  view. 

In  its  arrangement,  it  has  been  deemed  best,  for  several  reasons,  to  refrain 
from  the  introduction  of  biographical  matter,  and  from  referring  to  any  of 
the  causes  to  which  the  war  is  chargeable,  as  neither  could  have  been  in 
cluded  without  extending  the  work  beyond  the  proposed  limit,  or  reducing 
much  the  narrative  of  special  services  of  regiments,  which  was  not  desirable. 

The  compilation  has,  in  the  main,  been  made  from  the  records  of  the 
State  military  departments,  the  written  reports  of  commanding  officers  of 
regiments,  and  other  official  papers,  consequently  the  work  is  presumed  to 
be  substantially  accurate  and  reliable,  and  is  as  full  as  circumstances  would 
permit. 

It  is  necessarily  a  condensed  and  very  brief  narrative  of  the  operations 
of  Michigan  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  and  giving  only  very  limited  sketches 
of  a  few  of  the  engagements  of  her  brave  regiments  in  the  field,  merely 
glancing  at  some  of  the  more  prominent  encounters  with  the  enemy  in  their 
long  and  varied  service.  To  include  more  at  this  time  has  been  deemed 
impracticable ;  yet,  as  these  special  selections  are  truthfully  characteristic 
of  their  entire  conflicts  in  the  war,  conclusions  may  easily  be  arrived  at  as 
to  what  they  were  in  general. 

They  are  sketches  of  the  part  taken  by  the  regiments  in  encounters  with 
the  enemy,  in  which  they  were  specially  or  heavily  engaged,  or  conspicu 
ously  distinguished,  illustrating  in  a  degree  their  fighting  qualities  and  gen 
eral  efficiency.  In  their  selection,  commandants  of  regiments  have  uni 
formly  been  consulted,  and  the  data  from  which  the  sketches,  are  drawn 
were  mostly  supplied  by  them,  to  whom,  and  the  Michigan  officers  generally, 
the  compiler  is  under  many  obligations  for  reports  and  other  documents 
covering  particular  operations  of  their  respective  regiments,  which  have  aided 
much  in  their  preparation. 

No  attempt  is  made  to  claim  for  Michigan,  or  for  her  troops,  any  particular 
or  special  merit,  or  more  than  an  equal  credit  with  all  other  States  and  their 
troops  for  the  part  taken  by  them  in  the  war  for  the  Union.  For  it  must 
be  conceded  that  in  all  the  times  that  shall  come  claims  cannot  be  success 
fully  sustained  by  any  particular  State  for  any  special  portion  of  the  honor 
of  preserving  the  Union.  All  that  any  can  reasonably  undertake  and 
accomplish  in  this  respect  will  be  to  truthfully  represent  as  far  as  possible 
their  own  action,  and  the  services  rendered  by  their  troops,  there  leaving 
the  matter. 

If  any  particular  battle  could  be  selected  and  designated  as  the  action  m 
which  the  backbone  of  the  rebellion  was  broken  and  finally  suppressed,  then, 
on  a  comparison  of  the  services  of  the  troops  of  the  various  States  in  that 
engagement,  a  verdict  might  possibly  be  rendered ;  but  no  such  selection 
can  be  made  nor  any  such  conclusion  arrived  at.  For  all  time  it  must  be 

J 


146  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

decided  that  the  Rebellion  was  uot  destroyed  in  any  single  battle,  but  by  the 
continued  hammering  of  the  entire  Union  armies  during  the  four  long  years 
of  fearful  and  bloody  war ;  and  the  accursed  and  hideous  monster  was 
beaten,  baffled,  starved,  worn  to  a  helpless  skeleton,  and  then,  while  in  the 
act  of  begging  for  bread  and  quarter,  was  toppled  over  into  its  selected  rest 
ing  place,  to  die  an  unwilling  and  humiliating  death. 

But  it  is  claimed,  in  all  candor,  that  no  State  evinced  more  loyalty  to  the 
Union,  or  more  determination  to  maintain  its  life  and  honor,  than  did  Mich 
igan  ;  that  no  troops  in  all  the  Union  armies  gave  better  or  more  conclusive 
evidence  of  true  courage,  efficiency,  and  patriotism,  or  exhibited  a  more 
supreme  love  for  the  great  cause  in  which  they  were  engaged,  or  rendered 
more  valuable  or  gallant  service  than  did  hers. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

The  outbreak  of  the  American  Rebellion  in  1861,  and  the  formidable 
onset  of  the  rebels  in  arms,  which,  unfortunately,  found  all  departments  of 
the  National  Government  unprepared  for  its  fearful  emergencies,  came 
unanticipated  and  unprovided  for  upon  all  the  States  whose  authorities 
were  not  participants  in  or  privy  to  the  conspiracy. 

The  people  to  whom  war  was  then  only  a  name,  and  not  a  dreadful  fact, 
and  who  had  for  years  been  garnering  the  rich  harvests  of  peace,  amid 
great  commercial  prosperity  and  social  tranquility,  refused  to  credit  the 
predictions  and  threatenings  of  a  coming  eclipse  on  the  peace  of  the  nation, 
until  its  terrible  shadow  had  fallen  upon  them. 

The  disruption  of  the  Union  had  been  threatened  so  often  and  so  cause 
lessly,  that  busy  men  regarded  it  only  as  a  common  rallying  cry  of  unscru 
pulous  politicians,  and  rarely  or  never  admitted,  even  in  thought,  that  it 
might  suddenly  become  a  fearful  reality.  It  was  only  when  the  guns  of 
rebel  batteries  were  fired  at  Fort  Sumter,  and  shot  and  shell  riddled  the 
national  flag,  that  the  self-deception  of  the  patriots  of  the  land  ceased ; 
that  the  dreadful  responsibilities  of  the  crisis  were  acknowledged  and 
accepted ;  and  that  the  people  determined  upon  the  action  that  was  instantly 
needed. 

The  manner  in  which  existing  deficiencies  were  supplied,  the  necessities 
of  the  times  met,  the  constantly  augmenting  burdens  of  the  struggle  borne, 
and  the  whole  problem  solved  so  triumphantly  at  last,  furnishes  some  of 
the  imperishable  pages  of  history. 

Michigan,  in  common  with  her  sister  States  of  the  North,  never  actually 
nor  impliedly  conceded  the  possibility  of  a  civil  war  until  the  first  blow 
was  struck  and  the  light  of  treason  burst  from  Sumter's  walls.  Her  people, 
thoroughly  loyal  in  all  the  fires  of  their  being,  did  not  expect  it  in  others ; 
and  in  politics,  as  in  law,  they  proposed  to  hold  all  innocent  until  guilt  was 
indisputably  proven.  Thus  there  was  no  preliminary  arming  for  the  ter 
rible  conflict,  no  antecedent  training,  no  husbanding  of  resources,  no  abate 
ment  of  encumbrances,  no  occupancy  of  advantageous  position,  and  the 
enemy  vigorously  assailed  the  walls  while  the  unthinking  garrison  were  yet 
engaged  in  the  avocations  of  peace,  and  the  rusty  weapons  were  yet  stacked 
in  their  quiet  places  of  years  past. 

The  census  of  Michigan  for  1860  showed  a  population  of  751,110.  The 
number  of  able-bodied  men  capable  of  military  service  was  estimated  in 
official  documents  of  that  date  at  110,000.  The  State  debt  at  the  close  of 
that  year  was  $2,228,842.79,  besides  8100,000  in  canal  bonds,  which  the 
State  had  guaranteed,  and  the  actual  value  of  the  taxable  property  of  the 


INTRODUCTORY.  147 

f^tate  was  estimated  at  $275,000,000.  The  financial  embarrassments  of  our 
Commonwealth  were,  however,  neither  few  nor  unimportant,  and  an  annual 
tax  of  $226,250  was  deemed  a  grievous  burden. 

The  militia  department  of  the  State  was  in  a  very  feeble  condition, 
caused  by  lack  of  the  necessary  pecuniary  aid  to  encourage  its  numerical 
strength  and  efficiency.  Yet  feeble  as  it  was,  it  formed  a  nucleus  from 
which  were  rallied  the  first  regiments  sent  to  the  field  in  defense  of  the 
Union,  and  from  it  germed  much  of  the  esprit  de  corps  and  superior  military 
appearance,  coupled  with  the  general  efficiency,  which  characterized  the 
earlier  Michigan  troops,  and,  indeed,  which  pervaded  all  the  Michigan 
regiments  throughout  the  Avar. 

For  what  was  valuable  in  the  militia  at  that  time  the  State  was  more 
indebted  to  Colonel  F.  W.  Curtenius,  of  Kalamazoo,  who  had  been  Adju 
tant-General  for  several  years,  and  up  to  1861,  than  to  any  provisions  of 
her  laws. 

The  companies  then  organized,  and  which  constituted  the  entire  available 
militia  force,  were  twenty-eight  in  number,  and  their  aggregate  strength 
was  1,241  officers  and  men.  For  the  support  of  this  military  establishment 
the  State  annually  spent  the  enormous  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars, 
appropriated  for  that  purpose  by  the  Legislature. 

Notwithstanding  these  physical  disadvantages,  the  morale  of  the  people 
was  true  as  steel.  On  retiring  from  the  Gubernatorial  chair,  at  the  close 
of  his  term  in  1860,  the  lamented  Moses  Wisner  addressed  a  cogent  and 
eloquent  valedictory  message  to  the  new  Legislature. 

After  presenting,  in  careful  summaries,  all  the  essential  facts  in  reference 
to  the  manifold  and  important  material  interests  of  the  State,  he  then  pro 
ceeded  to  a  discussion  of  the  grave  situation  of  national  politics,  over  which 
an  unprecedented  sombre  hue  had  been  cast,  by  the  recent  passage  in 
various  Southern  States  of  ordinances  of  secession.  In  the  language  used  at 
that  critical  moment  by  our  Executive  there  was  no  shadow  of  faltering, 
no  tinge  of  disaffection,  no  uncertain  sound.  It  breathed  devotion  to  the 
Union  in  every  sentence,  and  for  the  maintenance  thereof  at  all  hazards 
every  paragraph  was  a  stirring  argument.  We  quote  these  inspiring  utter 
ances  which  then  fell  upon  the  ear  of  patriots,  amid  doubt,  disloyalty,  and 
clanger,  like  tidings  of  better  days  and  harbingers  of  future  glory  :  "  This 
is  no  time  for  timid  and  vaccillating  councils,  when  the  cry  of  treason  and 
rebellion  is  ringing  in  our  ears."  "  The  Constitution  as  our  fathers  made  it 
is  good  enough  for  us,  and  must  be  enforced  upon  every  foot  of  American 
soil."  "  Michigan  cannot  recognize  the  right  of  a  State  to  secede  from  this 
Union.  We  believe  that  the  founders  of  our  Government  designed  it  to  be 
perpetual,  and  we  cannot  consent  to  have  one  star  obliterated  from  our  flag. 
For  upwards  of  thirty  years  this  question  of  the  right  of  a  State  to  secede 
has  been  agitated.  It  is  time  it  was  settled.  We  ought  not  to  leave  it  for 
our  children  to  look  after."  "  I  would  calmly  but  firmly  declare  it  to  be 
the  fixed  determination  of  Michigan  that  the  Federal  Constitution,  the 
rights  of  the  States,  must  and  shall  be  preserved."  These  glowing  words, 
this  noble  advice,  were  enforced  by  the  personal  and  patriotic  services  of 
their  author  and  giver,  and  fidelity  to  the  national  interests,  and  the  great 
love  of  country  which  prompted  them,  added  the  honored  name  of  Moses 
"Wisner  to  the  long  lists  of  martyrs  to  the  cause  of  the  Union  offered  by  our 
State. 

Simultaneously  with  the  valedictory  of  Governor  Wisner,  the  Legislature 
of  1861  listened  to  the  inaugural  of  liis  successor,  Austin  Blair.  The  man 
tle  of  Elijah  had  fallen  upon  a  fitting  Elisha ;  and  a  profound  and  philo- 


148  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

sophical  discussion  of  the  true  nature  of  our  complex  system  of  government, 
and  of  the  real  signification  of  the  existing  and  impending  issues,  was  closed 
with  these  emphatic  and  telling  utterances :  "We  arc  satisfied  with  the  Con 
stitution  of  our  country,  and  will  obey  the  laws  enacted  under  it,  and  we 
must  demand  that  the  people  of  all  the  other  States  do  the  same;  safety  lies 
in  this  path  alone.  The  Union  must  be  preserved,  and  the  laws  must  be 
enforced  in  all  parts  of  it  at  whatever  cost.  The  President  is  bound  to  this 
by  his  oath,  and  no  power  can  discharge  him  from  it.  Secession  is  revolu 
tion,  and  revolution  in  the  overt  act  is  treason,  and  must  be  treated  as  such. 
The  Federal  Government  has  the  power  to  defend  itself,  and  I  do  not  doubt 
that  that  power  will  be  exercised  to  the  utmost.  It  is  a  question  of  war 
that  the  seceding  States  have  to  look  in  the  face.  They  who  think  that  this 
powerful  Government  can  be  disrupted  peacefully  have  read  history  to  no 
purpose.  The  sons  of  the  men  who  carried  arms  in  the  seven  years  war 
with  the  most  powerful  nation  in  the  world,  to  establish  this  Government, 
will  not  hesitate  to  make  equal  sacrifices  to  maintain  it.  Most  deeply  must 
we  deplore  the  unnatural  contest.  On  the  heads  of  the  traitors  who  pro 
voke  it  must  rest  the  responsibility.  In  such  a  contest  the  God  of  battles 
has  no  attribute  that  can  take  sides  with  the  revolutionists  of  the  slave 
States. 

"I  recommend  you  at  an  early  day  to  make  manifest  to  the  gentlemen 
who  represent  this  State  in  the  two  Houses  of  Congress,  and  to  the  country, 
that  Michigan  is  loyal  to  the  Union,  the  Constitution,  and  the  laws,  and 
will  defend  them  to  the  uttermost;  and  to  proffer  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States  the  whole  military  power  of  the  State  for  that  purpose.  Oh ! 
for  the  firm,  steady  hand  of  a  Washington,  or  a  Jackson,  to  guide  the  ship 
of  state  in  this  perilous  storm.  Let  us  hope  that  we  shall  find  him  on  the 
4th.  of  March.  Meantime,  let  us  abide  in  the  faith  of  our  fathers — '  Liberty 
and  Union,  one  and  inseparable,  now  and  forever.'  " 

Marshalled  by  such  leaders,  and  also  inspired  by  its  own  invincible  amor 
patrce,  the  Legislature  was  neither  timid  nor  slow  in  unfurling  its  colors  to 
the  breeze,  and  in  joint  resolutions  offered  on  February  2d,  1861,  it  declared 
its  adherence  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  pledged  to  and  ten 
dered  it  all  its  military  power  and  material  resources,  and  declared  that 
concession  or  compromise  was  not  to  be  entertained  or  offered  to  traitors. 
Still  nothing  definite  was  done — no  actual  defensive  or  aggressive  military 
steps  were  taken — until  rebel  foolhardiness  precipitated  the  struggle  that 
had  become  inevitable  by  converging  upon  Fort  Suinter  the  fire  of  the 
encircling  batteries  of  Charleston  Harbor. 

On  April  12,  1861,  the  news  was  received  at  Detroit  that  the  rebels  at 
Charleston  had  actually  inaugurated  civil  war  by  firing  upon  Fort  Suinter. 
This  intelligence  created  much  excitement,  and  in  view  of  the  uncertainty 
of  coming  events,  the  people,  much  alarmed,  commenced  looking  around  to 
estimate  how  united  they  would  be  in  the  cause  of  the  Union.  On  the  fol 
lowing  day  a  meeting  of  the  Detroit  bar,  presided  over  by  the  venerable 
Judge  Ross  Wilkins,  was  held,  and  resolutions  were  adopted  pledging  that 
community  to  "stand  by  the  Government  to  the  last,"  and  repudiating  the 
treason  of  the  South.  By  the  following  Monday,  (April  loth,)  when  the 
surrender  of  the  South  Carolina  fortress  was  known  throughout  the  land, 
and  the  call  of  the  President  for  75,000  volunteers  had  been  received,  the 
entire  State  was  alive  to  the  emergencies  and  duties  of  the  hour,  and  the 
uprising  of  the  people  was  universal.  Public  meetings  were  held  in  all  the 
cities  and  in  most  of  the  towns — even  in  the  Christian  churches — pledges 
of  assistance  to  the  nation  in  its  hour  of  peril  made,  and  volunteering  briskly 


INTRODUCTORY.  140 

commenced.  In  all  portions  of  the  State  the  watchfires  of  patriotism  were 
kindled,  blazing  with  an  inspiring  brightness,  and  the  cheering  illumination 
spread  all  over  the  land,  as  this  lyric  will  testify : 

Trumpet,  and  ensign,  and  drum-beat  are  calling, 

From  hillside  and  valley,  from  mountain  and  river, 
"Forward  the  flag!"  e'en  though  heroes  are  falling, 
Our  God  will  His  own  chosen  standard  deliver. 

"  Union  and  Freedom  !"  our  war-cry  is  rolling, 

Now  o'er  the  prairie,  now  wide  o'er  the  billow, 
Hark  !  'tis  the  battle,  and  soon  will  be  tolling 

The  knell  of  the  soldier,  who  rests  'neath  the  willow. 

Banner  triumphant !  though  grand  is  thy  story, 
We'll  stamp  on  thy  folds  in  this  struggle  to-day, 

Deeds  of  our  armies,  transcending  in  glory, 
The  bravest  yet  chanted  in  poesy's  lay. 

Wise  were  our  fathers,  and  brave  in  the  battle, 

But  treason  uprises  their  Union  to  sever. 
Rouse  for  the  fight!  shout  loud  'mid  war's  rattle, 

The  Union  must  triumph,  must  triumph  forever! 

Trumpet,  and  ensign,  and  drum-beat  are  calling, 

From  hillside  and  valley,  from  mountain  and  river, 
"  Forward  the  flag!"  e'en  though  heroes  are  falling, 
Our  God  will  His  own  chosen  standard  deliver.* 

Fortunate  in  her  Executive  and  Legislative  departments,  and  equally  so 
in  the  management  of  her  interests  at  the  National  Capital,  having  men  of 
influence  connected  with  several  Departments  who  loved  the  reputation  of 
their  State,  and  ever  ready  and  anxious  to  advance  her  cause,  especially  so 
in  her  representatives  in  both  houses  of  Congress,  Michigan  fearlessly 
launched  her  bark  on  the  turbulent  sea  of  rebellion  and  war. 

On  Tuesday,  April  16th,  Governor  Blair  arrived  in  Detroit,  and  in  the 
afternoon  met  a  large  number  of  leading  citizens  and  capitalists  of  that 
city  at  the  Michigan  Exchange.  The  State  had  been  called  upon  to  imme 
diately  furnish  to  the  General  Government  one  infantry  regiment,  fully 
armed,  clothed,  and  equipped. 

It  was  estimated  that  $100,000  would  be  immediately  required  to  defray 
the  necessary  expense  of  organizing  the  regiment,  but  the  treasury  was 
empty,  and  State  finances  so  situated,  that  this  pressing  call  could  not  be 
immediately  met.  Upon  the  laying  of  these  facts  before  the  meeting  by  the 
Hon.  John  Owen,  State  Treasurer,  a  resolution  was  passed  pledging  Detroit 
to  loan  the  State  $50,000,  and  calling  upon  the  people  throughout  the  State 
to  make  a  like  advance.  A  subscription  paper  was  also  circulated  upon 
the  spot,  and  the  sum  of  $23,000  pledged  by  those  present. 

Commitees  were  also  appointed  to  solicit  further  subscriptions  in  the 
city,  and  to  aid  the  Governor  in  his  undertaking.  This  liberal  and  prompt 
action  at  this  opportune  moment  furnished  the  sinews  of  war  for  the  time 
being.  With  these  pledges  of  the  people  in  hand,  and  his  own  good  credit, 
Mr.  Owen  succeeded  in  raising  a  sum  sufficient  to  enable  the  Executive  to 
commence  the  clothing  and  equipment  of  troops,  which  sum,  and  all  others 
obtained  in  like  manner  for  this  purpose,  were  assumed  by  the  State  on  the 
assembling  of  the  Legislature.  During  the  same  day  a  proclamation  was 
issued  by  the  Governor,  calling  for  ten  companies  of  volunteers,  and  ordering 


Flag  song  of  Michigan  troops  in  1861. — By  D.  Betbuue  Duffield. 


150  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

the  Adjutant-General  to  accept  the  first  ten  companies  that  should  offer, 
and-  making  it  the  duty  of  that  officer  to  issue  all  the  necessary  orders  and 
instructions  in  detail.  The  movement  thus  inaugurated  did  not  slacken  in 
impetus  nor  lessen  in  ardor.  The  State  responded  to  the  call  of  its  autho 
rities  most  promptly.  The  patriotism  of  the  people  was  in  a  blaze.  War 
meetings  were  held  in  every  town,  and  the  tenders  of  troops  from  all  points 
in  the  State  far  exceeded  the  requisitions  yet  made  by  the  General  Govern 
ment.  The  necessary  loan  was  readily  taken,  mostly  by  our  own  people, 
and  all  the  duties  of  the  hour  .were  promptly  met  and  discharged. 

On  April  23d  the  Governor  issued  his  proclamation  convening  the  Legis 
lature  in  extra  session  at  Lansing,  on  the  7th  of  May.  On  the  following 
day,  April  24th,  the  order  was  issued  from  the  Adjutant-General's  office  for 
organizing  the  1st  regiment  of  infantry  and  appointing  its  field  officers;  its 
rendezvous  was  fixed  at  Fort  Wayne,  and  the  immediate  assembling  there 
of  its  various  companies  ordered.  Authority  had  also  been  given  for  the 
raising  of  the  Coldwater  Battery,  afterwards  known  as  Loomis's.  The 
battery  was  rapidly  recruited,  and  the  horses  therefor  were  purchased  with 
funds  loaned  to  the  State  by  the  citizens  of  Coldwater.  It  was  at  once 
ordered  to  Fort  Wayne,  where  its  equipment  was  completed.  The  2d  regi 
ment  was  also  hurriedly  recruited,  and  its  companies  concentrated  at  Can 
tonment  Blair,  Detroit.  On  May  2d  the  companies  of  the  1st  regiment 
were  mustered  into  the 'service  of  the  United  States.  Meanwhile  two  other 
regiments,  the  3d  and  4th,  had  been  formed,  and  were  accepted  by  the 
State  conditionally,  it  being  apprehended  that  they  would  not  be  needed.  The 
3d  went  into  camp  at  Grand  Rapids,  and  the  4th  at  Adrian. 

The  Legislature  met,  pursuant  to  call,  on  the  7th,  and  the  Governor 
addressed  to  them  a  stirring  message,  in  which  he  detailed  the  work  already 
accomplished,  and  asked  the  Legislature  to  legalize  what  had  already  been 
done,  and  invest  the  State  authorities  with  sufficient  power  for  the  future. 

Within  a  session  of  four  days  laws  were  passed,  clothing  the  Governor 
with  power  to  raise  ten  regiments  and  a  war  loan  of  one  million  dollars. 

Fully  aware  of  the  valuable  and  patriotic  services  to  be  required  of  the 
soldiers  of  the  State,  and  of  the  great  sacrifices  which  must  be  made  by 
their  families  in  their  absence,  and,  at  the  same  time,  anticipating  that  some 
might  be  left  unprovided  for,  or  might  be  brought  to  want  by  the  contin 
gencies  or  casualties  of  war,  the  Legislature  wisely  enacted  the  "Soldiers' 
Relief  Law"  for  the  relief  of  their  families  by  counties,  allowing  more  or 
less,  according  to  their  circumstances,  but  not  exceeding  fifteen  dollars  per 
month.  This  allowance,  in  case  of  the  death  of  the  soldier,  to  continue  for 
one  year  after  such  death. 

On  May  13th  the  first  regiment  left  for  the  seat  of  war  fully  armed  and 
equipped. 

Under  the  new  legislation  the  organizing  of  regiments  was  rapidly  pushed 
and  the  various  requisitions  upon  the  State  for  men  promptly  and  expe- 
ditiously  met. 

The  troops  were  ordered  to  be  clothed,  equipped  and  subsisted  under  the 
direction  of  the  Quartermaster-General  of  the  State  on  contracts  made  by 
the  Military  Contract  Board,  organized  May  loth  by  legislative  authority. 
This  Board  was  composed  of  Colonels  E.  O.  Grosvenor  of  Jonesville,  Jerome 
Croul  of  Detroit,  and  William  Hammond  of  Marshall.  Their  duties  were 
accomplished  with  much  individual  ability,  great  energy,  coupled  with  an 
exemplary  economy,  and  relieving  the  Quartermaster-General  from  much 
responsibility  and  labor. 

The  State  Military  Board  was  then  composed  of  General  A.  S.  Williams 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  151 

and  Colonel  II.  M.  Whittelscy  of  Detroit,  Col.  A.  W.  Williams  of  Lansing, 
and  Col.  C.  W.  LcfFrngwcll  of  Grand  Rapids,  together  with  the  Adjutant- 
General  and  Quartermaster-General  of  the  State,  members  ex  officio. 

In  June  following  Col.  Wm.  M.  Fenton  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
Board  in  place  of  Col.  Williams,  who  had  gone  to  the  field  with  the  2nd 
Infantry.  Col.  Fenton  having  entered  the  service,  Col.  E.  H.  Thomson 
succeeded  him,  and  on  the  13th  of  August  was  elected  President  of  the 
Board. 

J.  II.  Fountain  of  Manchester  had  been  appointed  Quartermaster-General 
in  iMarch,  and  was  a  faithful  and  energetic  officer.  He  was  ably  aided  in 
his  arduous  duties  by  Friend  Palmer  of  Detroit  who  was  appointed  his  assist 
ant  in  Way  following.  This  officer,  now  Quartermaster-General,  having 
served  several  years  in  the  U.  S.  Quartermaster's  Department,  rendered 
invaluable  services  to  the  State  during  the  entire  war,  and  to  him  the  State 
is  greatly  indebted  for  the  efficient  and  economical  direction  given  to  the 
administration  of  that  Department. 

General  Fountain  was  succeeded  as  Quartermaster-General  by  General 
William  Hammond  of  Marshall  inarch  25th,  1863,  who  served  until  March 
21st,.  1865,  when  he  was  relieved  by  Gen.  O.  N.  Giddings  of  Kalamazoo. 
Both  these  officers  served  with  marked  ability  and  faithfulness. 

General  Palmer,  the  present  Quartermaster-General,  followed  General 
Giddings. 

Colonel  James  E.  Pittman  of  Detroit  was  appointed  State  Paymaster  on 
the  21st  of  May,  1861,  for  the  purpose  of  paying  such  Michigan  troops  as 
received  pay  from  the  State,  a  duty  which  he  most  faithfully  executed.  He 
also  served  as  a  member  of  the  State  Military  Board,  from  September  19th, 
1861,  until  November  1st,  1862,  when  he  was  commissioned  as  Inspector- 
General  of  the  State. 

When  the  war  commenced  GeneralJolm  Robertson  held  the  appointment 
of  Adjutant-General,  and  still  acts  in  that  capacity. 

On  April  1st,  1861,  Captain  Heber  Le  Favour  was  appointed  Assistant 
Adjutant-General,  and  served  until  June  15th  following,  when  he  volun 
teered  fbr  field  service,  being  relieved  by  Captain  DC  Garmo  Jones,  who 
resigned  May  6th,  1862.  Both  of  these  officers  served  with  marked  effici 
ency.  Colonel  Frederick  Morlcy  immediately  succeeded  Captain  Jones, 
and  served  with  eminent  ability  and  distinction  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
rendering  arduous  and  valuable  services  as  Assistant  Adjutant-General  of 
the  State. 

NOTE. — The  following  telegram  was  sent  over  the  wires,  in  the  form  given  below,  and 
delivered  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  Michigan  with  great  secrecy.  It  is  inserted  for 
the  purpose  of  showing  the  agitation  and  distrust  manifested  among  the  Western 
people  iu  the  early  days  of  the  war.  The  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company,  at  whose 
instance  the  dispatch  was  made,  feared  a  raid  on  their  line,  and  were  preparing  to 
meet  it: 

CHICAGO,  April  — ,  1861. 

Others  and,  Chicago  Mayor,  Governor  our  by  signed  Blair  Governor  to  directed  mes 
sage  have,  secret  profound  a  this  keep  to  and,  want  immediate  in  are  we,  us  to  them 
bring  will  Central  Michigan,  Adjutant-General  tell,  once  at,  them  have  they  if,  Michi 
gan  from  arms  of  stand  thousand  five  or  one  wants  Governor  our.  Guns  no  but,  ready 
are  troops.  Borders  own  our  on  invasion  suppress  to  troops  send  to  orders  have  State 
our.  *  *  * 

RAISING  OF  TROOPS. 

The  President's  first  call  upon  Michigan  for  troops  to  aid  in  suppressing 
the  rebellion  was,  as  previously  stated,  for  one  regiment  only,  and  was  most 


152  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

promptly  met  by  the  muster  into  service  of  the  1st  infantry,  under  Colonel  O. 
B.  Wilcox,  and  its  early  movement  to  the  seat  of  war  in  Virginia.  This 
regiment  was  soon  followed  by  the  2d  infantry,  in  command  of  Colonel  Israel 
B.  Richardson,  while  at  the  same  time  many  companies  were  recruited 
throughout  the  State  without  authority  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  places  in 
some  regiment ;  being  disappointed  in  this  respect  they  sought  and  found 
service  in  regiments  of  other  States.  In  the  meantime  the  organization  of 
the  3d  and  4th  regiments  had  been  commenced  on  the  responsibility  of  the 
governor;,  and  while  they  were  in  process  of  recruitment  a  letter  was  re 
ceived  from  the  Secretary  of  War  limiting  the  force  required  from  Michigan 
to  four  regiments  only  including  the  three  months'  regiment,  covering  only 
authority  for  those  already  in  the  field  and  those  being  organized  in  the 
State.  The  letter  referred  to  is  inserted  for  the  purpose  of  showing  the  esti 
mate  made  at  that  time  of  the  magnitude  of  the  rebellion  then  fully  inau 
gurated  : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  May  11,  1861. 
Governor  AUSTIN  BLAIR,  Lansing,  Michigan  : 

DEAR  SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  forward  you,  enclosed  herewith,  the  plan 
of  the  organization  of  the  volunteers  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war. 
Three  regiments  are  assigned  to  your  State,  making,  in  addition  to  the  one 
regiment  of  three  months'  militia  already  called  for,  four  regiments.  It  is 
important  to  reduce  rather  than  enlarge  this  number,  and  in  no  event  to 
exceed  it.  Let  me  earnestly  recommend  to  you,  therefore,  to  call  for  no 
more  than  four  regiments,  of  which  only  three  are  to  serve  for  three  years, 
or  during  the  war;  and  if  more  are  already  called  for,  to  reduce  the  num 
ber  by  discharge. 

SIMOX  CAMERON,  Secretary  of  War. 

This  policy  was  extremely  at  variance  with  the  views  entertained  by  the 
State  executive  regarding  the  necessities  of  the  country  at  that  time,  and 
deeming  an  immediate  preparation  to  meet  coming  emergencies  his  duty, 
assumed  the  responsibility  of  establishing  a  camp  of  instruction  at  Fort 
Wayne,  near  Detroit,  for  the  officers  of  the  5th  infantry,  Col.  H.  D.  Terry; 
6th  infantry,  Col.  F.  W.  Curtenius ;  and  the  7th  infantry,  Col.  Ira  11.  Gros- 
venor.  On  the  21st  of  May  companies  were  assigned  to  those  regiments, 
and  their  officers  and  non-commissioned  officers  were  ordered  to  assemble  at 
Fort  Wayne  on  the  19th  of  June.  The  camp  was  organized  and  com 
manded  by  General  A.  S.  Williams,  assisted  by  Colonel  J.  E.  Pittman,  Major 
W.  D.  Wilkins,  and  Captain  Henry  M.  Whittelsey.  A  course  of  instruc 
tion  followed  with  much  success  until  August  1st,  when  the  camp  was  broken 
up,  and  the  force  sent  to  various  localities  to  recruit  their  men  and  organize 
the  regiments.  This  was  accomplished  with  astonishing  promptness,  the  6th 
being  mustered  in  August  20th,  the  7th  August  22d,  and  the  5th  August 
28th,  and  all  had  left  for  the  field  prior  to  the  12th  of  September. 

The  camp  of  instruction  attracted  much  attention  in  other  States,  and 
received  the  favorable  comments  of  public  journal;?.  It  has  always  been 
considered  in  Michigan  as  a  most  judicious  and  eminently  successful  effort; 
its  value  becoming  more  and  more  apparent  as  the  war  progressed,  not  only 
in  the  efficiency  of  these  particular  regiments,  but  in  many  others,  having 
the  benefit  of  officers  who  had  received  the  instruction  of  the  camp. 

Soon  after  the  breaking  up  of  the  camp  General  Williams  was  appointed 
a  brigadier  general  of  volunteers  and  left  for  the  field  in  Virginia,  with 
Major  Wilkins  and  Captain  Whittelsey  on  his  brigade  otaff. 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  153 

About  the  time  the  cainp  was  established  the  pressure  for  appointments 
as  commissioned  officers  had  reached  its  maximum,  and  men  were  being 
forced  upon  the  consideration  of  the  governor  by  influential  citizens  of  both 
political  parties  to  a  most  unbearable  degree,  and  often  with  an  utter  disre 
gard  of  fitness  or  qualification  for  the  position.  This  pressure  continued 
during  the  entire  earlier  portion  of  the  war;  and  it  might  well  be  presumed 
that  under  such  circumstances  some  improper  appointments  were  likely  to 
be  made.  Yet  much  care  was  uniformly  exercised  in  the  selection  and  pro 
motion  of  officers,  and  always  with  qualification  for  the  office  and  loyalty 
to  the  Government  as  the  tests,  more  than  personal  friendship  or  political 
status. 

The  law  of  Congress  of  August  3d  had  authorized  the  President  to  receive 
into  service  500,000  volunteers ;  the  proportion  of  Michigan  was  understood 
at  the  time  to  be  19,500.  but  in  the  adjustment  of  credits  21,337  was  charged 
against  the  State. 

In  addition  to  this  force  were  Captain  Duesler's  company  (C)  1st  IT.  S. 
sharpshooters,  (Berdan's,)  raised  at  large,  equipped  and  armed  by  the  State, 
mustered  at  Detroit  on  the  21st  of  August,  with  an  aggregate  strength  of  a 
hundred  of  the  best  picked  riflemen  in  the  State,  and  Captain  A.  B.  Stuart's 
company  (B)  2d  U.  S.  sharpshooters,  raised  at  Lansing  and  mustered  at 
Detroit  on  the  4th  of  October,  with  an  aggregate  of  seventy-eight  on  its 
muster-rolls. 

Also,  two  companies  of  cavalry  for  the  "  Morrill  Horse,"  a  Missouri  regi 
ment.  These  companies  were  recruited  at  Battle  Creek,  "  H  "  by  Captain 
J.  H.  Rogers,  and  "  I "  by  Captain  J.  B.  Mason,  and  both  left  the  State  on 
the  3d  of  September. 

The  "  Jackson  Guard,"  a  Detroit  company,  composed  of  Irishmen,  raised 
by  Captain  John  McDermott,  failing  to  get  a  position  in  the  early  Michigan 
regiments,  offered  their  services  to  Colonel  James  Mulligan,  then  recruiting 
a  regiment  in  Illinois.  They  were  accepted,  and  the  company  joined  his 
command  in  June,  and  were  with  him  in  his  gallant  defence  of  Springfield, 
Missouri. 

Several  other  Michigan  companies,  not  obtaining  places  in  Michigan  regi 
ments,  getting  impatient  at  the  delay  in  finding  an  opportunity  to  serve  their 
country,  accepted  service  in  regiments  of  other  States.  It  would  have  af 
forded  much  pleasure  to  have  been  able  to  notice  them  more  fully  at  this 
time,  but  sufficient  data  cannot  be  obtained  for  that  purpose.  These  com 
panies,  so  far  as  ascertained,  were  "E,"  "F,"  and  "H,"  42d,  and  "B"  and 
"  H,"  44th  regiments  Illinois  infantry,  company  "  C,"  70th  New  York  in 
fantry,  (Sickles  Brigade,)  from  Paw  Paw,  mustered  on  the  21st  of  June  in 
command  of  Captain  W.  II.- Hugo;  company  "K,"  1st  New  York  cavalry, 
raised  at  Grand  Rapids  and  mustered  on  the  12th  of  August  under  com 
mand  of  Captain  Anson  N.  Norton.  The  regiment  was  raised  and  organ 
ized  by  Col.  A.  T.  McReynols,  and  was  commanded  by  him  in  the  field. 
Company  "  D,"  66th  Illinois  infantry,  commonly  designated  as  the  "  West 
ern  Sharpshooters,"  mustered  November  9th  in  command  of  Captain  John 
Piper,  of  Battle  Creek. 

Under  this  call,  Colonel  T.  F.  Brodhead,  of  Detroit,  received  authority 
to  raise  the  1st  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  a  like  authority  was  given  to  the 
Hon.  F.  W.  Kellogg,  of  Grand  Rapids,  member  of  Congress  from  this  State, 
to  organize  the  2d  and  3d  cavalry,  while  Colonel  T.  B.  W.  Stockton,  of 
Flint,  obtained  authority  to  recruit  and  organize  the  Stockton  regiment, 
afterwards  designated  as  the  16th  infantry. 

In  response  to  this  requisition,  the  State  continued  recruiting,  sending 

J  * 


154  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

regiment  after  regiment  to  the  field,  and  down  to  December,  1861,  had  sent 
the  following  organizations  to  the  front : 

The  1st  regiment  infantry,  3  months,  from  Detroit,  May  15,  780  strong — 
Colonel  O.  B.  Wikox  commanding. 

The  1st  regiment,  from  Ann  Arbor,  September  16,  751  strong — Colonel 
John  C.  Robinson  commanding. 

The  2d  regiment  infantry,  from  Detroit,  June  5,  1020  strong — Colonel  J. 
B.  Richardson  commanding. 

The  3d  regiment  infantry,  from.  Grand  Rapids,  June  13,  1042  strong — 
Colonel  D.  McConnell  commanding. 

The  4th  regiment  infantry,  from  Adrian,  June  25,  1024  strong — Colonel 
D.  A.  Woodbury  commanding. 

The  5th  regiment  infantry,  from  Detroit,  September  11,  900  strong — Col. 
H.  D.  Terry  commanding. 

The  6th  regiment  infantry,  from  Kalamazoo,  August  30,  1020  strong — 
Col.  F.  W.  Curtenius  commanding. 

The  7th  regiment  infantry,  from  Monroe,  September  5, 1020  strong — Col. 
Ira  R.  Grosvenor  commanding. 

The  8th  regiment  infantry,  from  Detroit,  September  27,  900  strong — Col. 
AY.  M.  Fenton  commanding. 

The  9th  regiment  infantry,  from  Detroit,  October  25,  943  strong — Col. 
W.  W.  Duffield  commanding. 

The  16th  regiment  infantry,  from  Detroit,  September  16,  960  strong — 
Col.  T.  B.  W.  Stockton  commanding. 

The  llth  regiment  infantry,  from  White  Pigeon,  December  9,  1000 
strong — Col.  W.  J.  May  commanding. 

The  1st  regiment  mechanics  and  engineers,  from  Marshal,  December  11, 
1000  strong — Col.  W.  P.  Imies  commanding. 

The  1st  regiment  cavalry,  from  Detroit,  September  29, 1150  strong — Col. 
T.  F.  Brodhead  commanding. 

The  2d  regiment  cavalry,  from  Grand  Rapids,  November  14, 1170  strong — • 
Lieut.  Col.  W.  C.  Davis  commanding. 

The  3d  regiment  cavalry,  from  Grand  Rapids,  November  28, 1180  strong — 
Lieut.  Col.  R.  H.  G.  Minty  commanding. 

The  1st  battery,  from  Detroit,  June  1,  123  strong — Captain  C.  0.  Loomis 
commanding. 

The  2d  battery,  from  Grand  Rapids,  December  17,  110  strong — Captain 
W.  S.  Bliss  commanding. 

The  3d  battery,  from  Grand  Rapids,  December  17,  80  strong — Captain 
A.  W.  Dees  commanding. 

The  4th  battery,  from  White  Pigeon,  December  9,  126  strong — Captain 
A.  F.  Bidwell  commanding. 

The  5th  battery,  from  Marshal,  December  17,  76  strong — Captain  J.  II. 
Dennis  commanding. 

Ten  of  these  regiments  were  clothed  and  subsisted  by  the  State  under  the 
direction  of  the  Quartermaster-General. 

On  the  2d  of  January,  1862,  Governor  Blair  delivered  his  message  to  the 
Legislature,  then  in  extra  session.  The  following  extract  therefrom  was 
accepted  at  the  time  as  the  expression  of  the  people  of  the  State  on  the  war 
question : 

"  I  cannot  close  this  brief  address  without  an  allusion  to  the  great  object 
that  occupies  all  men's  minds.  The  Southern  rebellion  still  maintains  a 
bold  front  against  the  Union  armies.  That  is  the  cause  of  all  our  compli 
cations  abroad  and  our  troubles  at  home.  To  deal  wisely  with  it  is  to  find 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  155 

a  short  and  easy  deliverance  from  them  all.  The  people  of  Michigan  are 
no  idle  spectators  of  this  great  contest.  They  have  furnished  all  the  troops 
required  of  them,  and  are  preparing  to  pay  the  taxes  and  to  submit  to  the 
jnost  onerous  burdens  without  a  murmur.  They  are  ready  to  increase  their 
sacrifices,  if  need  be,  to  require  impossibilities  of  no  man,"  but  to  be  patient 
and  wait.  But  to  see  the  vast  armies  of  the  Republic,  and  all  its  pecuniary 
resources,  used  to  protect  and  sustain  the  accursed  system  which  has  been 
a  perpetual  and  tyrannical  disturber,  and  which  now  makes  sanguinary 
war  upon  the  Union  and  the  Constitution,  is,  precisely  what  they  will  never 
submit  to  tamely.  The  loyal  States  having  furnished  adequate  means, 
both  of  men  and  money,  to  crush  the  rebellion,  have  a  right  to  expect  those 
men  to  be  used  with  the  utmost  vigor  to  accomplish  the  object,  and  that 
without  any  mawkish  sympathy  for  the  interest  of  traitors  in  arms.  Upon 
those  who  caused  the  war,  and  now  maintain  it,  its  chief  burdens  ought  to 
fall.  No  property  of  a  rebel  ought  to  be  free  from  confiscation — not  even 
the  sacred  slave.  The  object  of  war  is  to  destroy  the  power  of  the  enemy, 
and  whatever  measures  are  calculated  to  accomplish  that  object,  and  are  in 
accordance  with  the  usages  of  civilized  nations,  ought  to  be  employed.  To 
undertake  to  put  down  a  powerful  rebellion,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  save 
and  protect  all  the  chief  sources  of  the  power  of  that  rebellion,  seems  to 
common  minds  but  a  short  remove  from  simple  folly.  He  who  is  not  for 
the  Union,  unconditionally,  in  this  mortal  struggle,  is  against  it.  The 
highest  dictates  of  patriotism,  justice,  and  humanity  combine  to  demand 
that  the  war  should  be  conducted  to  a  speedy  close  upon  principles  of  the 
most  heroic  energy  and  retributive  power.  The  time  for  gentle  dalliance 
has  long  since  passed  away.  We  meet  an  enemy,  vindictive,  bloodthirsty, 
and  cruel,  profoundly  in  earnest,  inspired  with  an  energy  and  self-sacrifice 
which  would  honor  a  good  cause,  respecting  neither  laws,  constitutions,  nor 
historic  memories,  fanatically  devoted  only  to  his  one  wicked  purpose  to  de 
stroy  the  Government  and  establish  his  slaveholding  oligarchy  in  its  stead. 
To  treat  this  enemy  gently  is  to  excite  his  derision.  To  protect  his  slave 
property  is  to  help  him  to  butcher  our  people  and  burn  our  houses.  No. 
He  must  be  met  with  an  activity  and  a  purpose  equal  to  his  own.  Hurl 
the  Union  forces,  which  outnumber  him  two  to  one,  upon  his  whole  line 
like  a  thunderbolt ;  pay  them  out  of  his  property,  feed  them  from  his  gra 
naries,  mount  them  upon  his  horses,  and  carry  them  in  his  wagons,  if  he 
has  any,  and  let  him  feel  the  full  force  of  the  storm  of  Avar  which  he  has 
raised.  I  would  apologize  neither  to  Kentucky  nor  anybody  else  for  these 
measures,  but  quickly  range  all  neutrals  either  on  the  one  side  or  the  other. 
Just  a  little  of  the  courage  and  ability  which  carried  Napoleon  over  the 
Alps,  dragging  his  cannon  through  the  snow,  would  quickly  settle  this  con 
test,  and  settle  it  right.  If  our  soldiers  must  die,  do  not  let  it  be  of  the 
inactivity  and  diseases  of  camps,  but  let  them  at  least  have  the  satisfaction 
of  falling  like  soldiers,  amid  the  roar  of  battle,  and  hearing  the  shouts  of 
victory  ;  then  will  they  welcome  it  as  the  tired  laborer  welcomes  sleep.  Let 
us  hope  that  we  have  not  much  longer  to  wrait." 

Following  this  patriotic  and  bold  stand  assumed  by  the  Governor  in  his 
message,  the  Legislature,  equally  appreciating  the  great  emergencies  of  the 
country,  with  firmness  and  pluck  worthy  of  the  people  whom  they  repre 
sented,  passed  the  following  well-timed  and  highly  appropriate  joint  resolu 
tion  in  reference  to  the  rebellion  : 

Whereas  the  Government  of  the  United  States  is  engaged  in  putting  down 
a  causeless  and  wicked  rebellion  against  its  authority  and  sovereignty,  inau 
gurated  by  ambitious  men  to  obtain  political  power — a  government,  the 


156  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

safety  and  perpetuity  of  which  must  ever  rest  upon  the  loyalty  of  its  citizens 
and  an  adherence  to  the  Constitution ; 

And  whereas  the  welfare  of  mankind,  the  usefulness  and  power  of  the 
nation,  are  involved  in  the  events  and  issues  of  the  present  conflict ;  there 
fore,  be  it 

Resolved,  (the  House  concurring,)  That  Michigan,  loyal  to  herself  and 
to  the  Federal  Government,  reaffirms  her  undying  hostility  to  traitors,  her 
abiding  love  for  freedom,  and  her  confidence  in  the  wisdom  and  patriotism 
of  the  national  administration. 

Resolved,  (the  House  concurring,)  That  the  people  of  Michigan  deem  it 
the  imperative  duty  of  the  Government  to  speedily  put  down  all  insurrec 
tion  against  its  authority  and  sovereignty,  by  the  use.  of  every  constitutional 
means,  and  by  the  employment  of  every  energy  it  possesses  ;  that  Michigan 
stands  firm  in  her  determination  to  sustain,  by  men  and  treasure,  the  Con 
stitution  and  the  Union,  and  claims  that  the  burthen  of  loyal  men  should 
be  lightened,  as  far  as  possible,  by  confiscating  to  the  largest  extent  the 
property  of  all  insurrectionists  ;  and  that  as  between  the  institution  of  slavery 
and  the  maintenance  of  the  Federal  Government,  Michigan  does  not  hesi 
tate  to  say,  that  in  such  exigency,  slavery  should  be  swept  from  the  land, 
and  our  country  maintained. 

Resolved,  That  the  Governor  be  requested  to  forward  a  copy  of  the  fore 
going  preamble  and  resolutions  to  each  of  our  Senators  and  Representatives 
in  Congress. 

Approved  January  18,  1862. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1862  recruiting  was  being  vigorously 
prosecuted  under  most  favorable  circumstances,  brought  about  in  part  by  a 
brisk  competition,  often  leading  to  various  schemes  for  inducing  recruits  to 
change  regiments,  both  before  and  after  muster,  neither  legitimate  nor  honest, 
but  still  considered  by  some  as  having  the  ring  of  a  certain  kind  of  smart 
ness  ;  and  although  there  was  much  complaint  and  many  protests  made 
against  this  mode  of  operating,  leading  to  the  publication  of  prohibitory 
orders  on  the  subject,  it  was  found  impossible  to  prevent  the  practice. 

At  the  various  recruiting  depots  in  the  State  there  were  being  hastily  or 
ganized  and  rapidly  equipped  five  regiments  of  infantry  and  three  batteries 
of  artillery.  Their  completion  was  most  industriously  pushed  by  the  officers 
charged  with  their  recruitment,  and  they  left  for  the  field  as  follows : 

13th  infantry,  from  Kalamazoo,  February  12th,  925  strong,  Col.  M.  Shoe 
maker  commanding. 

12th  infantry,  from  Niles,  March  18th,  1,000  strong,  Col.  Francis  Quinn 
commanding. 

15th  infantry,  from  Monroe,  March  27th,  869  strong,  Col.  J.  M.  Oliver 
commanding. 

14th  infantry,  from  Ypsilanti,  April  17th,  925  strong,  Col.  11.  P.  Sinclair 
commanding. 

10th  infantry,  from  Flint,  April  22d,  997  strong,  Col.  C.  M.  Luin  com 
manding. 

7th  battery,  from  Kalamazoo,  February  12th,  145  strong,  Capt.  C.  H. 
Lamphere  commanding. 

6th  battery,  from  Coldwater,  March  3d,  158  strong,  Capt.  J.  S.  Andrews 
commanding. 

8th  battery,  from  Monroe,  March  13th,  156  strong,  Capt.  Sqinl.  I)e  Gol- 
yer  commanding. 

A  lancer  regiment,  composed  of  a  fine  body  of  men,  principally  from 
Canada,  had  been  raised  by  Col.  Arthur  Kankin,  of  Windsor,  an  English  Ca- 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  157 

nadian.  It  had  been  mustered  into  service  with  the  maximum  number  and 
equipped,  with  the  exception  of  horses.  It  would  have  left  the  State  with 
those  named,  but  was  disbanded  by  an  order  of  the  AVar  Department,  con 
trary  to  the  repeated  protests  of  the  Governor,  and  without  giving  any  rea 
son  for  such  a  procedure,  losing  to  the  service  of  the  Union  a  remarkably 
fine  appearing  regiment. 

Two  more  companies  for  the  1st  U.  S.  sharpshooters  also  left  the  State  for 
the  field  ;  "I"  in  command  of  Capt.  A.  Milan  Willett  and  "  K"  under  the 
command  of  Spencer  J.  Mather,  the  former  company  mustered  on  the  4th 
and  the  latter  on  the  20th  of  March. 

There  was  also  a  company  of  sharpshooters  raised  in  Detroit  by  Capt. 
Kin  S.  Dygert  for  the  16th  Michigan,  which  was  mustered  on  the"  3d  of 
February  and  joined  the  regiment  in  the  field  without  delay. 

In  the  month  of  April  Capt.  G.  S.  Wormer,  of  Detroit,  was  authorized  to 
raise  and  equip  a  company  of  infantry  to  serve  as  a  guard  over  Generals 
Burrows  ancl  Harding  and  Judge  Hill,  all  influential  citizens  of  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  then  rebel  prisoners  on  the  island  of  Mackinac,  and  who  had 
been  arrested  by  Andrew  Johnson  for  treason.  This  company  was  desig 
nated  the  Stanton  Guard.  It  was  mustered  into  the  service  May  10th  and 
immediately  took  transport  for  Mackinac,  where  it  served  until  the  25th 
September  following,  when  it  was  disbanded,  the  necessity  for  the  service 
having  passed  away  by  the  release  of  the  prisoners. 

The  reports  made  in  July  by  the  several  regiments,  batteries,  and  inde 
pendent  companies  gave  an  addition  of  2,028  recruits  to  their  original  strength 
since  their  organization,  showing  a  total  of  24,281  officers  and  men  enrolled 
from  the  commencement  of  the  war  to  July  1st,  and  an  estimated  number 
of  1,453  enlistments  in  regiments  of  other  States,  giving  25,734  as  the  grand 
total.  Add  to  this  the  lancer  regiment  disbanded,  and  a  battalion  of  cavalry 
raised  at  Cold  water  by  Major  Hughes,  designated  the  "Chandler  Horse 
Guard,"  which  was  mustered  out  of  service  under  an  order  of  the  War  De 
partment  for  irregularities  in  organization,  and  we  have  an  aggregate  of 
nearly  twenty-seven  thousand  men  enrolled  and  mustered  into  service  pre 
vious  to  the  first  of  July.  Furnishing  over  six  thousand  more  than  had 
been  called  for  by  the  requisition  of  the  Government,  exhibiting  a  degree 
of  patriotism  and  promptness  unsurpassed  by  any  other  State,  and  men  too 
whose  loyalty,  patriotism,  and  courage  had  been  tried  and  proved  on  almost 
every  battle-field. 

During  McClellan's  disastrous  peninsula  campaign  in  May  and  June  the 
Michigan  regiments  had  become  much  depleted  by  the  usual  casualties  of 
service  and  by  wounds,  disease,  and  death,  whilst  recruiting  had  entirely 
failed  in  the  State.  The  17th  infantry  was  then  organizing,  and  it  was  found 
almost  impossible  to  obtain  men  for  its  completion,  and  recruits  for  regi 
ments  in  the  field  could  not  be  enlisted  under  any  circumstances. 

The  following  letter  was  post-marked  Albion,  Michigan,  and  addressed  to 
the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State,  and  received  in  May,  1862: 

MR.  ROBERTSON: 

SIR  : — In  the  name  of  God  Almighty,  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  people  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  send  me  by  special  train  to 
Kalamazoo  forthwith  five  corporals  and  forty  privates,  with  forty  rounds  of 
fixed  ammunition  and  two  days  cooked  rations  each.  I  have  work  for  them. 
I  have  holed  an  old  and  big  secesh  den  of  traitors  and  want  to  dig  them  out. 

BRONSON, 
Independent  Detective  and  Acting  U.  S.  Marshal. 


158  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

P.  S. — Telegraph  to  me  about  what  time  they  will  get  there. 

"  B 

I.  I).  &  U.  S.  M. 
GALESBTJRG,  May  26. 

This  fearful  condition  of  affairs  had  assumed  so  formidable  a  shape  as  to 
make  it  necessary  to  hold  public  meetings  in  some  localities  of  the  State  to 
stimulate  the  people  to  more  energy  in  the  cause  of  the  Union,  and  especially 
in  recruiting  for  the  regiments  in  the  field.  A  public  meeting  for  that  pur 
pose  was  called  in  Detroit,  to  be  held  in  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday,  the  15th 
July,  and  on  assembling  on  the  Campus  Martius  in  accordance  with  the 
call,  and  while  the  business  in  view  was  being  proceeded  with,  the  gathering 
we^re  surprised  by  a  mob  of  men,  who  furiously  interrupted  the  deliberations 
and  entirely  broke  up  and  dispersed  the  meeting,  driving  the  officers  from 
the  stand,  and  compelling  some  of  them  to  seek  shelter  and  safety  in  the 
"  Russell  House,"  a  hotel  adjacent  to  the  Campus  Martins.  The  exhibition 
of  this  rebel  spirit  in  our  midst  proved  of  immediate  and  lasting  advantage 
to  the  cause  of  the  army  in  the  field,  for  it  aroused  such  a  feeling  of  indig 
nation  at  these  disloyal  and  treasonable  operations,  and  such  utter  contempt 
for  the  ruffians  who  had  been  thus  engaged,  that  the  masses  of  the  respect 
able  citizens  of  both  political  parties  determined  that  such  proceedings  should 
not  be  tolerated  in  Detroit,  and  therefore  next  day  a  meeting  was  appointed 
for  Tuesday,  the  22d  of  July,  to  carry  out  the  objects  of  the  previous  meet 
ing,  and  for  the  further  purpose  of  maintaining  the  right  of  citizens  to  hold 
such  meetings  without  interference  or  molestation.  An  immense  gathering 
assembled  under  the  call,  severely  rebuking  the  disloyal  element,  and  with 
unbounded  enthusiasm  avowing  a  most  faithful  and  persistent  support  of 
the  war,  and  pledging,  with  prodigal  liberality,  means  and  personal  encour 
agement,  and  adopting  instant  measures  for  the  recruitment  of  the  regi 
ments  of  the  State,  and  urging  the  immediate  re-enforcements  of  the  armies 
of  the  Union. 

This  prompt  action  of  the  citizens  had  the  desired  effect,  giving  recruiting 
new  life  and  energy,  and  led  to  the  immediate  proffer  of  the  gallant  24th 
regiment  to  the  cause  of  freedom  and  humanity,  and  served  to  end  all  open 
demonstrations  in  favor  of  rebellion  in  the  metropolis  of  the  State. 

The  general  alarm  for  the  cause  of  the  Union,  resulting  from  the  reverses 
of  McClellan,  flashed  over  the  State  and  brooded  over  her  loyal  people, 
being  shared  in  for  a  short  time  by  Michigan,  in  common  with  the  .other 
loyal  States  ;  but  she  soon  rallied  from  a  despondency  which  was  but  tem 
porary,  and  burst  forth  with  a  renewed  degree  of  unsurpassed  vigorous  en 
ergy  and  enlarged  patriotism. 

President  Lincoln,  advised  by  the  Governors  of  the  loyal  States,  who  had 
consulted  together  regarding  the  emergency,*  issued  a  proclamation  on  July 


*BY  TELEGRAPH  FROM  NEW  YORK,  June  30,  1862. 
To  THE  GOVERNOR  OF  MICHIGAN  : 

"  Private  and  Confidential.1' — In  view  of  the  present  state  of  military  movements,  and 
the  depleted  condition  of  our  efficient  forces  in  the  field,  resulting  from  the  usual  and 
unavoidable  causes  of  the  services,  together  with  the  large  numbers  of  men  required  to 
garrison  the  numerous  cities  and  military  positions  that  have  been  captured,  as  well  as 
to  protect  our  avenues  of  supplies  in  the  enemy's  country,  it  is  proposed  to  address  a 
memorial  to  the  President  to-day,  to  be  signed  by  all  the  Governors  of  all  the  loyal 
States,  and  some  other  officials  of  the  country,  requesting  him  at  once  to  call  upon  the 
several  loyal  States  for  such  number  of  men  as  may  be  required  to  fill  up  organizations 
in  the  field,  and  add  such  increased  numbers  of  men  to  the  army  heretofore  authorized 
a  may  in  his  judgment  be  necessary  to  speedily  crush  this  rebellion  and  restore  our 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  159 

2d  for  300,000  men,  the  War  Department  assigning  to  Michigan  a  quota 
of  11,686.  On  the  15th  of  July  orders  were  published  from  the  Adjutant 
General's  Department  of  the  State  urgently  appealing  Jo  the  people  for  a 
prompt  and  effective  response,  and  prescribing  regulations  for  a  system  of 
organization.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  order  referred  to : 

"The  Governor  has  confidence  in  the  loyalty,  patriotism,  and  courage  of 
the  people,  that  they  will  cheerfully  respond  to  the  President's  call,  firmly 
believing  that  this  force  will  be  quickly  raised  to  aid  in  speedily  putting  an 
end  forever  to  this  unjustifiable  and  cruel  rebellion. 

"The  time  has  now  arrived  for  men  who  love  their  country  and  desire  its 
perpetuity  as  a  nation  to  make  sacrifices  in  its  defence.  Without  resort  to 
drafting,  let  the  ranks  be  speedily  filled,  let  every  heart  be  nerved,  and 
every  man  welcome  the  hour  that  calls  him  to  his  country's  rescue;  let  him 
be  self-sacrificing,  patriotic,  and  courageous ;  let  him  make  the  camp  his 
home,  and  the  brave  soldiers  of  the  Union  his  companions,  until  this  national 
struggle  be  ended,  and  show  that  the  privations,  hardships,  and  dangers 
endured  by  the  noble  sons  of  the  State  who  have  fought  their  country's  bat 
tles,  and  that  the  bloody  battle  grounds  so  recently  trodden  by  them  have 
not  drained  the  State  of  its  patriots  nor  lessened  the  love  of  her  people  for 
the  national  flag,  nor  their  determination  that  its  folds  shall  float  over  them 
unimpaired  forever. " 

In  addition  to  the  17th  infantry  in  process  of  organization  by  recruits 
from  the  State  at  large,  six  regiments  of  infantry  were  ordered,  and  appor 
tioned  respectively  to  the  six  Congressional  districts,  confining  the  recruit 
ment  of  each  regiment  to  its  own  district,  establishing  a  camp  for  each,  and 
appointing  commanders  of  camp,  who  were  charged  with  the  raising  of  the 
regiments.  These  regiments,  having  the  following  gentlemen  as  comman 
ders  of  camp,  were  the  18th,  at  Hillsdale,  Hori.  Henry  Waldron ;  19th,  at 
Dowagiac,  Col.  Henry  C.  Gilbert ;  20th,  at  Jackson,  Hon.  Fidus  Liver- 
more  ;  21st,  at  Ionia,  Hon.  J.  B.  Welsh ;  22d,  at  Pontiac,  Col.  Moses  Wis- 
ner ;  and  the  23d,  at  East  Saginaw,  Hon.  D.  H.  Jerome. 

The  Adjutant  General  of  the  State,  in  his  report  for  1862,  says  of  the 
action  of  the  people  regarding  this  call : 

"  The  response  of  the  people  of  the  State  to  the  President's  call  was  patri 
otic  and  prompt  almost  beyond  expectation.  Individuals  of  every  degree 
of  prominence  forthwith  began  to  interest  themselves  in  the  business  of 
filling  the  regiments.  Communities  gave  to  it  their  time  and  their  almost 
exclusive  attention,  while,  better  than  all,  the  substantial  masses  of  the  peo 
ple  offered  themselves  in  person.  War  meetings  were  held  in  almost  every 
village  and  township  in  the  State.  Representatives  of  all  classes  converted 
themselves  either  into  recruits  or  recruiting  officers,  and  among  the  most 
efficient  of  the  latter  were  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  some  of  whom  led  the 
men  they  had  enlisted  into  the  field." 

The  Christian  Church  in  this  State  generally  proved  by  its  pronounced 
patriotism,  and  manifest  devotion  to  the  cause  of  the  country,  an  element 
of  immense  success.  All  true  patriots  commend  its  noble  cause,  all  faithful 
Christians  endorse  its  glorious  action.  From  the  time  that  Sumter  was  fired 


Government.     The  decisive  moment  to  accomplish  this  end,  it  is  believed,  has  arrived. 
Shall  we  add  your  name  to  the  memorial  ? 

(Signed,)  E.  D.  MORGAN,  Governor  New  York. 

R.  G.  CURT1N,   Governor  Pennsylvania. 

They  were  immediately  telegraphed  by  Governor  Blair  to  use  his  name  on  the  me 
morial. 


160  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

on  until  Lee  and  Johnston  laid  down  their  rebellious  arras,  and  Davis  fled 
for  his  life,  it  encouraged  and  nerved  by  word  and  deed  the  soldier  in  the 
field,  aided  much  in  the  recruitment  of  men  by  its  approval  of  the  cause, 
and  its  openly  avowed  abhorrence  of  rebels  and  those  who  sympathized  with 
them  and  opposed  the  war.  Where  it  did  not,  cowardice  most  mean  and 
grovelling,  disloyalty  gross,  and  blackest  treason,  prevented  its  being  in 
cluded  in  the  Providence  of  God  among  the  instrumentalities  to  save  the 
nation,  and  hence,  neither  deserves  nor  can  expect  any  better  fate  than  the 
certain  condemnation  of  every  true  lover  of  his  country  and  of  his  race,  and 
the  disapproval  of  the  God  of  nations. 

The  valuable  services  rendered  at  this  time  by  the  loyal  Press  throughout 
the  State  can  never  be  over-estimated  ;  for  its  successful  efforts  in  strength 
ening  the  hands  of  public  officers,  in  moulding  public  opinion  in  favor  of 
loyalty  to  the  Government,  in  encouraging  patriotism  among  the  masses, 
and  inspiring  those  at  the  front  writh  a  heroism  leading  to  gallant  deeds. 

The  Adjutant-General  further  says  in  his  report : 

"  Immediately  following  the  issue  of  this  order,  applications  reached  the 
Adjutant-General's  office,  by  telegraph  and  otherwise,  from  all  sections  of 
the  State,  urging  authority  to  recruit,  and  desiring  instructions  and  forms 
for  the  enlistment  of  companies.  Facilities  to  promote  this  purpose  were 
promptly  furnished,  and  as  soon  as  the  camp  grounds  could  be  provided 
with  suitable  quarters,  men  began  to  flock  in  by  companies  and  detach 
ments.  The  gentlemen  who  had  been  charged  with  the  duty  of  supervising 
the  organization  of  the  regiments  performed  their  labors  with  diligence  and 
success,  and  in  little  over  a  month  from  the  date  of  the  President's  call, 
men  enough  had  been  raised  in  the  State,  and  nearly  enough  wTere  in  camp, 
to  fill  all  the  regiments  which  the  War  Department  had  asked  for  as  the 
number  first  needed  under  the  President's  requisition. 

"  In  the  meantime,  while  the  patriotism  of  the  people  was  thus  zealously 
manifesting  itself  in  all  portions  of  the  State,  the  people  of  Detroit  and  of 
Wayne  county  desired  an  opportunity  to  put  in  the  field  a  regiment  of  their 
own  citizens,  in  addition  to  those  already  in  progress.  Authority  was 
promptly  given  by  the  Governor  for  this  purpose,  and  the  24th  regiment 
was  ordered,  organized  under  the  direction  of  Colonel  H.  A.  Morrow,  and 
placed  in  rendezvous  at  Detroit,  making  the  eighth  infantry  regiment  then 
in  course  of  completion." 

The  Executive  of  the  nation,  Abraham  Lincoln,  was  looking  anxiously 
into  the  future  and  calling  earnestly  upon  the  States  for  information  as  to 
what  he  might  expect  to  sustain  him  in  meeting  coming  emergencies.  Under 
date  of  July  28th,  he  telegraphed  to  Governor  Blair : 

"  It  would  be  of  great  service  here  for  us  to  know  as  fully  as  you  can 
tell,  what  progress  is  made  and  making  in  recruiting  for  old  regiments  in 
your  State.  Also,  about  what  day  the  first  new  regiment  can  move  from 
you,  what  the  second,  what  the  third,  and  so  on.  This  information  is  im 
portant  to  us  in  making  calculations.  Please  give  it  as  promptly  and 
accurately  as  you  can." 

To  this  dispatch  the  Governor  instantly  replied  as  follows : 

"  Very  little  can  be  done  in  recruiting  old  regiments  until  the  new  regi 
ments  are  filled  up ;  although  every  exertion  will  be  made  to  do  so.  The 
new  regiments  will  commence  to  take  the  field  about  the  1st  September,  or 
sooner,  if  possible,  and  will  all  be  in  service  in  the  field  during  that  month." 

In  providing  for  the  immense  reinforcements  to  the  national  armies  under 
this  call,  some  delay  in  arming  and  equipping  the  troops  unavoidably 
occurred,  and  the  Michigan  regiments  were  ready  before  their  field  equip- 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  161 

ment.  With  great  dispatch,  however,  they  were  put  in  readiness  for  the 
field,  and  left  the  State  fully  armed,  clothed,  and  equipped,  in  the  order 
hereafter  mentioned. 

On  the  completion  of  the  eight  regiments  referred  to,  it  was  ascertained 
that  in  the  rush  to  the  rescue  more  companies  had  been  raised  than  could 
be  placed  in  the  district  regiments,  and  on  the  20th  of  August  an  order  was 
issued  from  the  Adjutant-General's  office  directing  the  recruitment  of  the 
25th  and  26th  regiments  of  infantry,  and  assigning  the  surplus  companies 
thereto. 

The  25th  rendezvoused  at  Kalamazoo,  under  the  direction  of  the  Hon. 
H.  G.  Wells,  commandant  of  camp,  and  the  26th  at  Jackson,  in  command 
of  Colonel  Judson  S.  Farrar.  They  were  put  in  condition  for  active  ser 
vice  with  much  promptness,  and  left  the  State  immediately  thereafter. 

About  the  time  that  the  President's  last  call  for  volunteers  appeared,  the 
Governor  had  permission  from  the  War  Department  to  send  into  the  field 
another  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  authority  was  given  to  Colonel  R.  H.  G. 
Minty,  then  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  3d  cavalry,  to  proceed  at  once  to  raise 
the  4th  cavalry.  Appointments  to  recruit  were  eagerly  sought  for,  and  the 
regiment  was  rapidly  raised  to  the  maximum,  and  on  the  29th  of  July  was 
ordered  into  rendezvous  at  Detroit.  On  the  29th  of  August  it  was  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service,  and  was  only  awaiting  its  horses  and  equip 
ments.  As  soon  as  these  were  provided,  it  left  the  State  on  the  26th  of 
September. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  4th,  Colonel  J.  T.  Copeland,  late  of  the 
1st  cavalry,  sought  and  obtained  the  permission  of  the  War  Department, 
approved  by  the  Governor,  to  raise  another  regiment  for  the  same  branch 
of  service ;  and  still  later — when  the  President  had  issued  an  order  pro 
viding  for  the  draft  of  a  further  force  of  300,000  men,  Hon.  F.  W.  Kellogg, 
member  of  Congress  from  this  State,  secured  authority  (also  subject  to 
approval  by  the  Governor)  to  raise  two  additional  regiments  for  the  same 
arm.  The  5th  and  6th  cavalry,  comprising  two  of  the  three  regiments  thus 
authorized,  were  recruited  with  great  rapidity,  and  would  have  been  in  the 
field  by  the  1st  of  October  had  horses,  arms,  and  equipments  been  provided 
as  fast  as  the  men  were  ready  for  them.  They  left  the  State  in  the  early 
part  of  December. 

The  9th  battery  of  light  artillery  was  raised  in  connection  with  the  5th 
cavalry,  by  Captain  I.  I.  Daniels,  and  left  for  the  field  with  that  regiment, 
fully  equipped  and  mounted. 

The  bodies  of  troops  thus  referred  to  comprise  all  the  district  organiza 
tions  that  were  sent  from  the  State  into  active  service  since  the  requisition 
of  the  President,  made  on  the  2d  of  July,  and  are  as  follows : 

The  17th  regiment  infantry,  from  Detroit,  August  27, 982  strong — Colonel 
W.  H.  Withington  commanding. 

The  24th  regiment  infantry,  from  Detroit,  August  29,  1027  strong — 
Colonel  H.  A.  Morrow  commanding. 

The  20th  regiment  infantry,  from  Jackson,  September  1,  1012  strong- 
Colonel  A.  W.  Williams  commanding. 

The  18th  regiment  infantry,  from  Hillsdale,  September  4,  1002  strong — 
Colonel  C.  E.  Doolittle  commanding. 

The  22d  regiment  infantry,  from  Pontiac,  September  4,  997  strong— Col. 
M.  Wisner  commanding. 

The  21st  regiment  infantry,  from  Ionia,  September  12,  1007  strong — Col. 
A.  E.  Stevens  commanding. 

K 


1(32  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

The  19th  regiment  infantry,  from  Dowagiac,  September  14,  995  strong — 
Col.  H.  C.  Gilbert  commanding. 

The  23d  regiment  infantry,  from  East  Saginaw,  September  18, 883  strong — 
Col.  M.  W.  Chapin  commanding. 

The  4th  regiment  cavalry,  from  Detroit,  September  26, 1223  strong — Col. 
R.  H.  G.  Miiity  commanding. 

The  25th  regiment  infantry,  from  Kalamazoo,  September  29,  896  strong — 
Col.  O.  H.  Moore  commanding. 

The  9th  battery,  from  Detroit,  December  4,  168  strong — Captain  J.  J. 
Daniels  commanding. 

The  5th  regiment  cavalry,  from  Detroit,  December  4,  1305  strong — Col. 
J.  T.  Copeland  commanding. 

The  6th  regiment  cavalry,  from  Grand  Rapids,  December  10, 1220  strong — 
Col.  George  Gray  commanding. 

The  26th  regiment  infantry,  from  Jackson,  December  13,  903  strong — 
Col.  J.  S.  Farrar  commanding. 

The  quality  of  the  men,  physically,  mentally,  and  morally,  forming  the 
material  of  these  regiments,  has  never  been  and  can  never  be  excelled  in 
the  armies  of  any  State  or  nation,  and  it  may  well  be  questioned  if  it  was 
ever  equaled  outside  of  the  limits  of  the  Union. 

The  infantry  regiments  went  to  the  field  thoroughly  armed  and  equipped, 
the  arms  furnished  being  of  a  superior  quality.  The  cavalry  were  equally 
well  equipped ;  but  a  portion  of  the  arms  of  some  of  them  were  not  furnished 
until  after  reaching  the  seat  of  war. 

At  the  time  the  call  was  made  by  the  President,  and  on  which  the  above 
designated  regiments  were  raised,  much  anxiety  as  to  coming  events  and 
results  existed  throughout  the  land,  and  great  despondency  pervaded  the 
masses,  prevailing  to  an  alarming  extent  in  the  army.  The  disasters  of 
Bull  Run  and  Ball's  Bluff,  and  Bank's  retreat  from  the  Valley  of  the  She- 
nandoah  were  fresh  in  the  memory.  McClellan's  fruitless  peninsula  cam 
paign  had  just  terminated.  Gloom  covered  the  Union  cause  throughout  the 
North,  and  loyal  hearts  were  sad.  But  with  these  disasters  and  discour 
agements  patriotism  seemed  to  grapple,  and  strong  and  loyal  men  flocked 
to  service  under  the  standard  of  their  country,  without  money  or  price,  and 
with  laudable  determination.  The  regiments  referred  to  were  recruited  in 
these  memorable  days,  the  darkest  of  the  rebellion.  Fighting  had  produced 
much  suffering,  and  bullets,  death,  and  war  had  proved  a  fearful  reality ; 
yet  patriotism  in  Michigan  was  at  its  maximum,  and  her  people  demonstra 
ted  their  indomitable  pluck. 

While  great  activity  prevailed  among  the  people  and  in  the  State  Mili 
tary  Departments,  in  meeting  the  call  of  July  2d,  strong  hopes  were  enter 
tained  that  the  final  requisition  for  additional  volunteers  had  been  reached. 
The  President  issued  an  order  on  the  4th  of  August  for  a  draft  to  be  made 
without  delay  of  300,000  militia  to  serve  for  nine  months.  On  the  9th  of 
the  same  month  general  orders  were  promulgated  by  the  War  Department, 
assigning  the  quotas  of  the  several  States,  that  of  Michigan  being  11,686, 
same  as  under  the  last  call. 

Special  instructions  of  a  later  date  directed  that  if  volunteers  for  old  and 
new  regiments  mustered  from  July  2d  exceeded  the  number  called  for 
(11,686)  the  excess  might  be  deducted  from  the  number  drafted. 

Accepting  the  exigency,  the  Governor  issued  his  proclamation  to  the 
proper  civil  officers  of  each  township  and  ward  to  make  a  complete  census 
of  the  citizens  of  proper  age  and  forward  returns  to  the  county  clerk  of  their 
respective  counties  on  or  before  the  10th  day  of  September  following.  This 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  163 

new  demand  upon  the  resources  and  patriotism  of  the  people  was  assented 
to  with  great  unanimity,  and  its  propriety  and  necessity  generally  accepted, 
but  the  desire  was  to  obviate  a  draft,  and  strong  efforts  were  being  put  forth 
to  furnish  the  quota  in  volunteers. 

The  commissioners  appointed  by  the  Governor  to  superintend  the  draft, 
together  with  the  sheriff's  and  clerks  of  counties,  were  constituted  recruiting 
officers. 

General  orders  were  issued  from  the  Adjutant-General's  Department  of 
the  State,  apportioning  the  quota  to  be  raised  on  the  basis  of  the  census  of 
1860,  (the  military  enumeration  being  yet  incomplete,)  and  accrediting 
each  county  with  the  number  of  men  which  had  been  furnished  by  each 
since  the  2d  of  July,  as  shown  by  special  returns  made  from  the  regiments 
themselves,  and  appointing  the  following-named  persons  to  carry  the  draft 
into  effect  in  their  respective  counties : 

Allegan  county,  Henry  Dumont,  commissioner ;  L.  Foster,  surgeon. 
Branch  county,  Geo.  A.  Coe,  commissioner ;  Phineas  P.  Nichols,  Henry  B. 
Stillman,  surgeons.  Berrien  county,  Charles  R.  Brown,  commissioner;  John 
M.  Roe,  Morgan  Enos,  surgeons.  Bay  county,  Henry  Raymond,  commis 
sioner  ;  Chas.  H.  Reynolds,  surgeon.  Barry  county,  Norman  Bailey,  com 
missioner  ;  John  Roberts,  surgeon.  Calhoun  county,  J.  B.  Greenough,  com 
missioner  ;  Z.  T.  Slater,  W.  H.  Johnson,  surgeons.  Cass  county,  Chas.  W. 
Clisbee,  commissioner;  Alonzo  Garwood,  surgeon.  Clinton  county,  R. 
Stickland,  commissioner ;  Dr.  Topping,  surgeon.  Cheboygan  county,  -  — ; 
Eaton  county,  Joseph  M.  Hazlett,  commissioner ;  Alden  B.  Sampson,  sur 
geon.  Emmet  county, .  Genessee  county,  Warner  Lake,  commissioner ; 

Daniel  Clarke,  surgeon.  Gratiot  county,  -  — ,  commissioner;  John  B. 
Cheeseman,  surgeon.  Grand  Traverse,  Morgan  Bates,  commissioner  ;  -  — , 
surgeon.  Hillsdale  county,  E.  O.  Grosvenor,  commissioner ;  A.  Cressy,  sur 
geon.  Huron  county,  W.  D.  Luddington,  commissioner.  Ingham  county, 
Lemuel  Woodhouse,  commissioner ;  Dr.  Hill,  surgeon.  Ionia  county,  Al 
bert  Williams,  commissioner.  Isabella  county, .  Jackson  county,  Eu 
gene  Pringle,  commissioner ;  Gordon  Chittack,  surgeon.  Kent  county,  P. 
H.  L.  Pierce,  commissioner ;  Almon  M.  Ellsworth,  surgeon.  Kalamazoo 
county,  Charles  S.  May,  commissioner ;  Wm.  Mottram,  surgeon.  Lapeer 
county,  Virtulon  Rich,  commissioner;  Oliver  T.  Strowbridge,  surgeon.  Liv 
ingston  county,  William  Riddle,  commissioner ;  Chas.  W.  Haze,  surgeon. 
Lenawee  county,  Perley  Bills,  commissioner ;  Dr.  Pearsoll,  Edwin  P.  An 
drews,  surgeons.  Leelanaw  county, .  Macomb  county,  Dexter  Muzzy, 

commissioner.  Mecosta  county, .  Midland  county,  Lorenzo  F.  Tay 
lor,  commissioner.  Manitou  county, .  Mason  county, .  Manistee 

county, .     Monroe  county,  Edwin  P.  Dorch,  commissioner  and  surgeon. 

Montcalm  county,  R.  K.  Divine,  commissioner.  Muskegon  county,  Chaun- 
cey  Davis,  commissioner.  Newaygo  county,  John  A.  Brooks,  commissioner; 

A.  D.  Leonard,  surgeon.     Oceana  county, .     Ottawa  county,  C.  B.  Al- 

bee,  commissioner ;  J.  D.  North,  surgeon.  Oakland  county,  Clark  Beards- 
lee,  commissioner.  Shiawasse  county,  lona  Fuller,  commissioner;  David 
F.  Alsdorf,  surgeon.  Saginaw  county,  Addison  Brewer,  commissioner ;  Hi 
ram  C.  Driggs,  surgeon.  St.  Clair  county,  Marcus  H.  Miles,  commissioner ; 
C.  M.  Stockwell,  surgeon.  St.  Joseph  county,  John  W.  Frey,  commissioner ; 
Francis  J.  Morse,  surgeon.  Tuscola  county,  Charles  B.  Mills,  commission 
er  ;  Wm.  Johnson,  surgeon.  Van  Buren  county,  O.  T.  Welch,  commission 
er  ;  John  W.  Emery,  Eugene  Bitely,  Decatur,  surgeons.  Wastenaw  coun 
ty,  James  McMahon,  commissioner ;  D.  A.  Post,  Ebenezer  Mills,  surgeons. 
Wayne  county.  Christian  H.  Buhl,  commissioner ;  E.  M.  Clark,  J.  M.  Swift, 


164 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


Louis  Davenport ;  Dr.  Keiffer,  surgeons.  C.  H.  Buhl  of  Wayne  resigned 
after  serving  a  considerable  time,  and  was  succeeded  by  Joseph  Warren. 

In  counties  where  commissioners  and  surgeons  were  not  appointed  by  this 
order,  the  Sheriffs  thereof  were  authorized  to  designate  commissioners,  with 
power  to  appoint  surgeons. 

On  account  of  the  want  of  preparation  in  most  of  the  States  for  an  imme 
diate  draft,  the  Government  found  it  expedient  to  postpone  the  period  for  it 
to  take  place  and  to  extend  the  time  for  the  completion  of  the  regiments  in 
process  of  organization. 

In  the  meantime  the  most  strenuous  and  effective  measures  were  being 
continued  by  most  of  the  townships  and  wards  then  behind  to  furnish  the 
number  required  of  them  without  recourse  to  draft,  and  to  aid  in  this,  large 
local  bounties  were  offered  and  the  most  efficient  means  of  recruiting  em 
ployed. 

The  results  of  the  military  census  are  presented  in  the  following  table 
taken  from  the  Adjutant-General's  report  for  1862.  Where  the  figures  are 
omitted  in  the  first  column,  the  counties  failed  to  make  returns. 

Table  showing  the  number  of  persons  between  the  ages  of  18  and  45  enrolled  by  Assessors,  September  10. 1862, 
the  number  exempted,  and  the  number  subject  to  draft;  together  with  the  number  returned  in  June,  under  a. 
law  of  the  State. 


COTJ1CTT. 

No.  of  men  en 
rolled    by  As 
sessors. 

No.  exempted. 

No.  subject  to 
draft. 

No.  returned  in 
June,     under 
State  law. 

Allegan                     

1  844 

2721 

2  264 

*818 

1  446 

1  814 

Bay  

1061 

315 

746 

2  534 

3  172 

9  713 

5126 

1  123 

4  003 

4  499 

Cass 

1  824 

2  217 

Cheboygan  

109 

f72 

37 

104 

Clinton      ....                          

2  126 

748 

1  378 

Eaton 

2  672 

790 

1  882 

25 

2  627 

2  513 

Hillsdale  

4,392 

1,238 

3,154 

3  708 

642 

103 

539 

1  773 

2  563 

Ionia        

2.850 

1,234 

1  616 

Isabella          .                      ... 

276 

Jackson  

4,527 

J618 

3,909 

3  885 

Kent           

3934 

2  160 

4  309 

738 

3  631 

3  527 

I/apeer   

2.530 

795 

1,786 

1  897 

6  544 

1,067 

5  477 

5  095 

2  248 

2  782 

223 

2223 

188 

3485 

819 

2  666 

2  976 

111 

76 

35 

Midland  

132 

152 

229 

97 

132 

°00 

Monroe  

3,069 

675 

2394 

1  936 

573 

240 

Newaygo  

650 

161 

489 

Ottawa     

1  760 

2  085 

Oakland                         

5  901 

968 

4  933 

4  967 

1  305 

Sanilac              

1,294 

436 

858 

2  951 

821 

2130 

2  497 

St.  Clair  

4,006 

972 

3.034 

4  042 

St.  Joseph                

3089 

3  276 

776 

750 

Van  Buren     '.. 

2,734 

544 

2  190 

2  355 

5.879 

984 

4  895 

Wayne                                           .. 

12  538 

2  432 

10  106 

11  224 

Subject  to  draft  

91,071 

*0f  these  797  were  exempted  by  the  surgeon.  fMost  of  these  are  Indians,  whom  hitherto  the  War 

Department  has  refused  to  muster  into  service.  1  Exempted  by  surgeon,  419.  §  There  was  no 

surgeon  in  this  county,  and  these  figures  show  the  total  enrollment. 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  165 

In  the  same  report  of  the  Adjutant-General  is  found  the  following  state 
ment  regarding  the  population  of  counties  and  the  number  of  persons  subject 
to  draft  on  the  basis  of  the  census  of  1860 : 

"  The  total  population  of  the  counties  above  enumerated  at  the  census  of 
1860  was  715,595.  The  proportion  of  persons  residing  therein  who  are  sub 
ject  to  draft  is  as  1  to  857-1000.  The  counties  which  have  made  no  returns 
are  Alcona,  Alpena,  Chippewa,  Delta,  Gratiot,  Grand  Traverse,  Houghton, 
(included  with  Keweenaw  in  I860,)  losco,  Leelanaw,  Marquette,  Manitou, 
Manistee,  Muskegon,  Osceola,  Oceana,  Ontonagon,  Presque  Isle,  and  School- 
craft,  and  their  aggregate  population  in  1860  was  35,415.  The  same  ratio 
which  rules  in  the  counties  from  which  returns  have  been  received  would 
produce  in  the  counties  last  mentioned  a  military  strength  of  4,507,  making 
the  aggregate  of  persons  yet  remaining  in  the  State  between  the  ages  of  18 
and  45,  and  subject  to  draft  for  military  purposes,  95,578,  less  the  number 
of  volunteers  who  have  enlisted  since  September  10, 1862." 

The  War  Department,  now  fully  aware  of  many  obstacles  in  the  way  of 
making  a  draft  at  that  time  and  hoping  that  the  necessary  additional  troops 
could  be  raised  by  volunteer  enlistments,  left  the  time  for  drafting  to  the 
discretion  of  the  governors. 

Early  in  September  three  companies  of  men,  nearly  full,  had  been  offered 
from  the  Upper  Peninsula,  and  there  was  reason  to  believe  that  three  more 
would  be  filled  in  the  same  section  of  country.  The  27th  infantry  was, 
therefore,  with  the  assent  of  the  Government,  organized  and  put  in  rendez 
vous  at  Port  Huron  in  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Thomas  S.  Sprague.  The 
authority  given  by  the  War  Department  to  Col.  Kellogg  to  raise  the  7th 
cavalry  was  confirmed  by  the  Governor,  and  that  regiment  was  thereupon 
organized  and  ordered,  under  date  of  October  29th,  to  rendezvous  at  Grand 
Rapids. 

At  the  same  time  the  Governor  accorded  permission,  (the  same  hav 
ing  been  previously  given  by  the  General  Government,  subject  to  his  ap 
proval,)  to  Col.  John  Stockton,  of  Mount  Clemens,  and  to  Capt.  James  J. 
David,  of  Trenton,  then  in  the  U.  S.  Quartermaster's  Department,  to  raise 
an  additional  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  the  8th  was  thereupon  ordered,  with 
its  camp  at  Mount  Clemens,  and  the  9th,  which  had  its  rendezvous  at  Cold- 
water. 

An  urgent  desire  having  been  manifested  to  organize  another  infantry 
regiment,  Col.  Edward  Doyle,  of  Detroit,  received  authority,  with  the  assent 
of  the  War  Department,  to  raise  the  28th ;  and  on  application  the  Depart 
ment  also  consented  to  the  raising  of  a  regiment  of  sharpshooters,  the  organ 
ization  of  which  had  been  placed  in  the  charge  of  Capt.  C.  V.  DeLand,  of 
the  9th  infantry.  The  Government  had  specially  authorized  advanced 
bounty  and  one  month's  pay  to  volunteers  in  either  of  these  regiments,  and 
vigorous  efforts  were  very  generally  entered  upon  to  fill  their  ranks. 

It  was  supposed  by  many  citizens  that  were  an  opportunity  offered  for 
men  to  enlist  for  the  same  term  as  the  law  provided  for  drafted  levies — nine 
months — larger  numbers  would  avail  themselves  of  it  to  volunteer  for  that 
period  who  declined  to  accept  a  longer  service.  Willing  to  afford  every 
reasonable  encouragement  to  the  disposition  so  generally  manifested  to  fur 
nish  all  the  men  required  without  resorting  to  draft,  and  fully  mindful,  also, 
of  his  obligations  to  the  National  Government,  His  Excellency,  on  the  29th 
of  November,  issued  a  proclamation  which  so  clearly  represents  the  situation 
at  the  time,  and  is  so  intimately  connected  with  the  State  military  record, 
that  we  take  the  liberty  of  presenting  it  in  full : 


166  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

To  the  People  of  the  State  of  Michigan  : 

It  is  essential  to  the  maintenance  of  the  honor  of  the  State,  by  meeting  its 
obligations  to  the  Federal  Government,  that  the  quota  of  the  troops  required 
of  Michigan  under  the  call  for  600,000  men  should  be  speedily  furnished. 
I  have  felt  great  confidence  that  this  might  be  done  without  resort  to  a  draft, 
but  it  will  be  impossible  at  the  rate  enlistments  have  been  making  for  the 
last  month  and  more.  The  number  required  of  each  town  and  ward  in  the 
State  has  been  assigned  upon  the  principle  of  giving  credit  for  all  recruits 
furnished  since  the  first  of  July  last.  Substantial  justice  in  this  respect  has 
been  done  toward  all.  To  be  exact  was  impossible,  and  to  go  back  of  the 
first  of  July  was  impracticable,  both  because  the  order  of  the  Secretary  of 
"War  did  not  authorize  it,  and  because  there  was  no  reliable  record  by  which 
such  credit  could  be  made  up  with  any  chance  of  fairness. 

It  is,  therefore,  indispensable  that  the  several  towns  and  wards  of  cities 
should  furnish  the  number  of  recruits  assigned  to  them,  and  I  take  this  oc 
casion  to  assure  the  people  that  unless  the  men  are  furnished  by  voluntary 
enlistment  they  will  be  taken  by  the  draft. 

For  the  purpose  of  still  giving  abundant  opportunity  to  fill  the  quota  of 
the  State  by  voluntary  enlistment,  recruiting  will  be  continued  as  follows : 

1st.  Recruits  will  be  received  for  new  regiments  now  forming  in  the  State, 
and  for  all  the  old  regiments  now  in  the  field,  until  and  including  the  29th 
day  of  December  next.  These  must  be  enlisted  for  the  term  of  three  years 
or  during  the  war. 

2d.  From  the  1st  to  the  16th  day  of  December  next  volunteer  recruits 
will  be  received  for  the  old  regiments  only  to  serve  for  nine  months,  in  pur 
suance  of  the  act  of  Congress. 

3d.  On  the  30th  day  of  December  next  the  draft  will  commence  and  pro 
ceed  until  the  requisite  number  is  obtained  in  all  those  towns  and  wards 
which  shall  then  be  found  delinquent. 

Less  than  four  thousand  men  are  now  required  to  fill  the  entire  quota  of 
the  State,  and  I  earnestly  hope  that  they  will  be  found  to  come  forward 
cheerfully  and  enlist  for  the  war,  as  all  our  troops  thus  far  have  done.  And 
I  desire  this  not  so  much  because  there  is  anything  discreditable  in  a  draft, 
as  because  it  is  exceedingly  desirable  that  all  the  troops  from  Michigan 
should  stand  on  the  same  footing  in  the  army.  Let  the  people  of  Michigan 
make  one  more  loyal  and  vigorous  effort,  and  the  entire  number  required 
can  be  obtained,  and  the  high  reputation  of  the  State  for  patriotism  and 
promptness  will  be  maintained. 

AUSTIN  BLAIR. 

Dated  Jackson,  November  29,  1862. 

The  aggregate  number  of  troops  enlisted  and  mustered  up  to  December 
23d,  1862,  as  reported  by  the  Adjutant-General,  was  as  follows  : 

Total,  including  recruits,  sent  to  the  field  before  July  1st,  1862,  24,281 ; 
"  Lancers  "  and  "  Hughes'  Horse  Guards,"  regularly  mustered  into  the  ser 
vice,  but  disbanded  without  leaving  the  State,  987  ;  three  regiments  of  cav 
alry,  ten  of  infantry,  and  one  battery,  sent  since  July  1st,  13,739 ;  recruits 
(including  six  for  nine  months)  received  from  July  1st  to  December  23d, 
2,162 ;  estimated  strength  of  three  regiments  of  cavalry,  two  of  infantry,  one 
of  sharpshooters,  and  two  batteries,  organizing  in  the  State,  4,400.  Total, 
45,569. 

This  does  not  include  volunteers  from  this  State  who  have  gone  into  the 
regiments  of  other  States,  to  a  number  known  to  exceed  1,400. 

A  considerable  number  of  recruits  had  also  been  enlisted  in  the  State 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  167 

during  the  summer  and  fall  for  the  regular  army,  probably  three  or  four 
hundred  at  least. 

These  troops,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  of  the  earlier  regiments  that 
were  mustered  into  service  by  the  late  Lieut.  Col.  E.  Buckus,  Capt.  J.  C. 
Kobinson,  and  Capt.  H.  R.  Miner,  U.  S.  army,  were  mustered  under  the 
direction  of  the  late  Gen.  J.  R.  Smith,  U.  S.  army,  a  citizen  and  resident  of 
Michigan,  who  was  United  States  military  commander  in  the  State  and 
chief  mustering  officer  until  the  adoption  of  the  provost  marshal's  system 
when  he  was  detailed  as  commissary  of  musters,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  The  energetic  and  faithful  services  rendered  by 
him  aided  much  in  facilitating  the  speedy  despatch  of  troops  to  the  front. 

The  report  of  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State  for  1862  closes  with  the 
following  extract,  which  undoubtedly  expressed  the  estimation  in  which  the 
Michigan  troops  were  held,  and  did  not  by  any  means  over-estimate  their 
services,  and  certainly  was  correct  as  to  the  loyalty  and  patriotism  of  the 
people  at  that  period  of  the  war : 

"At  the  time  of  making  the  last  annual  report  from  this  department,  cov 
ering  only  a  small  portion  of  the  force  now  in  the  service  from  this  State,  it 
was  thought  that  the  regiments  then  reported  would  be  all  that  would  be 
required  to  suppress  the  rebellion ;  but  another  year  is  nearly  closed,  and 
regiment  after  regiment  has  been  raised,  until  a  large  army  has  gone  from 
the  State,  and  still  the  rebellion  goes  on.  Notwithstanding  all  this,  the 
loyalty  and  patriotism  of  the  people  is  unexhausted.  The  same  determina 
tion  seems  to  exist  as  at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  that  it  must  be  put 
down,  and  the  nation  redeemed  at  any  sacrifice.  The  promptness  and  cheer 
fulness  with  which  every  call  made  by  the  General  Government  upon  the 
State  has  been  responded  to  bespeaks  the  intelligent  loyal  patriotism  of  its 
people.  The  people  of  Michigan  are  intelligently  loyal  on  the  subject  of 
the  war,  and  her  soldiery  are  intelligently  brave  and  patriotic,  true  to  the 
honor  of  their  State  and  their  nation,  preferring- on  all  occasions  death  be 
fore  dishonoring  either. 

"  The  troops  from  the  State  of  Michigan  have  gained  a  prominent  position 
in  the  armies  of  the  nation.  They  have  done  their  duty  faithfully,  fully, 
and  fearlessly,  and  borne  the  brunt  of  many  well-fought  fields.  Some  of 
them  have  proved  an  anomaly  in  modern  warfare ;  suddenly  called  from 
the  common  avocations  of  life,  and  within  a  very  few  days  of  the  time  of 
leaving  their  native  State,  they  have  been  pitted  against  the  veteran  troops 
of  the  enemy  of  their  country  in  superior  numbers,  and  completely  routed 
them.  It  has  been  the  fortune  of  some  of  them  voluntarily  and  successfully 
to  lead  the  'forlorn  hope,'  regardless  of  opposing  numbers.  Their  scars  and 
thinned  ranks  now  attest  their  services  to  their  country.  The  honor  of  their 
nation  and  their  State  has  been  safe  in  their  hands,  and  both  will  cherish 
and  reward  them.  Monuments  to  the  memory  of  the  brave  dead  are  now 
erected  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  national  monuments  to  their  mem 
ory  will  be  erected  by  a  grateful  country." 

The  military  operations  in  the  field  in  1862  had  not  been  much  in  favor 
of  the  Union  cause.  In  December  the  Union  army  in  Virginia  had  failed 
in  its  attack  on  Fredericksburg,  the  Western  army  had  been  successful  at 
Stone  River  in  the  same  month,  both  important  engagements,  and  in  effect 
nearly  balancing.  Yet  the  people  of  the  country  seemed  not  to  be  discour 
aged  nor  to  falter  in  their  determination  to  press  on  to  ultimate  success  by 
putting  down  the  nefarious  rebellion.  In  good  old  Michigan  loyalty  and 
patriotism  seemed  in  the  ascendant. 

Governor  Blair,  in  his  message  to  the  Legislature,  in  January,  1863,  in 


168  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

speaking  to  the  Michigan  soldiers  in  the  field,  alludes  to  their  services  as 
follows : 

"  Gentlemen,  I  commend  the  Michigan  troops  to  your  active  sympathy 
and  support.  By  their  heroic  endurance  of  the  hardships  of  war,  and  by 
their  splendid  bravery  in  battle,  they  have  crowned  the  State  with  glory. 
Their  battle-cry  is  '  Michigan !  remember  Michigan/  and  Michigan  must 
remember  them.  We  have  already  a  long  list  of  immortal  heroes  dead  in 
battle.  I  hope  you  will  in  some  appropriate  way  place  upon  the  enduring 
records  of  the  State  your  appreciation  of  the  valor  and  patriotic  devotion  of 
these  brave  men.  Let  us  hand  down  their  names  to  posterity  upon  an  illu 
minated  page,  that  they  may  be  revered  as  examples  for  all  time  to  come. 
They  belong  to  history  now.  We  must  take  care  that  it  is  rightly  written. 
Your  hearty  thanks  are  also  due  to  the  gallant  men  who  still  uphold  the 
flag  of  our  country  in  the  field,  and  have  lately  borne  it  on  to  victory  over 
bloody  ground.  Let  us  send  them  warm  words  of  cheer  from  home.  May 
God  give  them  other  and  greater  victories,  and  bring  them  speedily  back 
in  peace  and  triumph.  Then,  indeed,  shall  Heaven's  arches  ring  with  glad 
shouts  of  welcome." 

In  February  following,  the  Legislature  expressed  in  the  following  joint 
resolution  the  sentiments  of  the  Michigan  people  on  the  war  question : 

"  That  we  are  unalterably  opposed  to  any  terms  of  compromise  and  accom 
modation  with  the  rebels  while  under  arms  and  acting  in  hostility  to  the 
Government  of  the  Union,  and  on  this  we  express  but  one  sentiment — un 
conditional  submission  and  obedience  to  the  laws  and  Constitution  of  the 
Union." 

In  March,  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  passed  by  the 
Legislature  in  compliment  to  the  Michigan  soldiers  in  the  field : 

Whereas  the  citizen  soldiers  of  Michigan  have  responded  cheerfully  to 
their  country's  call,  have  never  hesitated  or  faltered  when  duty  prompted 
or  danger  threatened,  and  by  their  indomitable  fortitude  under  the  fatigues 
and  privations  of  war,  their  heroic  bravery  and  brilliant  achievements  upon 
the  battle-field,  have  crowned  themselves  with  glory,  and  given  to  Michigan 
imperishable  renown ;  therefore, 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Michi 
gan,  That,  tendering  to  them  the  thanks  of  the  State  for  their  valuable  ser 
vices,  we  also  assure  them  that  while  Michigan  thus  holds  them  forth  as 
examples  of  emulation  to  the  soldiers  of  other  States,  she  is  also  proudly 
grateful  to  them  for  the  renown  which  their  noble  deeds  have  shed  upon 
her  name,  and  claiming  them  for  her  own,  she  points  to  them  with  feelings 
of  maternal  pride,  and  in  the  language  of  the  noble  Roman  mother  exclaims, 
"  These  are  my  jewels." 

Resolved,  That  the  Governor  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  required  to  forward  a 
copy  of  the  foregoing  preamble  and  joint  resolution  to  each  of  the  regiments 
and  batteries  of  Michigan  soldiers  now  in  the  field. 

An  act  was  passed  by  this  Legislature  authorizing  the  payment  by  the 
Quartermaster-General  of  $50,  State  bounty  from  March  6,  1863,  which 
was  continued  until  November  20th  following.  The  Legislature  also  legal 
ized  the  action  of  the  townships,  cities,  and  counties  in  raising  bounties  for 
volunteers. 

In  compliance  with  a  recommendation  of  the  Governor,  the  Legislature 

fenerously  appropriated  $20,000  to  assist  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  in  the 
eld,  and  likewise  to  aid  those  in  the  State,  and  in  payment  for  services  of 
agents  to  properly  carry  into  effect  the  measure.     In  1865  an  additional 
amount  of  $25,000  was  set  apart  for  that  purpose. 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  169 

Under  the  law  referred  to  six  agents  were  appointed,  and  entered  upon 
this  duty :  Benjamin  Vernon,  at  Detroit ;  Dr.  J.  TuroniclifFe,  Jr.,  at  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.;  Luther  B.  Willard,  at  Nashville,  Tenn.;  J.  B.  Gillinan,  at 
Louisville,  Ky.;  Weston  Flint,  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  and  Darius  Clark,  in  New 
York  city.  During  the  latter  part  of  the  war  D.  A.  Millard  was  employed 
at  the  Washington  agency. 

The  necessity  for  these  agencies  became  more  and  more  apparent  every 
day  as  the  war  progressed,  proving  of  immense  benefit  to  the  Michigan 
troops  in  general,  and  particularly  to  those  who  found  it  necessary  to  accept 
pecuniary  assistance.  The  agencies  were  managed  by  gentlemen  much  in 
sympathy  with  the  cause  of  the  soldiers,  taking  much  interest  in  their  wel 
fare,  consequently  laboring  faithfully  in  their  behalf. 

At  the  commencement  of  1863,  three  regiments  of  cavalry,  two  of  infan 
try,  one  of  sharp-shooters,  and  two  batteries  were  in  process  of  recruitment 
within  the  State. 

During  January,  the  company  known  as  the  "Provost  Guard,"  raised  by 
Captain  E.  D.  Robinson,  under  authority  from  the  War  Department,  for 
duty  at  the  Detroit  Barracks,  was  mustered  into  service.  Also  company 
"  L,"  "  Merrill  Horse,"  recruited  at  Battle  Creek  by  Captain  Almon  E. 
Preston. 

The  7th  cavalry,  recruiting  for  which  had  commenced  in  September  pre 
vious,  remained  in  rendezvous  at  Grand  Rapids  until  the  20th  of  February 
following,  when  eight  companies,  which  had  been  completed,  were  ordered 
to  report  at  Washington,  and  a  few  days  thereafter  took  up  their  march  for 
that  purpose,  under  command  of  Colonel  W.  D.  Mann.  The  remaining 
battalion  was  left  in  camp  to  recruit,  and  joined  the  regiment  in  the  field 
during  the  month  of  May. 

The  8th  cavalry,  at  its  rendezvous  at  Mt.  Clemens,  enlisted  a  force  in 
officers  and  men  of  1,117,  as  is  shown  by  its  muster-in  rolls,  and  two  bat 
talions  moved  towards  Kentucky  on  the  12th  of  May,  under  command  of 
Colonel  John  Stockton,  the  remaining  companies  following  two  weeks  there 
after. 

The  9th  cavalry,  under  command  of  Colonel  James  J.  David,  took  up  its 
line  of  march  from  Coldwater  to  Cincinnati  on  the  18th,  20th,  and  25th  of 
May,  leaving  two  incomplete  companies  to  be  filled.  These  soon  after  joined 
the  regiment  in  the  field.  The  muster-in  rolls  show  the  original  strength  of 
the  regiment  as  1,073. 

Recruiting  for  the  two  regiments  of  infantry  forming,  in  December — the 
27th  and  28th — proceeded  so  slowly  that  it  was  determined,  in  view  of  the 
exigencies  of  the  service,  to  consolidate  them,  and  on  the  1st  of  February 
the  27th  was  ordered  to  break  camp  at  Port  Huron  and  proceed  to  the  ren 
dezvous  of  the  28th,  at  Ypsilanti.  The  process  of  consolidation  was  there 
completed,  the  united  regiments  becoming  known  as  the  27th  Michigan  In 
fantry.  On  the  12th  of  April,  eight  companies  being  filled,  began  their 
movement  to  Cincinnati,  under  command  of  Colonel  D.  M.  Fox,  their  mus 
ter-in  rolls  showing  an  aggregate  of  865.  The  completion  of  the  regiment 
was  afterwards  effected. 

The  1st  regiment  of  Michigan  sharp-shooters,  which  had  its  first  rendez 
vous  at  Kalamazoo,  was  afterward  transferred  to  Dearborn,  and  on  the  8th 
of  July,  six  companies  only  being  filled,  was  ordered  to  Indianapolis,  under 
command  of  Colonel  C.  V.  DeLand.  The  completed  muster-in  rolls  of  the 
regiment  show  an  aggregate  of  963. 

The  10th  battery,  under  command  of  Captain  J.  C.  Schultz,  left  Grand 

K* 


170 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


Rapids  with  the  7th  cavalry,  destined  to  Washington,  its  muster-in  roll  con 
taining  the  names  of  104  officers  and  men. 

The  11  th  battery,  under  Captain  Charles  J.  Thompson,  raised  in  connec 
tion  with  the  9th  cavalry,  left  Coldwater  with  the  regiment,  having  108 
names  on  its  muster-in  rolls,  and  reported  at  headquarters  of  the  Depart 
ment  of  Ohio,  at  Cincinnati. 

The  12th  battery,  Captain  E.  G.  Hillier,  which  had  a  somewhat  informal 
origin  in  connection  with  the  8th  cavalry,  was  ordered  to  Dearborn  after 
the  departure  of  the  latter  regiment.  It  proceeded  thence  to  Indianapolis 
in  July.  The  muster-in  roll  of  the  battery  shows  that  up  to  its  completion 
219  officers  and  men  had  been  mustered  in. 

The  quota  of  the  State,  under  the  President's  call  of  August  4,  1862,  for 
300,000  militia  remaining  unfilled,  a  draft  was  made  in  February  follow 
ing,  on  the  basis  of  the  census  of  1860,  in  the  counties  then  in  arrear  for  the 
small  deficiency  then  existing.  The  number  of  men  drafted  was  1278.  Of 
this  number  (either  of  themselves  or  by  substitutes)  710  were  delivered  at 
the  United  States  barracks  at  Detroit,  545  of  whom  were  sent  to  various 
regiments  and  batteries  in  the  field,  a  few  of  the  remainder  deserting,  while 
others  were  discharged  for  alienage,  disability,  or  other  causes,  by  United 
States  authorities.  Of  the  545  men  thus  realized  from  the  draft  for  a  service 
of  nine  months  each,  430  were  induced  to  enlist  for  three  years,  115  only 
going  into  the  field  for  the  shorter  term.  These  facts  are  exhibited  in  clearer 
detail  in  the  subjoined  table,  showing  the  result  of  the  draft: 


Counties  in  which  draft  was 
made. 

Number 
drafted. 

Delivered 
at  barracks 

Accounted  for  at  barracks  or  sent 
to  regiments. 

For  3  ye'rs 

For  9  mos. 

Total. 

Allegan  

45 

47 
8 
56 
41 
76 
68 
65 
49 
158 
84 
127 
74 
59 
19 
45 
178 
16 
7 
56 

33 

37 
2 
44 
28 
60 
39 
36 
24 
92 
42 
64 
39 
19 
4 
25 
72 
14 
2 

34 

20 
10 

2 
*      34 
17 
36 
15 
20 
12 
56 
31 
44 
26 
13 
3 
11 
47 
11 

22 

2 
21 

1 
11 
8 
16 
5 
8 
14 
4 
2 
6 
1 
1 
10 
1 
1 
1 
2 

22 
31 

2 

35 
28 
44 
31 
25 
20 
70 
35 
46 
32 
14 
4 
21 
48 
12 
1 
24 

Barry  

Calhoun  

Cass  

Genesee  

Hillsdale    

Jackson  

Livingston  

Macomb     

Oakland     

Shiawassee        

St  Clair  

St  Joseph  

Van  I3uren  

Total  

1,278 

710 

430 

115 

545 

On  the  23d  of  June  Col.  F.  W.  Kellogg  was  authorized  by  the  War  De- 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  171 

partment  to  raise  two  additional  regiments  of  cavalry  and  two  more  batte 
ries  of  artillery,  to  be  completed  within  forty  days.  The  authority  was  upon 
the  direct  and  urgent  requests  of  the  Secretary  of  War  endorsed  by  the 
Governor,  although  he  had  determined  to  raise  no  more  new  regiments,  but 
to  receive  volunteers  only  for  the  wasted  regiments  in  the  field.  Having 
thus  consented  to  the  proposed  increase,  the  10th  cavalry  and  13th  battery 
were  thereupon,  under  the  personal  management  of  Col.  Kellogg,  placed  in 
rendezvous  at  Grand  Rapids,  and  the  llth  cavalry  and  14th  battery  were 
also  organized  under  the  same  direction,  with  headquarters  at  Kalamazoo. 
It  wras  found  impracticable,  however,  to  complete  these  bodies  within  the 
time  originally  limited,  and  the  10th  cavalry,  in  command  of  Col.  Thaddeus 
Foote,  of  Grand  Rapids,  left  its  camp  for  Lexington,  Kentucky,  on  the  1st 
of  December,  and  the  llth,  in  command  of  Col.  S.  B.  Brown,  of  St.  Clair, 
for  the  same  destination  on  the  17th,  the  former  numbering  912  and  the 
latter  921  on  their  muster-in  rolls.  The  two  batteries  remaining  in  the  State 
in  the  process  of  organization. 

The  Michigan  cavalry  had  been  so  uniformly  celebrated  in  the  Union 
armies  that  the  War  Department  gave  the  State  a  preference  regarding 
that  arm  of  service ;  consequently  Michigan  furnished  eleven  regiments,  a 
larger  proportion  of  her  troops  in  cavalry  than  did  any  other  State.  To 
Col.  Kellogg  unusual  credit  should  be  awarded,  having  by  indefatigable 
and  persistent  energy,  with  great  ability  and  tact  in  that  direction,  raised 
six  of  these  fine  regiments,  an  achievement  unparalleled  in  the  recruitment 
of  troops  in  this  or  any  other  State. 

In  July  the  Secretary  of  War  commissioned  Henry  Barns,  of  Detroit,  a 
colonel  in  the  United  States  army,  with  authority  to  recruit  a  colored  regi 
ment  in  Michigan.  With  the  approval  of  the  Governor  he  at  once  com 
menced  this  arduous  task,  and  the  1st  Michigan  colored  infantry  were  placed 
in  process  of  recruitment.  The  organization  was  completed  on  the  17th  of 
February  following,  when  it  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  with  895  names  on  its  rolls.  The  designation  of  the  regiment  was 
afterwards  changed  by  the  War  Department,  with  the  consent  of  the  Gov 
ernor  of  the  State,  to  the  102d  United  States  colored  troops.  It  left  its  ren 
dezvous  at  Detroit  on  the  28th  of  March  to  join  the  Ninth  Army  Corps,  then 
at  Annapolis,  Maryland. 

In  March,  1863,  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  passed  "  An  act  for 
enrolling  and  calling  out  the  national  forces,"  which  provided  elaborate 
details  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  object  in  view,  leaving  their  execution 
exclusively  in  the  hands  of  the  Federal  authorities. 

Under  the  law  referred  to,  the  national  force  was  declared  to  consist,  with 
certain  specified  exceptions,  of  "  all  able-bodied  male  citizens  of  the  United 
States  and  persons  of  foreign  birth  who  shall  have  declared  on  oath  their  in 
tention  to  become  citizens  under  and  in  pursuance  of  the  laws  thereof,  be 
tween  the  ages  of  twenty  and  forty-five  years ;"  and  this  force  was  divided 
into  two  classes,  the  first  to  comprise  "  all  persons  subject  to  do  military  duty 
between  the  ages  of  twenty  and  thirty-five  years,  and  all  unmarried  persons 
subject  to  do  military  duty  above  the  age  of  thirty-five  and  under  the  age 
of  forty-five ,"  the  second  to  comprise  "  all  other  persons  subject  to  do  mili 
tary  duty ;"  and  it  was  provided  that  the  latter  class  "  shall  not,  in  any  dis 
trict,  be  called  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  until  those  of  the  first- 
class  shall  have  been  called."  Each  Congressional  district  was  formed  into 
an  enrollment  district,  a  provost  marshal  and  board  of  enrollment  provided 
for  each,  and  these  districts  were  again  divided  into  sub-districts,  consisting 
of  wards  and  townships. 


172 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


Lieut.  Col.  Bennett  H.  Hill,  5th  U.  S.  artillery,  was  appointed  by  the 
War  Department  Acting  Assistant  Provost  Marshal  General  of  the  State. 
Col.  Hill  proved  to  be  an  officer  of  great  executive  ability,  truly  loyal  and 
patriotic.  He  superintended  the  enrollment  and  drafting  in  Michigan  dur 
ing  the  war.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point 
and  a  native  of  the  District  of  Columbia. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  served  as  provost  marshals : 

First  District — John  S.  Newberry,  of  Detroit,  who  was  succeeded  by  Mark 
Flanigan,  of  the  same  place ;  headquarters  at  Detroit. 

Second  District — Rollin  C.  Dennison,  of  Kalamazoo ;  headquarters  at  that 
place. 

Third  District — Robert  J.  Barry,  of  Ann  Arbor ;  headquarters  at  Jack 
son. 

Fourth  District — Norman  Bailey,  of  Hastings ;  headquarters  at  Grand 
Rapids. 

Fifth  District — Charles  M.  Walker,  of  Lapeer,  now  of  Adrian,  who  was 
succeeded  by  William  M.  McConnell,  of  Pontiac ;  headquarters  at  that 
point. 

Sixth  District — Randolph  Strickland,  of  St.  John's ;  headquarters  at  Flint. 

The  rendezvous  for  the  reception  of  drafted  men  was  established  at  Grand 
Rapids,  and  was  placed  in  charge  of  Gen.  S.  G.  Champlin,  formerly  of  3d 
Michigan,  and  remained  under  his  command  until  disability  caused  by 
wounds  rendered  his  continuance  on  duty  impossible.  He  was  relieved  by 
Col.  Norman  J.  Hall,  of  the  7th  Michigan,  who  was  in  turn  relieved  by  Col. 
Charles  H.  Town,  1st  Michigan  cavalry. 

The  rendezvous  was  continued  at  Grand  Rapids  until  March  4th,  1864, 
when  it  was  changed  to  Jackson  on  account  of  its  central  location.  Col.  G. 
S.  Wormer  had  charge  of  it  until  authorized  to  raise  the  30th  infantry,  when 
he  was  relieved  on  the  20th  of  November  following  by  Gen.  L.  Cutler,  of 
Wisconsin,  who  continued  in  command  until  recruiting  for  the  armies  ended. 

Through  these  agencies  a  general  enrollment  was  made  during  the  sum 
mer  ;  the  following  exhibit,  is  derived  from  the  returns  made  to  Colonel 
Hill,  showing  the  total  numbers  so  enrolled  in  the  State : 


First  Congressional  District. 

Third  Congressional  District. 

Name. 

First  Class. 

Second  Class. 

Name. 

First  Class. 

Second  Class. 

White 

Col. 

Total. 

Wh. 

Col. 

3 

White 

Col. 

Total. 

Wh. 

Col. 

1 

Wayne, 
Monroe, 
Lena  wee. 
Hillsdale, 

6825 
1870 
3739 
2468 

155 
10 
52 
13 

6980 
1880 
3791 
2481 

4067 
1056 
1973 
1413 

76 
2 
9 
2 

4143 

1058 

1982 

1415 

Eaton, 
Inpbam, 
Calhonn, 
Washtenaw, 
Jackpon, 

1498 
1579 
3045 
3822 
2996 

2 
4 
49 
75 

28 

~lb8 

1500 
1583 
3093 
3897 
3024 

868 
986 
1543 
1597 
1241 

20 
30 
4 

868 
986 
1563 
1627 
1245 

6289 

Total, 

14902 

230 

15132 

8509 

89 

8598 

Total, 

12940 

13098 

6235 

54 

Second  Congressional  District. 

Fifth  Congressional  District. 

Kalamazoo, 
St.  Joseph, 
Branch, 
Allegan, 
Berrien, 
Cass, 
Van  Bnren, 

2720 
2302 
2048 
1794 
2209 
1597 
1596 

63 
20 
13 
20 
78 
164 
62 

1-20 

2783 
2322 
2061 
1814 
2287 
1761 
1658 

14686 

1233 

1156 
1131 
1006 
1244 

848 
909 

18 
5 
2 
9 

K 

19 

1251 
1161 
1133 
1015 
1262 
921 
928 

Oakland, 
Livingston, 
Lapeer, 
Sanilac, 
St.  Clair, 
Macomb, 

Total, 

3798 
1814 

1486 
909 
2347 
2068 

52 
8 
12 
3 
9 
11 

3850 
1822 
1498 
912 
2356 
2079 

~125T7 

1665 
782 
776 
395 
1343 
1183 
6144 

7 
2 

"i 

... 

1672 
784 
776 
3i>5 
1347 
1183 

Total, 

14266 

7527 

144 

7671 

12422 

95 

13  j  6157 

RAISING  OF  TROOPS. 


173 


Fourth  Congressional  District. 

Sixth  Congressional  District. 

Kent, 

2788 

7 

2795 

1804 

7 

1811 

Clinton, 

1366 

1 

1367 

731 

731 

Ionia, 

1772 

6 

1778 

904 

1 

905 

Shiawassee, 

1313 

2 

1315 

730 

730 

Ottawa, 

1363 

20 

1383 

862 

3 

865 

Genesee, 

2375 

5 

2380 

1102 

1162 

Barry, 

1320 

8 

1328 

812 

3 

815 

Gratiot, 

566 

5 

571 

306 

306 

Montcalm, 

622 

3 

625 

261 

1 

262 

Tuscola, 

650 

650 

394 

394 

Muskegon, 

925 

3 

928 

271 

271 

Huron, 

590 

590 

192 

192 

Oceana, 

229 

3 

232 

92 

"i 

93 

Isabella, 

153 

153 

61 

61 

Newajgo, 

342 

342 

174 

1 

175 

Alpena, 

124 

124 

45 

| 

45 

Mecosta, 

222 

"2 

224 

78 

78 

losco, 

58 

58 

14 

14 

Mason, 

100 

100 

31 

31 

Midland, 

189 

"i 

190 

44 

44 

Manitou, 

100 

... 

100 

48 

48 

Bay, 

934 

6 

940 

32-1 

324 

Manistce. 

188 

... 

188 

51 

51 

Saginaw, 

2344 

4 

2348 

1047 

1047 

Grand  Traverse, 

203 

203 

91 

91 

Chippewa, 

134 

1 

135 

35 

35 

Sheboygan, 
Mackinac, 

36 
184 

... 

36 
184 

24 
53 

24 
53 

Marquette,         \ 
Schoolcraft,        ]" 

523 

2 

525 

86 

86 

Delta, 

139 

"i 

140 

25 

25 

Houghton, 

642 

... 

642 

120 

120 

Leelanaw, 

143 

... 

143 

50 

50 

Keweenaw, 

903 

"2 

905 

253 

253 

Benzie, 

85 

85 

46 

"i 

47 

Ontonagon, 

641 

1 

642 

200 

200 

Muskegon, 

51 

... 

51 

19 

... 

19 

Menominee, 

123 

123 

23 

23 

Emmett, 

27 

Cc 

27 

15 

... 

15 

Antrim, 

00 

10S94 

53 

55 

15 

..* 

15 

Total, 

13628 

30 

13658 

5767 

... 

5767 

Total, 

10947 

5720 

IS 

5744 

Recapitulation  by  Districts. 


First  class. 

Second  class. 

Districts. 

White. 

Colored. 

Total. 

White. 

Colored. 

Total. 

First  Congressional  District  ... 

14.902 

230 

15.132 

8,509 

89 

8,598 

Second  Congressional  District.. 

14,266 

420 

14,686 

7,527 

144 

7,671 

Third  Congressional  District.... 
Fourth  Congressional  District.. 

12.940 
10,894 

158 
53 

13.098 
10.947 

6.235 
5.726 

54 

18 

6.289 
5,744 

Fifth  Congressional  District  ... 

12.422 

95 

12,517 

6.144 

13 

6.157 

Sixth  Congressional  District  

13,628 

30 

13,658 

5,767 

5,767 

79,052 

986 

80,038 

39,908 

318 

40,22G 

On  the  completion  of  the  enrollment  in  each  of  the  several  States,  a  draft 
was  ordered  to  be  made  of  one-fifth  of  the  first  class  so  enrolled  therein ; 
this  number,  however,  to  be  subject  to  such  modifications  as  might  be  pro 
duced  by  an  adjustment  of  the  surplus  or  deficiency  existing  in  the  accounts 
of  each  State  under  previous  calls.  In  other  words,  a  State  which  had  fur 
nished  more  than  had  been  asked  for  under  previous  calls  of  the  General 
Government  was  to  be  credited  with  the  excess.  In  making  the  computa 
tions  necessary  to  this  adjustment,  the  term  of  service  and  number  of  men 
furnished  were  alike  taken  into  account,  and  the  advantages  to  the  people 
of  the  State  of  the  policy  which  had  prevailed  of  encouraging  three  years' 
enlistments,  at  periods  when  other  States  were  placing  nine  months'  or  two 
years'  men  in  the  field,  became  strikingly  manifest.  A  statement  sent  to 
the  Adjutant-General's  office  from  the  AVar  Department  gave,  on  the  26th 
of  May,  a  surplus  to  be  applied  on  the  impending  draft  of  4,403  men.  It 
had  been  the  practice,  in  the  absence  of  official  data  from  Washington,  to 
estimate  the  quota  of  Michigan  under  the  calls  of  1861  at  19,500,  that  being 
about  the  result  of  calculations  based  upon  the  census  returns  of  population. 
It  appeared  by  this  statement,  however,  that  the  Federal  authorities  had 
assumed  21,357  as  the  apportionment  of  the  State  under  the  call  referred 
to.  Notwithstanding  the  diminution  occasioned  by  this  discovery,  the  sur 
plus  credited  to  us  still  appeared  to  be  considerably  less  than  was  due  the 


174 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


State  according  to  its  own  records,  and  after  correspondence  and  examina 
tion  the  legitimate  credit  of  the  State  was  estimated  on  the  19th  of  Septem 
ber  at  a  total,  reduced  to  a  three  years'  standard,  of  9,518,  including  such 
as  had  been  enlisted  since  the  statement  of  May  26th. 

The  extent  of  our  territory,  and  the  difficulty  of  communication  in  some 
portions  of  it,  with  other  causes  perhaps,  delayed  the  completion  of  the  en 
rollment  until  the  fall.  On  the  27th  of  October,  a  draffc  began  in  the  sec 
ond,  third,  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  Congressional  districts,  and  on  the  5th 
of  November  in  the  first — the  number  of  enlistments  which  had  been  made 
down  to  those  dates  having  been  previously  added  to  the  credits  of  the  several 
sub-districts.  The  upper  peninsula  was  not  included  in  the  draft. 

In  making  a  draft  under  the  existing  law,  it  was  provided  that  fifty  per 
cent,  be  added  to  the  number  required  to  cover  exemptions,  &c. — the  quota 
actually  called  for  to  be  taken  in  the  order  of  numerical  precedence  from 
the  whole  number  drawn.  The  total  number  drafted  in  the  State  was  6,383. 
Of  these,  261  were  delivered  at  the  general  rendezvous  at  Grand  Rapids, 
643  furnished  acceptable  substitutes,  (43  of  whom  deserted  before  reaching 
rendezvous,)  1,626  paid  each  $300  commutation  money,  1,596  were  exempted 
for  physical  disability,  330  as  aliens,  204  for  unsuitableness  of  age,  and 
1,069  tailed  to  report.  The  subjoined  ta"ble,  giving  the  result  in  each  Con 
gressional  district,  is  interesting : 


First  District. 

Second  District. 

tS 

EH 
-M 
02 

5 
I 

23 
EH 

Fourth  District. 

Fifth  District. 

-»j 
o 

°£j 

02 

s 

^3 
W 

QD 

1 

1 

Number  drafted  

532 
15 

1402 
76 
3 
97 

rr 

387 

1083 
46 

1147 
61 

1197 
16 

1022 
47 

J6383 
261 
3 
600 
43 
1626 
128 
1596 
4 
330 
54 
204 

210 
79 

33 
79 
4 
60 
1069 

Drafts  deserted  

Substitutes  delivered  

38 
1 
176 

53 
10 
430 

30 

"281 

128 

351 

25 

58 

31 
2 
294 

Substitutes  deserted  

Exempted  for  physical  disability  

156 

472 
2 
26 
9 
41 

51 
20 

15 
19 
1 
13 
165 

191 

304 

254 

219 
2 
85 
12 
34 

29 
16 

4 

7 

Exempted  as  aliens  

12 
2 

18 

23 
5 

3 
13 
1 
8 
61 

42 
10 

36 

37 
14 

6 
12 
1 
23 
172 

58 
9 
30 

25 
14 

"l 

5 
193 

107 
12 
45 

45 
10 

5 
20 

Exempted,  over  or  under  age  

Exempted,  only  sons  of  infirm  parents, 

&c  

Exempted,  fathers  of  dependent  child- 

Exempted,  having  two  brothers  in  ser- 

Exempted,  in  service  March  3,  1863.. 
Exempted  for  conviction  of  felony  
Exempted  for  all  other  causes  ... 

8 
241 

1 

o 

237 

RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  175 

The  total  amount  of  money  paid  to  the  bounty  fund  of  the  General  Gov 
ernment  by  men  taken  under  this  draft,  as  commutation  to  secure  exemp 
tion  from  personal  service,  was  four  hundred  and  eighty-seven  thousand 
eight  hundred  dollars,  ($487,800.) 

In  October  a  new  system  of  recruiting  was  adopted  by  the  War  Depart 
ment,  allowing  to  persons  properly  authorized  as  recruiting  agents  $15  for 
each  recruit.  Subsequently  this  allowance  was  extended  to  all  citizens 
alike.  For  the  purpose  of  encouraging  volunteer  enlistments,  Government 
bounties  to  volunteers  were  also  largely  increased — $302  to  those  going  into 
service  for  the  first  time,  and  $402  to  veterans  re-enlisting,  while  local  boun 
ties  of  liberal  amount  were  offered  in  most  of  the  counties. 

On  the  17th  of  October,  the  President  of  the  United  States  issued  a  proc 
lamation  calling  upon  "  the  Governors  of  the  different  States  to  raise  and 
have  enlisted  into  the  United  States  service  for  the  various  companies  and 
regiments  in  the  field  from  their  respective  States,  their  quotas  of  300,000 
men."  It  was  further  proclaimed  that  the  large  bounties  previously  ordered 
should  be  continued  to  volunteers,  and  that  if  any  State  or  district  should 
fail  to  fill  its  quota,  a  draft  would  be  made  on  the  5th  of  January  ensuing, 
for  the  deficiency.  The  quotas  of  the  several  Congressional  districts  of  the 
State  were  assigned  by  the  Provost  Marshal- General  as  follows  :  first  dis 
trict,  2,137  ;  second  district,  2,074 ;  third  district,  1,861 ;  fourth  district, 
1,545;  fifth  district,  1,768  ;  sixth  district,  1,913— total  for  the  State,  11,298. 

The  Governor,  ever  ready  for  action  when  the  necessities  of  the  Govern 
ment  required  it,  desirous  of  securing  a  prompt  and  effective  response  to  the 
call  of  the  President,  issued  a  stirring  proclamation,  of  which  follows  an 
extract,  invoking  immediate  and  energetic  action  by  the  people  to  meet  the 
demand  without  a  draft : 

"  This  call  is  for  soldiers  to  fill  the  ranks  of  the  regiments  in  the  field — 
those  regiments  which  by  long  and  gallant  service  have  wasted  their  num 
bers  in  the  same  proportion  that  they  have  made  a  distinguished  name, 
both  for  themselves  and  the  State.  The  people  of  Michigan  will  recognize 
this  as  a  duty  already  too  long  delayed.  Our  young  men,  I  trust,  will 
hasten  to  stand  beside  the  heroes  of  Antietam,  Gettysburg,  Vicksburg, 
Stone  river,  and  Chicamauga. 

"  The  hopes  of  the  rebellion  are  steadily  perishing.  The  armies  of  the 
Eepublic  are  in  the  midst  of  their  country,  and  they  have  not  the  power  to 
expel  them. 

"  Fill  up  the  ranks  once  more,  and  the  next  blast  of  the  bugle  for  an 
advance  will  sound  the  knell  of  revolution  and  herald  in  the  return  of 
peace. 

"  Fellow-citizens,  let  us  do  it  willingly,  gallantly,  joyously.  The  people  of 
Michigan  have  heretofore  earned  the  gratitude  of  the  country  by  their 
promptness  and  energy  in  the  support  of  the  Government." 

This  appeal  was  received  by  the  people  of  the  State  with  the  same  cordial 
response  that  had  characterized  their  action  on  all  previous  demands  of  the 
Government,  and  they  went  to  work  with  their  usual  alacrity  and  success. 

The  returns  and  muster-rolls  on  file  show  that  from  December  23,  1862, 
down  to  December  31, 1863,  there  had  been  mustered  thirteen  thousand  five 
hundred  and  sixty-seven,  (13,567,)  and  an  aggregate  of  fifty-three  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  forty-nine  (53,749)  since  the  beginning  of  the  war, 
leaving  out  of  the  account  all  troops  disbanded,  estimated,  and  those  pay 
ing  commutation,  and  confining  the  statement  to  the  men  actually  put  in 
service. 

Having  in  our  narrative  reached  the  close  of  1863,  we  include  the  closing 


176  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

notice  of  Michigan  troops  in  the  field  from  the  report  of  the  Adjutant-Gen 
eral  of  the  State  for  that  year,  assigning  it  to  its  proper  place  at  this  time : 
"  The  war  against  the  rebellion  has  consumed  another  year.  Loyal  States 
have  furnished  quota  after  quota  of  men  to  support  it.  Michigan  has  speed 
ily  arid  cheerfully  responded  to  every  call,  and  fully  complied  with  every 
requirement  of  the  Government.  Michigan  will  continue  to  do  so  until 
every  rebel  in  arms  against  the  Republic  shall  be  defeated  and  sue  for 
peace.  Michigan  is  in  earnest  in  this  cause,  and  seeks  no  other  course  but 
to  fight  on  until  a  peace  is  successfully  conquered,  and  until  every  rebel 
State  is  brought  into  submission  to  the  power  of  the  National  Government 
and  is  made  to  acknowledge  their  allegiance  to  the  Constitution  and  the 
laws  of  the  land.  Michigan,  as  evinced  by  the  patriotism  of  her  citizens  at 
home  and  the  bravery  of  her  soldiers  in  the  field,  is  truly  loyal,  and  nobly 
gives  her  influence,  her  means,  and  the  best  blood  of  her  people  to  put  down 
forever  this  unjust,  unreasonable,  and  selfish  rebellion. 

"  During  the  present  rebellion  there  have  been  many  encouraging  and 
promising  features  developed  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war  against  it  that 
have  indicated  its  successful  and  satisfactory  termination,  but  none  more 
forcible,  or  that  will  fill  a  brighter  page  in  its  history,  or  denote  more 
strongly  the  determination  of  the  people  of  the  Union  to  bring  this  rebellion 
to  a  desirable  and  permanent  issue  and  to  sustain  and  perpetuate  the  na 
tional  existence,  or  that  exhibits  more  love  for  the  Republic  and  free  insti 
tutions  than  the  patriotic  and  glorious  tribute  voluntarily  made  to  their 
country  by  the  re-enlisted  veterans  who  are  now  swelling  the  ranks  of  the 
grand  armies.  They  are  returning  in  masses  to  their  native  States,  receiv 
ing  the  well-deserved  blessings  and  thanks  of  their  country,  their  families 
and  friends,  scattering  an  influence  and  a  power  in  behalf  of  their  States 
and  their  nation  that  makes  every  lover  of  his  native  land  and  his  race  re 
joice  in  great  hopefulness  in  the  future.  None  can  doubt  their  patriotism. 
None  can  question  their  honesty  of  purpose.  They  are  a  hope  and  encour 
agement  to  the  loyal  and  true,  and  a  blight  on  those  who  would  wilfully 
suffer  a  national  disgrace.  Michigan,  in  common  with  her  sister  States,  is 
proud  of  her  veteran  troops  returning  to  her,  as  they  do,  from  the  hard- 
fought  battles  of  many  fields,  scarred,  wounded,  and  weather-beaten — glo 
rious  evidences  of  faithful  service,  true  bravery,  and  gallant  deeds — marks 
that  endear  them  to  their  State  and  entitle  them  to  a  page  in  the  history  of 
her  heroes.  Having  again  pledged  themselves  to  defend  their  Government 
against  all  its  enemies,  they  are  returning  to  the  field,  carrying  with  them 
the  blessings  of  their  friends  and  the  gratitude  of  their  State,  again,  it  may 
be,  to  face  the  leaden  storm  from  rebel  ranks,  and  to  add  new  laurels  to 
those  already  gathered  by  them  on  the  sanguinary  fields  of  the  South ;  and 
while  the  people  praise  and  bless  the  living  heroes  who  return  to  them  who 
have  participated  in  those  scenes  of  national  strife,  and  will  cause  their 
names  to  be  handed  down  to  future  generations  as  defenders  of  the  freedom 
of  their  nation  and  their  race,  they  will  also  have  a  warm  place  in  their 
memories  for  those  who  return  not,  but  who  have  passed  away  amidst  those 
scenes  of  conflict  and  bravely  given  up  their  lives  in  the  same  glorious  cause, 
and  long  remember  them  with  gratitude  and  reverence  for  their  devotion 
and  sacrifice,  and  cause  the  page  of  history  to  record  them  as  amongst  the 
greatest  patriots  of  their  day  and  as  martyrs  to  the  freedom  of  all  mankind. 

"  The  troops  from  Michigan  have,  in  common  with  those  from  other  States, 
shared  in  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  the  campaigns  of  the  past  year. 
They  have  also  shared  with  them  in  the  glory  of  their  victories,  and  with 
them  nobly  and  courageously  sustained  the  prowess  of  the  Union  arms  in 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  177 

every  engagement.  Michigan  rejoices  at  the  laurels  gathered  by  the  troops 
from  other  States,  in  common  with  her  own,  while  gloriously  and  bravely 
battling  with  hers,  as  companions  in  arms  on  the  same  fields,  and  laments 
them  as  companions  in  death,  falling  side  by  side  in  the  cause  of  their  com 
mon  country ;  and  while  she  cheerfully  extends  to  the  Union  troops  in 
general  her  mete  of  praise  and  gratitude  for  their  bravery  in  battle,  and 
their  devotion  to  the  cause  of  freedom  and  free  institutions,  it  belongs  to  her 
in  duty  to  her  own  troops,  to  award  to  them  her  especial,  grateful  acknowl 
edgement  of  her  indebtedness  to  them  for  the  eminent  and  honorable  posi 
tion  which  she  has  acquired  among  her  sister  States  in  the  prosecution  of 
this  war,  in  vindication  of  national  freedom ;  and  while  she  would  not,  by 
detraction  from  the  meritorious  and  gallant  services  of  other  troops,  exalt 
her  own,  still  she  is  proud  to  say  that  no  regiment  of  her  gallant  sons  has, 
in  a  single  instance,  disgraced  either  itself  or  tarnished  her  honorable  and 
bright  escutcheon  ;  but  they  have  been  found  manfully  fighting  in  the  front 
rank  on  every  field,  and  have  been  trusted  and  relied  upon  for  efficiency  in 
cases  of  emergency  and  great  danger,  and  have  been  specially  distinguished 
as  possessing,  in  the  highest  degree,  that  characteristic  so  essential  to  suc 
cess  in  war — true  courage." 

The  prominent  feature  in  the  war  operations  of  1863  was  the  important 
battle  of  Gettysburg.  That  battle,  which  in  effect  proclaimed  with  most 
terrible  force  to  the  monster  rebellion  :  "  Thus  far  hast  thou  dared  to  come, 
but  must  advance  no  farther  at  thy  peril ;  back  to  thy  rebel  den ;  hence 
forth  you  can  only  fight  on  the  defensive,  for  thy  aggressive  power  is  broken, 
and  you  must  crumble  to  pieces  until  thou  art  dead — thy  rebel  spirit 
crushed  to  atoms,  never  to  rise  again." 

In  the  beautiful  cemetery,  where  now  quietly  rest  the  dead  heroes  of  that 
terrible  strife,  lie  the  bodies  of  two  hundred  and  twelve  (212)  brave  Michigan 
men,  being  the  third  largest  in  numbers  from  any  State.  Michigan,  there 
fore,  in  common  with  her  sister  States,  claims  a  general  credit  for  her  troops 
on  that  occasion,  but  nothing  more ;  the  honor  is  national,  not  State. 

The  operations  in  the  field  in  Virginia  during  the  year  closed  with  the 
movement  made  across  the  Rapidan  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  the 
assault  on  the  enemy's  position  at  Mine  Run,  which,  after  a  feeble  effort  on 
the  part  of  the  Union  forces,  resulted  in  failure,  and  the  recrossing  of  the 
army  to  its  former  position.  This,  of  course,  neither  strengthened  the  army 
nor  encouraged  the  hearts  of  the  Northern  people  ;  neither  were  the  former 
disposed  to  quail  under  defeat,  nor  the  latter  to  despair  at  disappointment. 

In  the  West  they  ended  with  the  splendid  Union  victory  at  Mission 
Ridge,  which  so  closely  followed  the  terrible  assault  at  Chicamauga,  and, 
in  a  measure,  counteracted  the  effect  of  that  memorable  disaster. 

The  important  event  occurring  with  the  commencement  of  1864  was  the 
return  of  the  "  veterans "  previously  mentioned,  who  had  re-enlisted  for 
another  term  of  service,  and  were  in  turn  on  furlough  and  reorganizing 
within  the  State. 

The  men  of  Michigan  entitled  to  re-enlist  had  availed  themselves  of  the 
opportunity  with  great  alacrity,  and  to  an  extent,  in  view  of  the  hardships 
they  had  already  encountered,  that  was  almost  surprising. 

Five  thousand  five  hundred  and  forty-five  of  them  accepted  the  propo 
sition  of  the  Government,  entitling  the  following  organizations  to  which 
they  belonged  to  the  designation  of  "veteran:"  1st,  2d,  and  3d  cavalry ; 
2d,  3d,  4th,  5th,  7th,  8th,  9th,  10th,  12th,  13th,  14th,  15th,  and  16th  regi 
ments  of  infantry ;  the  6th  heavy  artillery,  formerly  6th  infantry,  and  bat 
teries  "B,"  "0,"  and  "E,"  1st  light  artillery,  together  with  148  of  the  engi- 

L 


178  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

neers  and  mechanics.  There  were  also  many  others  in  regiments  of  other 
States,  for  which  credits  were  given  to  Michigan,  although  not  all  made 
available,  either  to  the  State  or  the  soldiers  themselves. 

The  Legislature,  011  February  5,  1864,  authorized  the  payment  of  $50 
State  bounty,  from  November  11,  1863,  to  February  4,  1864,  to  the  re- 
enlisted  veterans,  and  directed  the  payment  of  $100  to  all  soldiers  enlisting 
or  re-enlisting  after  that  date,  which  was  continued  until  May  14th  following. 
Townships,  wards,  and  cities  were  at  this  time  also  empowered  by  the  Legis 
lature  to  raise  money  by  tax  for  the  purpose  of  paying  bounties  to  volun 
teers,  not  exceeding  two  hundred  dollars  to  each  soldier. 

At  the  commencement  of  this  year  there  wTas  pending  the  call  of  the 
President,  of  October  17th,  for  Michigan's  quota  of  300,000  men,  assigned 
at  11,298. 

On  the  1st  of  February  the  following  order  was  issued  from  Washington  : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  February  1,  1864. 

Ordered :  That  a  draft  for  five  hundred  thousand  men,  to  serve  for  three 
years  or  during  the  war,  be  made  on  the  tenth  day  of  March  next,  for  the 
military  service  of  the  United  States,  crediting  or  deducting  therefrom  so 
many  as  may  have  been  enlisted  or  drafted  into  the  service  prior  to  the  first 
day  of  March,  and  not  heretofore  credited. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

The  practical  interpretation  of  this  order  by  the  Provost  Marshal-General 
made  this  merely  an  extension  of  the  call  of  October  17,  to  the  amount  of 
200,000  men,  or,  in  other  words,  a  new  call  of  that  number. 

On  the  14th  of  March  ensuing,  the  President  made  an  additional  order 
for  two  hundred  thousand  men,  designating  the  15th  day  of  April  as  the 
time  up  to  which  the  quotas  could  be  raised  by  voluntary  enlistments,  and 
as  soon  after  that  date  as  practicable  a  draft  should  be  made  for  the  deficit 
on  both  calls. 

An  act,  approved  July  4th,  of  this  year,  authorized  the  President  to 
accept  volunteers  for  one,  two,  or  three  years,  at  the  option  of  the  recruit, 
and  limited  the  term  of  men  drafted  to  fill  deficiencies  under  the  President's 
calls,  to  one  year.  The  commutation  system  was  also  abolished,  as  had 
previously  been  the  distinction  of  classes  as  regards  age,  which  had  been 
made  in  the  first  enrollment  act. 

On  the  18th  of  July  the  President,  under  authority  of  this  act,  issued  a 
proclamation  calling  for  500,000  men,  and  directing  that  credits  be  allowed 
to  States  in  the  reduction  of  their  quotas  for  all  the  men  furnished  for  the 
military  service  in  excess  of  all  previous  calls,  and  that  volunteers  be  ac 
cepted  for  one,  two,  or  three  years,  as  they  might  elect ;  and  further,  that 
immediately  after  the  5th  day  of  September  a  draft  for  troops  to  serve  for 
one  year  should  be  made  for  deficiencies  existing  at  that  date. 

The  appearance  of  this  call  received  a  prompt  response  on  the  part  of  the 
Governor,  who  immediately  issued  his  proclamation  calling  for  early  and 
earnest  efforts  to  meet  the  Presidential  requisition  upon  the  people  of  this 
State,  and  pointing  out  in  explicit  terms  the  readiest  and  most  feasible  plans 
of  doing  so.  The  proclamation,  which  belongs  to  the  history  of  Michigan, 
finds  a  proper  place  here : 

"  The  President  of  the  United  States,  in  pursuance  of  a  law  of  Congress, 
has  issued  his  call  for  five  hundred  thousand  (500,000)  volunteers  for  the 
military  service,  and  has  directed  that  immediately  after  the  5th  day  of 
September,  1864,  a  draft  of  troops,  to  serve  for  one  year,  shall  be  held  in 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  179 

every  town  or  sub-district,  to  fill  the  quota  which  shall  be  assigned  to  it, 
which  shall  remain  unfilled  on  the  said  5th  day  of  September,  1864. 

"  I  believe  this  call  to  have  been  eminently  proper  and  necessary  for  the 
public  service,  and  being  such,  to  demand  the  patriotic,  earnest,  and  hearty 
response  of  the  people.  That  it  will  be  met  in  the  same  spirit  that  has  put 
Michigan  thus  far  largely  in  excess  of  all  previous  calls,  there  can  be  no 
doubt.  The  rebellion,  as  it  approaches  its  final  overthrow,  grows  steadily 
more  desperate,  wicked,  and  hateful.  Covered  with  the  blood  of  patriots, 
cursed  with  the  dying  breath  of  starved  prisoners,  and  abhorred  by  all  good 
men  for  its  barbarous  butcheries  of  the  unarmed  who  have  ceased  to  fight, 
it  must  perish  utterly.  The  people  of  this  State,  remembering  their  past 
sacrifices  only  as  an  additional  motive  to  greater  exertions  in  the  future,  will, 
I  know,  enter  upon  this  present  duty  with  the  activity  and  energy  which 
does  not  admit  of  failure. 

"  The  quota  assigned  to  the  State  is  eighteen  thousand  two  hundred  and 
eighty-two,  (18,282,)  of  which  only  a  little  over  twelve  thousand  (12,000) 
remain  to  be  recruited,  or  drafted  if  the  recruiting  fails.  For  the  purpose 
of  filling  the  quota,  only  two  resources  are  available,  viz :  1st.  Recruiting 
in  the  States  declared  to  be  in  rebellion,  under  the  act  of  July  4th,  except 
the  States  of  Arkansas,  Tennessee,  and  Louisiana ;  and  2d.  Recruiting  among 
our  own  people.  The  first  of  these,  I  believe,  will  be  found  of  no  substantial 
value  to  us  at  present,  for  obvious  reasons.  The  points  at  which  this  recruit 
ing  is  to  be  carried  on  are  so  remote  that  the  period  of  fifty  days  will  not 
be  sufficient  to  enable  agents  to  accomplish  very  much  during  that  time, 
and  they  would  meet  the  active  competition  of  the  older  States,  paying 
much  larger  bounties  than  our  laws  enable  us  to  do.  I  shall  not,  therefore, 
appoint  any  such  agents  to  be  paid  by  the  State,  but  will,  under  proper 
regulations,  appoint  such  agents  for  the  benefit  of  any  counties,  towns,  or 
sub-districts  which  may  request  it,  paying  the  expenses  of  the  agencies  for 
themselves.  They  will,  of  course,  also  be  entitled  to  the  credits.  This 
course  is  also  justified  by  the  fact  that  the  State  has  no  funds  appropriated 
by  law  for  this  purpose. 

"  Substantially,  then,  our  only  resource  will  be  that  which  has  always  here 
tofore  been  found  sufficient,  the  patriotism  of  our  own  people. 

"  Recruits  will  be  allowed  to  enlist  for  one,  two,  or  three  years,  as  they  may 
prefer,  and  as  far  as  practicable  each  recruit  may  select  the  regiment  in 
which  he  will  enlist.  This  will  always  be  allowed  in  the  regiments  in  the 
field,  so  long  as  such  regiments  are  below  the  maximum  number.  As  an 
inducement  to  enlist,  the  Government  of  the  United  States  will  pay  a  bounty 
of  one  hundred  dollars  to  recruits  enlisting  for  one  year,  two  hundred  dol 
lars  for  those  enlisting  for  two  years,  and  three  hundred  for  those  enlisting 
for  three  years.  Such  local  bounties  will  be  paid  as  the  people  of  the  sev 
eral  towns,  wards,  and  sub-districts  may  authorize  in  pursuance  of  law.  No 
State  bounty  can  be  paid,  for  the  reason  that  the  appropriation  made  for 
that  purpose  is  exhausted.  For  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  recruiting  service 
and  giving  direction  to  the  public  efforts,  six  new  regiments  will  be  author 
ized,  one  of  them  being  located  in  each  Congressional  district,  and  I  will 
receive  all  the  new  companies  that  may  be  offered  during  the  fifty  days  of 
recruiting.  All  the  recruits  offered  for  the  new  regiments  and  companies, 
however,  must  be  enlisted  for  three  years  or  during  the  war.  Those  who 
enlist  for  a  shorter  term  than  three  years  will  go  into  the  regiments  now  in 
the  field. 

"I  earnestly  recommend  to  all  those  who  enlist  under  this  call,  whether  in 
the  new  organizations  or  the  old  ones,  to  do  so  for  the  war.  This  State  has 


180  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

thus  far  raised  no  troops  for  a  less  term  than  three  years.  Both  for  the 
Government  and  the  soldier  the  longest  term  is  the  best.  Let  us  continue 
to  adhere  to  this  policy,  which  has  given  us  a  most  honorable  position  in  the 
service,  and  the  reputation  of  the  Michigan  soldiery,  which  is  now  unsur 
passed,  will  continue  to  grow. 

"  The  work  of  filling  up  the  quota  of  the  State  is  for  the  people.  The  close 
of  the  war  visibly  approaches,  and  the  sure  triumph  of  the  Union  cause 
grows  manifest. 

"  Our  troops  are  now  led  by  tried  and  victorious  generals,  leaving  nothing 
to  be  desired  in  that  direction.  Conquering  Union  armies  are  in  the  very 
midst  of  the  Confederacy,  progressing  steadily  towards  the  final  victory. 
Let  the  people  of  the  country  stand  firmly  by  the  lawful  Government,  and 
they  can  safely  meet  what  is  to  come." 

Immediately  following  this  proclamation  orders  were  promulgated  from 
the  Adjutant-General's  office  authorizing  the  recruitment  of  six  regiments, 
one  in  each  Congressional  district,  permission  therefor  having  been  received 
from  the  War  Department. 

On  the  26th  of  July,  Col.  J.  W.  Hall  was  authorized  to  reorganize  the 
4th  infantry,  the  term  of  service  of  which  had  expired  and  the  regiment 
mustered  out  of  service.  The  rendezvous  of  the  regiment  was  located  at 
Adrian,  where  the  old  4th  was  organized,  and  Col.  Hall  was  made  com 
mandant  of  the  camp,  with  the  first  district  for  his  operations. 

On  the  29th  of  the  same  month,  orders  were  issued  to  reorganize  the  3d 
infantry,  whose  term  had  also  expired.  Col.  M.  B.  Houghton,  who  was 
connected  with  the  old  organization,  was  entrusted  with  the  charge  of  rais 
ing  the  new  regiment,  and  its  camp  was  placed  at  Grand  Rapids,  with  the 
fourth  district  for  the  field  of  its  recruiting. 

On  the  same  day  the  sixth  district  was  provided  for  by  the  appointment 
of  Hon.  John  F.  Driggs  to  take  charge  of  the  organization  of  a  new  regi 
ment  therein,  to  be  called  the  31st  infantry,  with  its  headquarters  at  Sagi- 
naw. 

A  regiment  for  the  third  district,  to  be  called  the  29th  infantry,  was,  on 
the  9th  of  August,  authorized  to  be  raised  at  Marshall,  with  Hon.  S.  S.  Lacey 
for  commandant  of  camp. 

In  the  second  district,  Hon.  W.  B.  Williams,  of  Allegan,  was,  on  the  15th 
of  August,  entrusted  with  the  organization  of  the  28th  infantry,  with  the 
camp  at  Kalamazoo. 

On  the  24th  of  August,  Major  John  Atkenson,  of  the  22d  infantry,  was 
authorized  to  raise  and  organize  the  30th  infantry,  its  rendezvous  to  be  at 
Pontiac. 

The  exigencies  of  the  services  did  not  permit  the  complete  organization 
of  these  regiments  before  the  enforcement  of  the  impending  draft. 

Seven  companies,  which  had  been  raised  for  the  30th  at  Pontiac,  were 
distributed  between  the  3d  and  4th,  four  companies  going  to  the  former  and 
three  to  the  latter,  and  the  organization  of  the  30th  was  abandoned. 

The  3d,  thus  reinforced,  completed  its  organization  at  once,  and  being 
mustered  in  with  879  officers  and  men,  left  camp  for  Nashville,  October  20. 

The  4th  also  was,  by  the  same  means,  enabled  to  take  the  field,  (where  a 
number  of  men  belonging  to  the  old  organization,  whose  terms  were  unex- 
pired,  yet  remained,)  and  left  the  State  with  726  officers  and  men  on  the 
22d  of  the  same  month,  also  for  Nashville. 

The  28th  and  29th  were  consolidated  into  one  regiment,  designated  as  the 
28th,  which,  after  completing  its  organization  at  Kalamazoo,  took  its  route 
thence  for  Nashville,  October  26,  with  886  officers  and  men. 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  181 

The  Sixth  District  regiment  completed  its  organization,  from  its  own  ter 
ritory,  and  was  the  first  of  the  new  regiments  to  leave  the  State,  having 
broken  camp  at  Saginaw  and  taken  its  departure  for  Nashville  on  the  6th 
of  October,  with  854  officers  and  men.  The  regiments  originally  known  as 
the  30th  and  29th,  having  been  consolidated  with  others,  as  mentioned  above, 
this  regiment  was  numbered  the  29th. 

Recruiting  having  been  prosecuted  with  more  or  less  vigor  throughout  the 
State,  a  draft  took  place  on  the  10th  of  June  to  fill  deficiencies  under  all 
former  calls,  including  that  of  October  17,  1863,  and  those  -of  February  1 
and  March  14,  1864,  which  was  followed  by  supplementary  drafts  in  sub- 
districts  which  the  principal  draft  failed  to  fill,  xlnd  again,  on  the  20th  of 
September,  there  was  another  draft  to  supply  deficiencies  under  the  call  of 
July  18  and  those  which  remained  under  the  calls  preceding  it. 

The  results  of  the  efforts  made  during  the  first  ten  months  of  the  year  in 
the  several  counties  of  this  State  to  fill  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  both 
by  enlistment  and  by  draft,  are  as  follows :  The  number  of  volunteers  en 
listed  in  the  arrny,  20,041 ;  the  number  of  men  drafted,  1,956 ;  the  number 
of  veterans  re-enlisted,  5,445  ;  the  number  of  men  enlisted  in  the  navy,  430 ; 
the  total  credits  in  numbers,  27,972 ;  the  numbers  credited  on  each  term  of 
service  from  the  1st  of  January  to  the  31st  of  October,  1864 — one  year, 
5,002  ;  two  years,  39  ;  three  years,  22,931. 

The  men  who  paid  commutation,  as  provided  by  laws  in  force  previous  to 
July  4th,  are  included  among  the  drafted  men  to  the  number  of  356. 

It  is  shown  in  this  exhibit  that  the  total  number  of  men  raised  in  the  State 
between  the  1st  of  January  and  31st  of  October,  1864,  including  drafted 
men  commuting,  was  27,972 ;  deduct  men  commuting,  356 ;  total  number 
of  men  actually  raised  during  the  ten  months  mentioned,  27,616. 

The  report  of  the  Adjutant-General's  department  for  1863  showed  that 
the  actual  number  of  men  furnished  by  the  State  from  the  beginning  of  the 
war  to  December  31,  1863,  was  53,749 ;  the  number  furnished  during  the 
first  ten  months  of  1864,  as  shown  above,  is  27,616 ;  making  a  total  to  No 
vember  1,  1864,  of  81,365.  The  true  credit  of  the  State,  as  represented  at 
the  War  Department,  up  to  the  last  date  mentioned,  is  obtained  by  adding 
the  number  of  men  commuting,  viz :  1,982 ;  showing  the  total  credit  of  the 
State  to  be,  83,347. 

The  striking  fact  is  exhibited  by  these  figures  that  during  ten  months 
only  of  1864  the  State  of  Michigan  had  furnished  more  than  half  as  many 
men  for  the  service  as  were  sent  from  the  State  during  the  whole  of  the  first 
three  years  of  the  war,  and  of  this  large  number  of  men  actually  furnished 
only  1,600  were  drafted. 

The  system  of  preserving  records  of  credits  by  sub-districts,  required  by 
the  laws  for  enrolling  and  calling  out  the  national  forces,  did  not  become 
practically  operative  until  the  19th  of  September,  1863.  In  the  books  of 
the  War  Department  enlistments  made  previous  to  that  date  were  entered 
to  the  credit  of  the  State  at  large.  All  that  had  been  made  after  that  were 
placed  directly  to  the  credit  of  the  sub-district  furnishing  them. 

Approximate  number  of  troops  furnished  by  the  State  prior  to  November 
1st,  1864:  Credits  from  January  1st  to  October  31st,  1864,  27,972;  enlist 
ments  prior  to  January  1, 1864,49,793 ;  additional  enlistments  not  included 
in  above  from  January  1,  1864,  2,026  ;  aggregate  October  31, 1864,  79,791. 
This  statement  does  not  include  the  three  month's  infantry,  Michigan  com 
panies  in  regiments  of  other  States,  and  some  2,000  additional  soldiers  whose 
residence  could  not  be  ascertained. 

The  above  aggregate  is  somewhat  smaller  than  the  aggregate  shown  in 


182 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


previous  statements  to  have  been  furnished,  and  the  difference  is  caused  by 
the  number  enlisting  in  the  earlier  stages  of  the  war  whose  residence  was 
not  reported  or  could  not  be  obtained.  The  entire  three  months'  regiment 
enlisting  in  1861  is  for  this  cause  omitted  from  the  figures  of  the  statement. 

The  term  of  service  of  the  llth  infantry  having  expired  during  the 
month  of  September,  1864,  a  desire  was  manifested  by  some  of  the  officers 
of  that  regiment  to  renew  its  organization.  Orders  were  issued  accordingly, 
on  the  3d  of  that  month,  and  authority  given  to  Col.  Win.  L.  Stoughton  to 
command  the  camp  of  rendezvous  at  Sturgis. 

On  the  3d  of  November,  Major-Gen eral  Hooker,  commanding  the  Depart 
ment,  being  here  on  a  personal  inspection,  recommended  to  the  Secretary  of 
War,  that  in  view  of  the  exposed  condition  of  the  frontier,  then  threatened 
by  outlaws  and  their  sympathizers  in  Canada,  and  ihe  limited  number  of 
troops  posted  for  its  defence,  a  regiment  of  volunteers  for  twelve  months  be 
raised  in  the  State  for  duty  along  the  Detroit  and  St.  Clair  rivers.  De 
spatches  investing  the  Governor  with  authority  for  this  purpose  were  the 
next  day  received  from  Washington,  and  on  the  7th  orders  were  issued  to 
organize  the  30th  Infantry,  with  its  rendezvous  at  Jackson.  In  acting  upon 
applications  for  authority  to  raise  companies  and  parts  of  companies  for  this 
regiment,  preference  was  given  to  those  who  had  seen  service.  On  the  22d, 
Lieut.  Col.  G.  S.  Wormer,  of  the  8th  cavalry,  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
30th,  and  commandant  of  camp.  Its  rendezvous  and  headquarters  were, 
on  the  10th  December,  removed  to  Detroit. 

The  approach  of  the  winter  caused  no  abatement  of  the  activity  of  the 
Union  armies  nor  checked  the  increasing  magnitude  of  their  operations. 
To  meet  the  necessities  of  the  gigantic  campaigns  then  going  forward  under 
the  direction  of  the  Lieutenant-General,  the  President  on  the  19th  of  Decem 
ber  issued  a  call  for  300,000  men  to  supply  a  deficiency  on  the  call  of  the 
18th  of  July,  and  directing  that  should  the  quotas  assigned  not  be  filled  be 
fore  the  fifteenth  day  of  February  following,  a  draft  should  be  made  for 
the  deficiency  then  existing. 

The  enrollment  of  the  State  was  carefully  corrected  and  adjusted  by  the 
Boards  in  the  several  sub-districts,  and  the  quotas  assigned  to  each. 

The  enrollment  of  the  counties,  with  their  respective  quotas  under  the 
call,  are  exhibited  in  the  following  table : 


Counties. 

Enrollment, 
Dec.  31,  '64. 

Quota,  call  of 
Dec  19,  '64. 

Counties. 

Enrollment, 
Dec  31,  '64. 

Quota,  call  of 
Dec  19,  '64. 

Allegan    .    ... 

1  472 

206 

Gr  Traverse 

181 

38 

89 

5 

Genesee 

1  954 

86 

Antrim  

49 

10 

Gratiot   

375 

60 

2  220 

250 

Hillsdale 

2  723 

218 

Berrien      . 

2  439 

317 

Housrliton 

780 

271 

Barry        

1  146 

165 

Huron  

213 

61 

Bav   .. 

528 

25 

Ingham  

1,708 

279 

120 

26 

Ionia  

1,813 

218 

Chippewa  

59 

66 

Isabella  

123 

15 

Cass    

1  46*7 

174 

losco  .... 

30 

7 

Calhoun  

3  174 

472 

Jackson 

3  135 

420 

Clinton  

1,347 

57 

Kalamazoo  

2  905 

327 

Delta 

35 

Keweenaw 

1  158 

589 

Eaton 

1  527 

234 

Kent  

2  661 

295 

Emmet  

21 

2 

Leelanaw  ... 

87 

18 

Carried  forvrd 

35.444 

4,911 

RAISING  OF  TROOPS. 


183 


Counties. 

Enrollment, 
Dec  31,  '64. 

Quota,  call  of 
Dec  19,  '64. 

Counties. 

Enrollment 
Dec  31,  '64. 

Quota,  call  of 
Dec  19,  '64. 

Br't  forw'd 

35  444 

4  911 

Macornb 

2  018 

225 

Lenawee 

4  787 

439 

Ne  wago 

299 

57 

Livingston  .... 
Lapeer  

1,619 
1,300 

206 
134 

Ottawa  
Oceana  , 

1,436 
212 

189 
31 

Monroe  

1,613 

198 

Ontonagon  .... 

476 

316 

Montcalm 

527 

80 

Oakland     .... 

3  644 

471 

Muskegon.  .  . 

407 

63 

St   Clair   

1  895 

222 

Mecosta  

102 

15 

Sheboygan  .... 

35 

4 

49 

13 

St.  Joseph  

2,209 

323 

Manitou 

28 

7 

Sao"inaw      .. 

2  160 

130 

Manistee   ..  .. 

122 

5 

Sanilac      

573 

71 

Mackinaw  
Midland  

87 
149 

19 
5 

Shiawassee  ... 
Tuscola  

1,161 
552 

63 
20 

Menomioee  .... 
Marquette  and 
Sch'lcraft... 

69 
225 

32 

182 

Van  Buren.  ... 
Washtenaw  ... 
Wayne  

1,540 
3,687 
9,574 

205 
503 
871 

Total 

77  999 

10  010 

The  end  of  operations  in  1864  found  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in  the 
trenches  before  Petersburg  holding  Lee  as  in  a  trap,  Sherman's  army  in  pos 
session  of  Savannah,  and  Thomas  successful  in  Tennessee. 

This  memorable  year  was  fraught  with  great  results  to  the  nation,  effected 
by  the  unparalleled  fighting  of  hosts  of  men,  wading  deep  in  human  blood 
through  carnage  dense. 

The  day  and  night  advances  of  Grant's  army  on  Richmond  were  to  the 
Northern  people  movements  producing  intense  anxiety,  strong  hope,  fervent 
prayers  for  success,  and  sorrow  and  sadness  for  the  patriots  passing  away. 

The  desperate  advance  of  Hood  on  Nashville  had  been  most  successfully 
met  by  General  Thomas,  his  army  completely  defeated,  routed,  and  driven 
in  hot  haste  southward  in  a  most  demoralized  condition. 

General  Sherman  had  gallantly  driven  the  enemy  from  beyond  Chatta 
nooga  and  onwards,  had  battered  down  his  strong  works  at  Atlanta,  then 
bidding  farewell  to  his  friends,  and  placing  both  flanks  of  his  noble  army 
in  air,  swung  off  for  the  sea,  leaving  the  nation  in  great  ignorance  and 
intense  uneasiness  as  to  his  movements  and  safety,  and  is  first  heard  from  in 
the  dispatch  of  General  Howard,  of  his  army,  saying  :  "  We  have  had  per 
fect  success,  and  the  army  in  fine  spirits ;"  and  then  by  General  Sherman 
himself,  sending  to  Abraham  Lincoln  a  telegram  covering  the  capture  of 
Savannah  as  a  Christmas  present. 

The  State  of  Michigan  commenced  1865  with  that  determination  to 
crush  out  the  rebellion  which  had  characterized  her  soldiers  and  people  so 
far  during  the  war,  as  expressed  through  the  Legislature  in  the  following 
resolution,  included  among  the  joint  resolutions  on  the  state  of  the  Union, 
approved  March  21,  1865  : 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Michi 
gan,  That  in  the  name,  and  in  behalf  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  Michi 
gan,  we  hereby  re-affirm  the  devotion  of  this  Commonwealth  to  the  Consti 
tution  and  Government  of  the  United  States,  and  the  earnest  determination 
of  its  people  to  do  everything  in  their  power  to  support  and  sustain  the 
National  Administration,  in  all  measures  for  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  the 
existing  war,  the  utter  overthrow  of  armed  rebellion,  and  the  punishment 
of  traitors,  until  a  permanent  peace  shall  be  secured,  based  upon  the  sub- 


184  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

mission  of  the  rebels,  the  supremacy  of  the  Government,  and  the  establish 
ment  of  the  Federal  Union  in  all  its  integrity,  one  and  inseparable, 
throughout  the  entire  land. 

The  troops  from  Michigan,  while  absent  from  their  homes,  honoring  their 
State  in  the  field  in  these  important  campaigns,  were  never  forgotten  by  the 
Executive,  nor  by  the  people.  Governor  Blair,  in  his  message  delivered  to 
the  Legislature,  January  4,  1865,  greets  them  most  affectionately  from  the 
Capitol  of  the  State,  on  vacating  the  chair  which  he  had  so  well  filled, 
and  highly  honored  with  distinguished  ability  and  efficiency  during  the 
years  of  the  war  that  had  passed.  Who,  in  the  administration  of  his 
executive  duties,  had  been  so  devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  his  State,  and 
so  true  and  loyal  to  his  country,  so  fair  and  clear  in  all  his  public  acts,  so 
untiring  in  the  discharge  of  his  arduous  and  perplexing  duties,  so  emi 
nently  pure  in  his  private  life,  and  so  thoughtful  at  all  times  of  the  soldier 
in  the  field,  that  his  official  career  had  been  deservedly  marked  with  great 
popularity  among  the  troops,  as  well  as  with  the  entire  people.  The  Gov 
ernor  alluded  to  them  in  the  following  beautiful  and  kindly  language : 

"  GENTLEMEN  :  Again  and  for  the  last  time,  I  commend  the  Michigan 
troops  to  your  continued  care  and  support.  They  have  never  failed  in 
their  duty  to  the  country  or  to  the  State.  Upon  every  great  battle-field  of 
the  war  their  shouts  have  been  heard  and  their  sturdy  blows  have  been 
delivered  for  the  Union  and  victory.  Their  hard-earned  fame  is  the 
treasure  of  every  household  in  the  State,  and  the  red  blood  of  their  veins 
has  been  poured  out  in  large  measure  to  redeem  the  rebellious  South  from 
its  great  sin  and  curse.  At  this  hour  they  stand  under  the  flag  of  their 
country,  far  away  from  home,  in  every  quarter  where  the  enemy  is  to  be 
met — along  the  banks  of  the  father  of  waters,  in  the  great  city  at  its 
mouths,  on  the  Arkansas,  in  the  captured  forts  of  the  Gulf,  by  the  waters 
of  the  Cumberland,  the  Tennessee,  and  of  the  Savannah,  in  the  chief  city 
)f  the  Empire  State  of  the  South,  among  the  conquering  columns  in  the 
Valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  in  the  trenches  under  the  eye  of  the 
Lieutenant-General  in  the  great  leaguer  of  Petersburg  and  Richmond. 
Alas,  that  they  are  also  perishing  of  cold  and  hunger,  and  disease,  in  the 
filthy  rebel  prisons  and  pestilential  camps  of  the  South.  In  every  situation 
their  bravery  has  won  the  approval  of  their  commanders,  and  their  heroic 
endurance  of  hardships  has  added  lustre  to  their  name.  It  is  my  sole 
regret  at  quitting  office  that  I  part  with  them.  My  earnest  efforts  for  their 
good  shall  follow  them  while  I  live,  and  now  from  this  place  I  bid  them 
hail,  and  farewell !" 

During  that  session  of  the  Legislature  the  following  concurrent  resolu 
tions  were  passed  : 

Whereas  the  Hon.  Austin  Blair,  whose  valedictory  message  was  delivered 
to  this  Legislature  on  the  fifth  of  January,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-five, 
has  retired  to  private  life ; 

And  whereas  the  four  years  of  his  administration  have  been  the  most 
laborious,  as  well  as  the  most  perilous  in  the  history  both  of  the  State  and 
of  the  nation,  with  eleven  of  the  most  Southern  States  banded  together  in 
the  most  unjustifiable  rebellion  that  the  world  has  ever  known  ; 

And  whereas  Governor  Blair's  administration  has  been  marked  by  emi 
nent  ability,  rare  integrity,  and  unsurpassed  success,  as  shown  by  the  enlist 
ments  and  organization  into  companies,  regiments,  and  batteries,  in  the  most 
perfect  military  order,  of  over  eighty  thousand  men,  as  brave,  true,  and 
patriotic  as  ever  bared  their  breasts  to  any  foe ;  therefore 

Hesolved,  (the  Senate  concurring,)  That  the  thanks   of  the   people  of 


RAISING  OP  TROOPS.  185 

Michigan,  through  this  Legislature,  are  hereby  cordially  tendered  to  ex- 
Governor  Blair,  for  the  able  and  satisfactory  manner  in  which  he  has, 
during  his  administration  of  the  last  four  years,  been  able  to  conduct  the 
affairs  of  the  government  of  the  State. 

Following  Governor  Blair,  Henry  H.  Crapo  took  the  executive  chair, 
bringing  to  the  service  of  the  State  and  the  nation  strong  and  inherent  pa 
triotism,  great  ability,  scrupulous  honesty  of  purpose,  and  a  most  remark 
able  and  pre-eminent  degree  of  physical  and  mental  energy,  with  almost  con 
tinuous  application,  giving  his  administration  great  efficiency  and  much  pop 
ularity.  The  Governor,  in  his  inaugural  message  delivered  to  the  Legisla 
ture,  referring  to  the  Michigan  troops  in  the  field,  for  whom  he  always  en 
tertained  the  most  profound  respect  and  the  highest  appreciation  of  their 
valuable  services,  says,  with  much  eloquence  and  feeling,  while  alluding  to 
the  great  loss  of  life  among  them  and  of  the  cause  in  which  they  were  then 
still  engaged : 

"  This  is  indeed  a  fearful  sacrifice  to  be  made  even  in  the  cause  of  liberty, 
justice,  and  humanity,  and  fearful  is  the  penalty  and  terrible  is  the  suffer 
ing  which  the  authors  and  leaders  of  treason  and  rebellion  deserve  and  must 
endure  as  a  just  consequence  of  this  enormous  crime.  These  brave  men — 
the  Michigan  troops — are  worthy  of  all  praise.  I  commend  them  to  your 
warmest  sympathies,  to  your  highest  regards,  to  your  active  support.  They 
have  done  heroic  deeds  on  every  battle-field ;  they  have  won  a  name  for 
undaunted  courage  in  every  conflict  with  a  deadly  and  persistent  foe ;  they 
have  endured  hardships  and  privations  without  a  murmur,  and  their  loyalty 
and  patriotism  have  never  yet  been  tarnished.  Those  who  have  fallen  upon 
the  battle-field  or  on  the  march,  or  have  died  in  hospitals — who  now  sleep 
in  death,  martyrs  to  the  cause  of  human  freedom — our  gratitude,  our  sym 
pathies  can  never  reach.  But  of  those  who  suffer  through  loss  of  them,  and 
of  those  brave  veterans  who  yet  survive,  we  should  ever  be  mindful.  A 
nation's  gratitude  should  ever  be  theirs ;  and  justice,  at  least,  should  be 
their  reward. 

"  Although  the  rebellion,  involving  a  civil  war  of  unparalleled  magni 
tude,  which  was  inaugurated  at  the  close  of  the  administration  of  James 
Buchanan  by  conspirators  and  traitors  for  the  overthrow  of  our  Govern 
ment,  still  aims  its  blows  at  the  dismemberment  of  the  Union,  causing  the 
devastation  of  portions  of  our  fair  land,  depleting  the  National  Treasury, 
and  destroying  many  of  our  best,  most  loyal,  and  patriotic  men,  the  efforts 
for  its  suppression  continue  to  be  prosecuted  with  undiminished  vigor  and 
with  unfaltering  purpose ;  and  the-  events  of  the  past  year  have  served  but 
to  increase  our  confidence  in  the  permanency  and  power  of  our  republican 
institutions.  The  nation,  it  is  true,  has  been  sorely  tried,  yet  it  has  exhib 
ited  strength  and  resources  far  beyond  the  most  sanguine  hopes  of  its  friends ; 
while  its  enemies,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  have  been  compelled  to  confess 
their  disappointment." 

Nor  were  they  forgotten  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State ;  for  on  the  22d 
of  February,  1865,  that  body  passed  the  following  concurrent  resolution : 

Resolved  by  the  House  of  Representatives,  (the  Senate  concurring,)  That  on 
this  anniversary  of  the  birthday  of  the  Father  of  his  Country  the  thanks  of 
this  Legislature,  and  through  us  of  the  people  of  the  State,  are  hereby  ten 
dered  to  the  soldiers  of  Michigan  who  promptly  responded  to  the  call  of 
their  country  in  its  time  of  peril ;  and  who  by  their  fortitude  and  soldierly 
bearing  under  the  privations  and  hardships  of  a  soldier's  life,  "  in  camp  and 
field,  through  march  and  siege,"  and  by  their  indomitable  bravery  and  hero- 

L  * 


186  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

ism  on  scores  of  battle-fields,  have  won  exalted  honor  to  themselves  and 
crowned  with  unfading  glory  the  name  and  fame  of  Michigan. 

With  the  great  increase  of  Government,  State,  and  local  bounties  in  1864 
commenced  the  decrease  of  patriotism  among  the  masses  outside  of  the  armies 
in  the  field,  and  which  continued  to  lessen  and  lessen,  and  at  the  commence 
ment  of  1865  was  not  held  out  as  any  part  of  the  inducements  to  enter  the 
service,  enlistments  had  become  a  matter  of  bargain  and  sale,  dollars  and 
cents  entirely  ruling  the  action. 

On  January  1st,  1865,  the  llth  regiment  of  infantry  was  in  process  of 
recruitment,  and  the  organization  of  the  30th,  designed  for  duty  on  the 
Michigan  frontier,  was  completed  on  the  9th  and  mustered  into  service  with 
the  maximum  number,  and  at  once  assigned  to  duty  along  the  Detroit  and 
St.  Clair  rivers,  with  headquarters  at  Detroit.  Little  progress,  however,  had 
been  made  in  filling  up  the  llth  until  February,  when  vigorous  measures 
toward  that  end  were  adopted,  and  on  the  4th  of  March  four  companies  left 
camp  at  Jackson  for  Nashville,  Tennessee.  On  the  18th  of  the  same  month 
the  remaining  six  companies  had  completed  their  organization,  and  on  that 
day  also  took  the  route  to  Nashville,  in  command  of  Col.  P.  EJ.  Keegan,  the 
muster-in  rolls  of  the  regiment  showing  a  strength  of  898  officers  and  men. 

On  February  4th,  1865,  the  Legislature  authorized  the  payment  of  $150 
State  bounty,  which  continued  to  be  paid  until  the  14th  of  May  following. 
Townships  were  empowered  at  the  same  time  to  pay  a  bounty  of  $100,  which 
was  paid  until  recruiting  ceased  in  the  State. 

The  successful  operations  of  the  United  States  armies  having  brought  the 
war  to  a  close  by  the  utter  overthrow  of  the  rebel  forces  early  in  the  spring 
of  1865,  orders  were  at  once  issued  to  abandon  all  pending  measures  for  the 
re-enforcement  of  the  national  arms,  and  recruiting,  as  well  as  operations 
under  the  draft,  ceased  on  the  14th  of  April.  Previous  to  that  date  and 
subsequent  to  the  1st  of  November,  1864,  there  had  been  raised  in  this  State 
9,382  recruits,  of  whom  7,547  voluntarily  enlisted  in  the  army  and  53  in 
the  navy,  and  1,782  were  drafted,  as  will  appear  in  the  records : 

The  following  is  a  general  summary  of  results,  showing  aggregate  num 
bers  of  the  credits  allowed  to  each  county  in  the  State  from  the  beginning 
to  the  close  of  the  war,  1865 :  Allegan,  2,175  ;  Antrim,  28  ;  Alpena,  58  ; 
Barry,  1,625;  Benzie,  70;  Bay,  511;  Branch,  2,776;  Berrien,  3,179; 
Cass,  1,832;  Calhoun  3,878;  Clinton,  1,606;  Chippewa,  21;  Delta,  24; 
Emmet,  39;  Eaton,  1,741;  Genesee,  2,518;  Gratiot,  646;  Grand  Traverse, 
171;  Hillsdale,  2,928;  Houghton,  460 ;  Huron,  342;  Ingham,  2,097  ;  Ionia, 
2,464;  Isabella,  137;  losco,  27;  Jackson,  3,232;  Keweenaw,  119  ;  Kent, 
4,214;  Kalamazoo,  3,221  ;  Livingston,  1,887;  Lena  wee,  4,437 ;  Leelanaw, 
98;  Lapeer,  1,776;  Monroe,  2,270;  Montcalm,  640;  Macomb,  2,360; 
Menominee,  19  ;  Marquette  and  Schoolcraft,  265  ;  Muskegon,  736  ;  Mecosta, 
159;  Mason  59;  Manitou,  10;  Manistee,  88;  Mackinac,47;  Midland,  129; 
Newaygo,  412 ;  Ontonagon,  254 ;  Oakland,  3,718 ;  Oceana,  223 ;  Ottawa, 
1,547  ;  Shiawassee,  1,753  ;  Cheboygan,  31 ;  St.  Joseph,  2,836  ;  Sanilac,  781 ; 
St.  Clair,  2,581 ;  Saginaw,  2,039  ;  Tuscola,  664 ;  Van  Buren,  1,884  ;  Wash- 
tenaw,  4,084;  Wayne,  9,213  ;  total,  89,173. 

The  sum  paid  into  the  Treasury  Department  of  the  United  States  by 
drafted  citizens  of  Michigan  as  commutation  money  was  $594,600.00. 

The  product  of  soldiers  and  credits  yielded  by  the  several  counties  is  in 
its  aggregate,  as  previously  intimated,  below  the  total  number  known  to 
have  been  furnished  by  the  State,  and  the  difference  is  caused  by  the  num 
ber  enlisting  in  the  earlier  regiments  whose  residence  could  not  be  ascer 
tained. 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  187 

The  reports  of  the  Adjutant-General's  Department  at  the  close  of  1864 
showed  that  the  actual  number  of  men  furnished  by  Michigan  from  the  be 
ginning  of  the  war  to  November  1,  1864,  was 81,365 

Add  the  number  of  men  commuting 1,982 

And  the  total  credits  to  that  time  were 83,347 

The  number  of  men  credited  by  enlistment  and  draft  from  Novem 
ber  1,  1864,  to  the  close  of  the  war  was 9,382 


Making  the  total  credits  of  the  State,  from  April,  1861,  to  April, 
1865,  the  entire  period  of  the  war,  as  shown  by  the  records  of 
this  office 92,729 

Deducting  from  this  aggregate  the  number  of  men  commuting 1,982 

There  is  left  a  total  of  numbers  actually  furnished  in  men  of. ,.  90,747 

These  figures  do  not  include  men  enlisted  in  regiments  of  other  States, 
and  are  believed  to  be  substantially  correct.  There  is  a  discrepancy,  how 
ever,  between  them  and  the  tables  of  the  War  Department,  as  will  be  seen 
by  the  subjoined  letter  from  the  Provost  Marshal-General : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
PROVOST  MARSHAL-GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  Sept.  2,  1865. 
His  Excellency  H.  H.  Crapo,  Governor  of  Michigan,  Lansing  : 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  the  number  of  men  furnished 
by  the  State  of  Michigan,  from  April  17,  1861,  to  April  30,  1865,  is  ninety 
thousand  and  forty-eight,  (90,048,)  without  reference  to  periods  of  service, 
which  varied  from  three  months  to  three  years. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  B.  FRY, 
Provost  Marshal-General. 

The  most  popular  and  effective  mode  of  raising  men  for  the  national  armies 
throughout  the  war  proved  in  Michigan  to  be  the  system  of  recruiting  volun 
teers.  This  system  gave  to  the  Union  armies  their  main  support.  Drafting 
or  conscripting  in  Michigan  did  not  produce  satisfactory  results  in  any  re 
spect,  while  volunteering  was  popular  and  successful. 

The  drafted  man,  without  reason,  looks  at  his  position  as  stripping  him 
of  individuality  and  patriotism,  and  as  making  him  a  mere  machine  in  the 
hands  of  the  law.  This  is  wrong  and  unreasonable  in  him.  The  nation 
recognizes  no  difference  between  the  faithful  services  rendered  the  country 
by  the  drafted  from  that  of  the  volunteer  soldier,  and  there  should  be  none ; 
neither  should  there  be  any  difference  in  his  condition  or  standing  in  the 
army,  and  there  really  is  none,  except  that  created  in  the  mind  of  the  con 
script  himself.  The  faithful  services  rendered  in  defence  of  his  country  by 
the  drafted  man  are  equally  acceptable  and  profitable  to  the  nation  and  as 
creditable  and  praiseworthy  to  himself  as  those  rendered  by  the  volunteer. 
But  it  seems  impossible  to  divest  the  mind  of  the  conscript  that  in  allowing 
himself  to  be  drafted  he  has  not  robbed  himself  of  his  patriotism,  and  that 
he  is  considered,  both  at  home  and  in  the  service,  as  an  unwilling  defender 
of  his  nation. 

Conscripts,  as  well  as  the  people,  should  recognize  the  truth  that  every 


188  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

nation  must  possess  the  power  under  its  laws  to  compel  its  citizens  to  fight 
in  its  defence  and  to  protect  and  secure  its  national  existence  against  all  its 
enemies  either  at  home  or  abroad ;  and  this  power  must  be  carried  into  ef 
fect,  when  necessary,  by  draft  or  conscription,  and  if  properly  and  fairly 
exercised  under  existing  laws,  should  not  be  considered  by  them  as  an  odious 
or  unjust  measure,  but  should  be  sustained  and  carried  fully  into  effect 
when  the  necessities  of  the  country  demand  it ;  but  such  is  not  the  case. 

The  conscription,  as  a  general  thing,  is  evaded,  when  possible,  by  the 
loyal  as  well  as  by  the  disloyal  to  a  certain  extent,  as  every  man  coining 
within  its  reach  seems  to  object  to  it.  The  rich  man  puts  it  at  defiance  un 
der  the  law  with  his  money,  and  the  poor  man  evades  it,  when  he  can,  with 
his  infirmities.  Communities,  while  truly  loyal,  will  make  voluntary  sub 
scriptions  to  raise  money  to  supply  commutation  to  secure  their  citizens 
against  the  operations  of  the  draft,  even  if  the  exigencies  of  the  service  should 
be  ever  so  urgent,  and  almost  at  the  same  time,  with  exemplary  loyalty  and 
patriotism,  will  in  like  manner  make  similar  contributions  to  procure  volun 
teers  to  fill  deficiencies  caused  by  this  action  of  theirs.  The  influence,  en 
ergy,  and  means  of  the  people,  and  the  arguments  and  admonition  of  the 
press,  have  been  used  to  raise  men  to  avoid  it  as  if  it  were  a  public  calamity 
to  be  dreaded  and  avoided  if  possible,  and  hence  its  unpopularity. 

With  the  surrender  of  the  rebel  army,  under  General  Lee,  on  the  9th  of 
April,  1865,  and  the  subsequent  surrender  of  General  Johnston's  army,  in 
the  same  month,  the  war  which  had  been  waged  against  the  Union  ended, 
and  soon  after  the  troops  belonging  to  the  various  States  began  to  leave  the 
field. 

The  Michigan  troops  being  among  the  first  to  receive^  orders,  the  20th 
regiment  arrived  in  the  State  June  4,  1865,  and  others  followed  in  succes 
sion,  down  to  June  10,  1866,  when  the  3d  and  4th  regiments  of  infantry 
reached  the  State,  being  the  last  belonging  to  the  State  to  leave  the  field. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1865,  Governor  Crapo  issued  the  following  procla 
mation  of  thanks  to  the  returning  Michigan  troops,  which  properly  belongs 
to  the  military  history  of  the  State  : 

"  MICHIGAN  SOLDIERS — OFFICERS  AND  MEN  :  In  the  hour  of  national 
danger  and  peril,  when  the  safety — when  the  very  existence — of  your 
country  was  imperilled,  you  left  your  firesides,  your  homes,  and  your  fam 
ilies,  to  defend  the  Government  and  the  Union.  But  the  danger  is  now 
averted,  the  struggle  is  ended,  and  victory — absolute  and  complete  victory — 
has  perched  upon  your  banners.  You  have  conquered  a  glorious  peace, 
and  are  thereby  permitted  to  return  to  your  homes  and  to  the  pursuits  of 
tranquil  industry,  to  which  I  now  welcome  you !  And,  not  only  for  my 
self,  but  for  the  people  of  the  State,  do  I  tender  you  a  most  cordial  greet 
ing. 

Citizen  soldiers  !  Recognized  by  the  institutions  of  the  land  as  freemen — 
as  American  citizens,  that  proudest  of  all  political  distinctions — and  pos 
sessing,  in  common  with  every  citizen,  the  elective  franchise,  which  confers 
the  right  to  an  exercise  of  the  sovereign  power,  you  had  become  so  iden 
tified  and  engrossed  with  the  national  enterprise  and  prosperity  derived 
from  the  untrammeled  privileges  of  republican  freedom,  that  the  enemies 
of  those  institutions,  in  their  ignorance  of  the  principles  upon  which  they 
are  founded,  madly  -and  foolishly  believed  that  you  were  destitute  of  man 
hood.  They  supposed  you  had  become  so  debased  by  continued  toil  as  to 
be  devoid  of  every  noble  impulse.  They  imagined  that  you  were  cowards 
and  cravens,  and  that  by  the  threatenings  alone  of  a  despotic  and  tyrannical 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  189 

oligarchy  you  could  not  only  be  subdued,  but  robbed  of  your  inheritance 
of  freedom — of  your  birthright  of  liberty — those  glorious  and  priceless  lega 
cies  from  your  patriotic  sires.  Through  the  vilest  treachery  and  the  foulest 
robbery,  these  wicked  and  perjured  men,  whom  their  country  had  not  only 
greatly  benefitted  and  favored,  but  highly  honored,  believed  that  by  de 
spoiling  your  country  of  its  reputation,  of  its  treasures,  of  its  means  of  pro 
tection  and  defence,  they  had  ensured  your  degradation  and  defeat. 

Fatal  mistake !  and  terrible  its  consequences  to  those  wicked  and  for 
sworn  men,  as  well  as  to  their  deluded  and  blinded  votaries ! 

Soldiers :  You  have  taught  a  lesson,  not  only  to  the  enemies  of  your 
country,  but  to  the  world,  which  will  never  be  forgotten.  With  your  brave 
comrades  from  every  loyal  State  in  this  great  and  redeemed  Union,  you  have 
met  these  vaunting  and  perjured  traitors  and  rebels  face  to  face,  upon  the 
field  of  battle,  in  the  front  of  strongly  fortified  intrenchments,  and  before 
almost  impregnable  ramparts ;  and  by  your  skill  and  valor — your  persis 
tent  efforts  and  untiring  devotion  to  the  sacred  cause  of  freedom,  of  civili 
zation,  and  of  mankind — you  have  proved  to  those  arch  criminals  and  their 
sympathizers  that  it  is  not  necessary  for  men  to  be  serfs  and  slaves  in  order 
to  be  soldiers,  but  that  in  the  hands  of  free  and  enlightened  citizens,  enjoy 
ing  the  advantages  and  blessings  conferred  by  free  institutions,  the  temple 
of  Liberty  will  ever  be  safe,  and  its  escutcheon  forever  unsullied. 

Fellow-citizens  of  Michigan — patriotic  citizen  soldiers — although  you  re 
turn  to  us  bearing  honorable  marks  of  years  of  toil,  of  hardship,  of  priva 
tion,  and  of  suffering — many  of  you  with  bodies  mutilated,  maimed,  and 
scarred — mourning  the  loss  of  brave  comrades  ruthlessly  slain  on  the  field 
of  battle,  tortured  to  death  by  inches,  or  foully  murdered  in  cold  blood,  not 
with  the  weapon  of  a  soldier,  but  by  the  lingering  pangs  of  starvation  and 
exposure — yet  you  will  in  the  future  enjoy  the  proud  satisfaction  of  having 
aided  in  achieving  for  your  country  her  second  independence — in  vindi 
cating  the  national  honor  and  dignity — in  overthrowing  that  despotic  and 
unholy  power  which  has  dared  to  raise  its  hideous  head  on  this  continent 
for  the  purpose  of  trampling  upon  and  destroying  that  inalienable  right  to 
life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness,  which  is  the  birthright  of  all — 
and  finally,  in  placing  the  Union,  established  by  the  blood  of  our  fathers, 
upon  an  imperishable  foundation.  You  will  also  possess  the  rich  inheri 
tance  of  meriting  the  continued  plaudits,  and  of  enjoying  the  constant 
gratitude  of  a  free  people,  whose  greatness  you  have  preserved  in  its  hour 
of  most  imminent  peril. 

In  the  name  of  the  people  of  Michigan,  I  thank  you  for  the  honor  you 
have  done  us  by  your  valor,  your  soldierly  bearing,  your  invincible  courage 
everywhere  displayed,  whether  upon  the  field  of  battle,  in  the  perilous  as 
sault,  or  in  the  deadly  breach ;  for  your  patience  under  the  fatigues  and 
privations  and  sufferings  incident  to  war,  and  for  your  discipline  and  ready 
obedience  to  the  orders  of  your  superiors.  We  are  proud  in  believing 
that  when  the  history  of  this  rebellion  shall  have  been  written,  where 
all  have  done  well,  none  will  stand  higher  on  the  roll  of  fame  than  the 
officers  and  soldiers  sent  to  the  field  from  the  loyal  and  patriotic  State  of 
Michigan." 

Governor  Crapo  served  as  Executive  of  the  State  until  January  1st,  1869, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Henry  P.  Baldwin,  of  Detroit,  a  gentleman  who, 
although  occupying  the  position  of  a  private  citizen  throughout  the  war, 
rendered  valuable  service  in  the  cause  of  the  Union,  being  prominent  in  the 
State  among  its  strongest  supporters,  both  in  counsel  and  in  pecuniary  aid, 


190 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


ready  when  occasion  offered  to  stand  by  his  country  and  uphold  her  glo 
rious  flag. 

Table  showing  nativities  of  Michigan  volunteers. 


New  England  States  

2847 

New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania... 
Ohio  and  Indiana  

31,137 
9,506 

Michigan  ,  

4517 

Illinois  and  Wisconsin  

300 

Kentucky  and  Tennessee    

166 

Free  States  west  of  Mississippi  river  

69 

Slave  States  west  of  Mississippi  river  

73 

Southern  States  not  above  enumerated  

544 

Indiana  

145 

Free  States,  colored  

217 

Slave  States,  colored  

956 

Total  United  States  

67468 

British  America,  exclusive  of  Canada...    169 
Canada  8  276 

Canada,  colored  441 

Q  QQC 

Total  American  ,  

76354 

England  ,  

3761 

Ireland  

3929 

763 

4872 

France  and  French  dominions  

380 

22 

Denmark,  Sweden,  and  Norway  

381 

238 

! 

Miscellaneous,  colored  

47 

Total  foreign  

14393 

90,747 

Total  white..  . 
Total  colored.. 
Total  Indians. 


.88,941 

.  1,661 

145 


90,747 

We  subjoin  a  list  showing  the  total  number  of  officers  and  men  who 
served  in  Michigan  regiments  and  companies,  respectively  : 

1st  engineers  and  mechanics,  3,081 ;  1st  light  artillery,  3,333  ;  13th  bat 
tery,  255 ;  14th  battery,  222 ;  1st  cavalry,  3,244 ;  2d  cavalry,  2,425 ;  3d 
cavalry,  2,560  ;  4th  cavalry,  2,085  ;  5th  cavalry,  1,998— of  this  number  388 
were  transferred  to  1st  cavalry;  6th  cavalry,  1,624 — of  this  number  428 
were  transferred  to  1st  cavalry;  7th  cavalry,  1,779 — of  this  number  312 
were  transferred  to  1st  cavalry ;  8th  cavalry,  3,025 ;  9th  cavalry,  2,057 — 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS.  191 

of  this  number  52  were  transferred  to  llth  battery;  10th  cavalry,  2,050; 
llth  cavalry,  1,579 — of  this  number  513  were  transferred  to  8th  cavalry ; 
Merrill  Horse,  513  ;  Lancers,  852;  Chandler  Horse  Guards,  204;  1st  in 
fantry,.  (3  mouths,)  798;  1st  infantry,  1,346;  2d  infantry,  2,151;  3d  in 
fantry,  1,000 — of  this  number  371  were  transferred  to  5th  infantry ;  3d 
infantry,  (reorganized,)  1,109;  4th  infantry,  1,325 — of  this  number  96  were 
transferred  to  4th  infantry  ;  4th  infantry,  (reorganized,)  1,300 ;  5th  in 
fantry,  1,950  ;  6th  infantry;  1,957  ;  7th  infantry,  1,393  ;  8th  infantry,  1,792; 
9th  infantry,  2,272 ;  10th  infantry,  1,788;  llth  infantry,  1,329;  llth  in 
fantry,  (reorganized,)  1,140;  12th  infantry,  2,335;  13th  infantry,  2,084  ; 
14th  infantry,  1,806  ;  15th  infantry,  2,371 ;  16th  infantry,  2,318  ;  17th  in 
fantry,  1,079 — of  this  number  135  were  transferred  to  2d  infantry ;  18th 
infantry,  1,374 — of  this  number  97  were  transferred  to  9th  infantry;  19th 
infantry,  1,238 — of  this  number  108  were  transferred  to  10th  infantry; 
20th  infantry,  1,157 — of  this  number  37  were  transferred  to  2d  infantry; 
21st  infantry,  1,477 — of  this  number  144  were  transferred  to  14th  infantry  , 
22d  infantry,  1,586 — of  this  number  222  were  transferred  to  29th  infantry ; 
23d  infantry,  1,417 — of  this  number  143  were  transferred  to  28th  infantry, 
and  12  to  29th  infantry;  24th  infantry,  2,054 ;  25th  infantry,  988— of  this 
number  51  were  transferred  to  28th  infantry ;  26th  infantry,  1,210 ;  27th 
infantry,  2,029  ;  28th  infantry,  1,245;  29th  infantry,  1,470;  30th  infantry, 
975  ;  1st  sharpshooters,  1,364 ;  1st  colored  infantry,  (102  U.  S.  C.  T,) 
1,446  ;  1st  U.  S.  sharpshooters,  415 — of  this  number  71  were  transferred 
to  5th  infantry;  2d  U.  S.  sharpshooters,  163 — of  this  number  48  were 
transferred  to  5th  infantry. 

The  number  of  men  from  Michigan  who  served  in  organizations  of  other 
States  and  in  the  regular  army,  so  far  as  reported,  will  be  found  quite  in 
considerable,  when  compared  with  the  aggregate  of  troops,  and  is  as  follows: 

Stanton  Guard,  103;  Provost  Guard  130;  23d  Illinois,  Company  A, 
281 ;  33d  Illinois,  Company  B,  2 ;  37th  Illinois,  Company  D,  63 ;  42d 
Illinois,  214 ;  44th  Illinois,  192 ;  66th  Illinois,  Co.  D,  180 ;  29th  Indiana, 
1 ;  127th  Indiana,  1  ;  20th  Indiana  battery,  1 ;  1st  Iowa  cavalry  1  ;  7th 
Iowa  infantry  1 ;  9th  Iowa  infantry,  1  ;  9th  Kansas  cavalry,  1  ;  1st  Mis 
souri  engineers,  13  ;  1st  Missouri  light  artillery,  1 ;  1st  New  York  cavalry, 
98 ;  70th  New  York  infantry,  Co.  C,  129  ;  47th  Ohio  infantry,  32 ;  10th 
Pennsylvania  infantry,  1 ;  llth  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  1  ;  4th  Tennessee 
cavalry  2;  12th  Tennessee  cavalry,  3;  13th  Wisconsin  infantry,!;  19th 
Wisconsin  infantry,  1 ;  Mississippi  mounted  riftes,  (colored,)  4*;  Powell's 
colored  infantry,  4 ;  Mississippi  Marine  Brigade,  1 ;  band  3d  division,  9th 
army  corps,  12 ;  band,  4th  division,  13th  army  corps,  17 ;  band,  cavalry 
corps,  8 ;  veteran  volunteer  engineers,  10 ;  veteran  reserve  corps,  389 ; 
Hancock's  1st  A.  C.,  153;  U.  S.  Navy,  430  ;  2d  U.  S.  infantry,  104;  llth 
U.  S.  infantry,  242  ;  12th  U.  S.  infantry,  1 ;  15th  U.  S.  infantry,  2  ;  16th 
U.  S.  infantry,  20  ;  19th  U.  S.  infantry,  884 ;  General  Service  U.  S.  186  ; 
5th  U.  S.  colored  artillery,  14 ;  9th  U.  S.  colored  artillery,  3;  13th  U.  S. 
colored  artillery,  21 ;  3d  U.  S.  colored  cavalry,  16  ;  12th  U.  S.  colored  in 
fantry,  1 ;  31st  U.  S.  colored  infantry,  1  ;  38th  U.  S.  colored  infantry.  10 ; 
49th  U.  S.  colored  infantry,  1  ;  53d  U.  S.  colored  infantry,  1 ;  54th  U.  ^S. 
colored  infantry,  1 ;  55th  U.  S.  colored  infantry,  1 ;  61st  U.  S.  colored  in 
fantry,  2. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  the  population  of  Michigan  in  1864  was 
805,379,  and  that  90,747  able-bodied  men  took  up  arms  in  defence  of  the 
Union,  the  State  may  well  be  proud  of  its  record  on  the  score  of  sincere 
patriotism. 


192 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


The  following  table  shows  the  casualties  by  wounds  and  disease  in  Mich 
igan  organizations  during  the  war  : 


Enlisted 

Commiss'ed 

Enlisted 

Commiss'ed 

men. 

officers. 

men. 

officers. 

O  -3 

'•»  a 

1 

Il 

I 

|| 

1 
8 

l| 

1 

Q 

M 

5 

If 

p 

p 

a  £ 

*C 

.si 

o 

a  P 

•s 

3% 

•8 

"S*® 

1 

I? 

s 

i! 

S 

"8^ 

Po 

5 

Po 

p 

Po 

5 

P   0 

S 

Engineers  &  Mech'cs 

8 

245 

12th  Infantry, 

49 

372 

1 

3 

1st  Light  Artillery, 

39 

313 

4 

3 

13th     " 

74 

266 

4 

2 

13th  Battery, 

_ 

4 



1 

14th     " 

50 

173 

1 

3 

14th     do. 



9 





15th     " 

72 

129 

3 

3 

1st  Cavalry, 

145 

195 

13 

6 

16th     " 

213 

135 

12 



2d         " 

64 

270 

2 

1 

17th     " 

125 

146 

6 



3d         " 

26 

314 

3 

4 

18th     '< 

14 

295 





4th       » 

39 

296 

3 

1 

19th     " 

91 

135 

7 



5th       " 

118 

172 

6 

3 

20th     " 

106 

165 

18 

3 

6th       " 

113 

228 

7 

2 

21st      " 

75 

271 

3 

3 

7th       " 

66 

265 

4 

1 

22d       " 

79 

282 

2 

5 

8th       " 

24 

287 

2 

23d       " 

58 

218 

3 

4 

9th       « 

30 

134 

1 

2 

24th     " 

158 

114 

12 

3 

10th     « 

28 

224 

2 



25th     " 

35 

123 

1 

2 

llth     » 

22 

105 

4 



26th     « 

105 

145 

3 

3 

Merrill  Horse, 

10 

58 





27th     " 

211 

179 

10 

4 

1st  Infantry,  3  mos. 

4 

4 

3 



28th     « 

4 

118 

1 



1st  Infantry, 

142 

92 

15 

1 

29th     " 

3 

62 

1 

1 

2d         " 

192 

128 

U 

3 

30th     " 

17 

1 

3d          < 

137 

78 

4 

1 

1st  Sharpshooters, 

114 

128 

6 



3d         '  reorganiz'd 



113 



1 

1st  Mich.  (102  U.  S) 

4th        < 

168 

105 

12 

1 

Col.  Infantry, 

9 

122|        2 



4th        '  reorganiz'd 

190 





1st  U.  S.  Sharpsh'rs 

34 

28 

3 



5th        < 

220 

151 

16 

2 

2d  U.  S.         " 

12 

19 

1 



6th       » 

63 

451 

2 

5 

Provost  Guard, 



2 

.  



7th       » 

170 

150 

11 

4 

Co.  A  23d  111.  Vol. 

3 

1 



_____ 

8th       " 

191 

192 

11 

4 

Co.  D  66th  111.  Vol. 

13 

16 

_____ 

_____ 

9th       » 

17 

247 

2 

4 

Co.  C  70th  N.  Y. 

17 

7 

1 

_____ 

10th     « 

80 

199 

* 

3 

llth  Infantry, 

88 

185 

5 

2 

llth     "  reorganiz'd 

89 

3926 

9133 

249 

97 

Commissioned  officers  died  in  action  or  of  wounds,  249 

died  of  disease,  97 

Enlisted  men  died  in  action  or  of  wounds,  3926 

"    died  of  disease,  9133 


346 


13059 

13405 

It  has  been  found  impracticable  to  obtain  a  statement  of  the  casualties 
occurring  in  all  the  Michigan  companies  and  among  the  men  serving  dur 
ing  the  war  with  troops  of  other  States,  hence  they  are  not  included  in  the 
above  table. 


RAISING  OF  TROOPS. 


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194 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


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FINANCIAL  STATISTICS.  195 

FINANCIAL    STATISTICS. 

Thus  far  has  been  given  a  brief  narrative  of  the  most  momentous  period 
in  our  State  history,  embracing  the  home  work  of  Michigan  in  the  war,  and, 
although  it  should  be  considered  small  and  insignificant  when  compared 
with  the  extent  and  value  of  the  work  accomplished  by  her  troops  in  the 
field,  and  the  sacrifice  of  life  thsre  made  by  them,  it  was  still  one  of  stu 
pendous  proportions.  Aside  from  the  incessant  labor  of  the  people  in 
raising  troops,  there  was  much  perplexing  anxiety,  many  petty  annoyances, 
great  self-sacrifice,  and  much  personal  suffering,  together  with  enormous 
expenditures  of  money  by  the  State,  counties,  and  townships,  and  also  by 
individuals — all  combined,  rendering  the  burdens  and  cares  of  the  people 
at  times  so  heavy  as  to  be  almost  unbearable.  Yet  the  astonishing  state 
ments  revealed  below,  covering  over  sixteen  millions  of  dollars,  expended 
by  the  people  of  Michigan  for  war  purposes,  although  couched  in  silent 
figures,  speak  eloquently  and  earnestly  of  great  sacrifice  and  unbounded 
patriotism. 

During  the  war  the  State  Legislature  passed  laws  authorizing  the  pay 
ment  of  State  bounties  to  soldiers,  as  follows : 

Men  enlisting  from  March  6,  1863,  to  November  10,  1863,  (both  inclu 
sive,)  in  any  Michigan  regiment,  company,  or  battery,  except  the  10th  and 
llth  cavalry,  13th  and  14th  batteries,  and  1st  colored  infantry,  entitled  to 
$50  State  bounty.  Men  re-enlisting  in  their  own  regiments,  (after  service  of 
two  years,)  from  Novmber  11,  1863,  to  February  4,  1864,  (both  inclusive,) 
entitled  to  $50  State  bounty.  Men  enlisting  or  re-enlisting  from  February 
5,  1864,  to  May  14,  1864,  (both  inclusive,)  in  any  regiment,  company,  or 
battery,  if  applied  on  200,000  call,  and  properly  credited  to  the  sub-district 
in  which  they  resided  at  time  of  enlistment,  entitled  to  $100  State  bounty. 
Men  enlisting  from  February  4,  1865,  to  April  14,  1865,  (both  inclusive,) 
properly  credited  to  sub-districts,  entitled  to  $150  State  bounty. 

In  accordance  with  these  laws,  the  Quartermaster-General  of  the  State  paid 
in  1863,  $134,250;  1864,867,959;  1865,  $383,076 ;  1866,  $438,500  ;  1867, 
$11,700;  1868,  $18,623  ;  1869,  $28,850;  1870,  $26,400,  up  to  and  including 
31st  July;  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  $1,909,408,  leaving  still  a  con 
siderable  amount  unapplied  for. 

He  also  disbursed  $60,000  as  premiums  for  the  procuration  of  recruits. 

Aside  from  these  amounts,  this  department  expended  for  war  purposes 
$815,000 — making  the  aggregate  disbursements  up  to  July  31,  1870, 
$2,784,408. 

The  amounts  paid  by  each  county,  respectively,  during  the  war  for  bounty 
to  volunteers  prior  to  December  19,  1863,  and  liabilities ;  also,  liabilities 
incurred  under  the  law  of  1865,  and  also  liabilities  for  other  objects : 

Allegan,  -  -;  Alpena,  $3,080;  Antrim,  $1,200;  Berrien,  $135,400; 
Branch,  $76,859.91;  Barry,  $11,400;  Bay,  $40,913;  Calhoun,  $49,468; 

Clinton,  $3,768  :  Cass,  $39,909  ;  Chippewa, ;  Cheboygan,  $4,524 ;  Delta, 

$5,326;  Eaton,  $33,881.85;  Emmett,  $500 ;  Genesee,  $115,820.12;  Gratiot, 
$1,800;  Grand  Traverse,  $350 ;  Hillsdale,  $55,919  ;  Houghton, ;  Hu 
ron,  ;  Ionia,  $41,718 ;  Ingham,  $58,383.69 ;  Isabella,  $6,300 ;  losco, 

$1,089.60;  Jackson, ;  Kent,  $113,900;  Kalamazoo,  $400;  Keweenaw, 

;  Livingston, ;  Lapeer,  $51, 86&87  ;  Lewanee,  $89,485.30 ;  Leele- 

naw,  $330 ;  Midland,  $26,458.65 ;  Montcalm,  $5,550 ;  Muskegon,  $29,950  ; 
Macomb,  $51,763.75;  Menominee,  $5,057.85;  Mecosta,  $3,662.50;  Monroe, 

;  Manistee,  $2,700 ;  Mackinaw,  ;  Mason,  $2,535.97 ;  Marquette, 

$13,779.34;  Newaygo,  $13,727.72;  Ottawa,  $101,350;  Oakland,  $237,533; 


196  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Oceana,  $6,084;  St.  Clair,  $36,350;  St.  Joseph,  $21,700;  Saginaw,  $49,572; 

Sliiawassee,  $4,000;  Sanilac,  $55,500;  Schoolcraft,  ;  Tuscola,  $600; 

Van  Buren,  $14,675.29  ;  Wayne,  $369,428.88  ;  Washtenaw, .  Total, 

$2,015,588.09. 

The  following  are  the  aggregate  expenditures  and  liabilities  of  the  various 
townships,  cities  and  wards  of  the  counties  in  the  State  for  war  purposes, 
made  up  from  statements  of  the  proper  officers,  rendered  in  1866: 

Allegan,  $188,898.49;  Alpena,  $9,781.98;  Antrim,  $4,638;  Berrien, 
$257,416.97;  Branch,  $230,086.65 ;  Barry,  $180,641;  Bay,  $61,267  ;  Cal- 

houn,  $354,432.32;  Clinton,  $135,936;  Cass,  $196,239.86 ;  Chippewa, ; 

Cheboygan,  $1,525;  Delta,  $1,200;  Eaton,  $175,363.58;  Emmett,  $50; 
Genesee,  $150,488.75;  Gratiot,  $23,527;  Grand  Traverse,  $12,990.54; 
Hillsdale,  $282,449.21  ;  Houghton,  $39,152.71 ;  Huron,  $17,230  ;  Ionia, 
$182,888  ;  Ingham,  $203,985  ;  Isabella,  $5,775 ;  losco,  $4,900 ;  Jackson, 
$439,325.10;  Kent,  $167,550.50;  Kalamazoo,  $383,416.61;  Keweenaw, 
81,000;  Livingston,  $144,379.22;  Lapeer,  $129,674.89;  Lenawee,  $544,- 
557.75;  Leelenaw,  $4,845.52  ;  Midland,  $12,598;  Montcalm,  $44,861.20; 
Muskegon,  $43,604;  Macomb,  $289,029.69;  Mecosta,  $3,340;  Monroe, 
$135,180.69;  Manistee,  $15,476;  Manitou,  -  -;  Mackinaw,  $6,727.50; 
Mason,  8807;  Marquette  and  Schoolcraft,  $3,000;  Newaygo,  $12,004; 
Ottawa,  $148,523;  Oakland,  $586,556.98;  Oceana,  $14,692.93;  St.  Clair, 
$233,291.90;  St.  Joseph,  $557,958;  Saginaw,  8158,099.59;  Shiawasse, 
§167,203;  Sanilac,  $95,794.29;  Tuscola,  $67,631.96;  Van  Buren,  8115,- 
637.90;  Wayne,  $660,554,88 ;  Washtenaw,  $458,563.54;  total,  88,157,748.70. 

Statement  showing  amount  expended  by  each  county  of  the  State,  from 
1861  to  1867,  for  the  relief  of  soldiers'  families  under  the  provisions  of  the 
Soldiers'  Relief  Law,  approved  May  10,  1861 : 

Alpena,  $8.80;  Allegan,  $80,985.72 ;  Antrim,  $666.11 ;  Bay,  $21,991.54; 
Barry,  $86,598.15;  Berrien,  $131,924.45;  Branch,  $69,121.20;  Calhoun, 
$200,193.66  ;  Cass,  $80,883.46 ;  Clinton,  $67,443.75  ;  Cheboygan,  $368.92 ; 
Chippewa,  $1,032;  Delta,  -  -;  Eaton,  $62,103.69;  Emmett,  $1,948.40 ; 
Genesee,  889,087.12;  Gratiot,  $8,875;  Grand  Traverse,  810,636.81 ;  Hillsdale, 
$90,155.96;  Houghton,  88,419  ;  Huron,  $23,033.50 ;  Ingham,  8110,547.09  ; 
Isabella,  $4,680.45 ;  Ionia,  $31,500;  losco,  $1,000;  Jackson,  8129,401.25; 
Kalamazoo,  $119,984.79;  Kent,  $76,311;  Keweenaw,  $3,620;  Lapeer, 
$75,000  ;  Livingston,  834,500 ;  Lenawee,  8145,226.20  ;  Leelenaw,  86,487.89; 
Macomb,  $110,339.26;  Mecosta,  $9,280.09;  Mackinaw,  -  -;  Midland, 
86,550;  Manitou,  -  -;  Mason,  $3,200;  Mauistee,  89,620;  Muskegon, 
$20,000;  Marquette,  $7,989.16;  Menominee,8390;  Monroe,  8143,762;  Mont- 
calm,  $40,000;  Newaygo,  814,516.72;  Ottawa,  856,616.08;  Oceana,  818,368; 
Ontonagon,  $4,747.02 ;  Oakland,  8127,993.38;  Sanilac,  873,111.33;  Shia 
wasse,  $50,645;  Saginaw,  881,000;  St.  Clair,  $89,427.99  ;  St.  Joseph,  896,214; 
Tuscola,  851,987.22;  Van  Buren,  899,511.81;  Washtenaw,  $155,043.15; 
and  Wayne,  $547,200.  Total,  83,591,248.12. 

At  the  session  of  1867  the  Legislature  most  humanely  and  opportunely 
appropriated  twenty  thousand  dollars  to  maintain  for  two  years  a  temporary 
"  Soldiers'  Home  "  at  the  Harper  Hospital  in  Detroit.  At  the  session  of 
1869  an  additional  sum  was  appropriated  for  its  support  for  two  years  more. 
This  home  was  established  for  the  maintenance  of  infirm,  maimed,  and  des 
titute  Michigan  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  late  war.  Its  management  to  be 
under  the  direction  of  the  State  Military  Board,  at  present  consisting  of 
Col.  D.  H.  Jerome,  of  Saginaw,  President ;  Col.  Jerome  Croul,  of  Detroit ; 
Col.  Alvin  T.  Grossman,  of  Flint ;  Col.  Henry  L.  Hall,  of  Hillsdale ;  and 
Col.  S.  M.  Cutcheon,  of  Ypsilanti. 


SANITARY  OPERATIONS.  197 

The  management  of  the  "Home"  has  been  judicious  and  liberal,  afford 
ing  to  the  disabled  soldier  the  fullest  benefit  contemplated  under  the  law, 
proving  of  great  service  to  many  who  have  found  it  necessary  to  seek  its 
shelter  and  care.  And  while  it  has  been  liberally  conducted,  care  has  been 
exercised  in  guarding  the  State  against  unnecessary  expense  and  the  impo 
sition  of  the  undeserving. 

Except  for  a  very  short  time  in  the  early  part  of  the  rebellion,  when  Capt. 
E.  G.  Owen  was  U.  S.  Quartermaster  at  Detroit,  Colonel  George  W.  Lee,  a 
well-known  and  prominent  citizen  of  Michigan,  served  as  Chief  United 
States  Quartermaster  of  the  State  throughout  the  war,  filling  a  most  import 
ant  and  very  responsible  position  with  eminent  energy  and  efficiency  and 
at  the  same  time  with  most  persistent  and  scrupulous  fidelity  to  the  General 
Government. 

In  connection  with  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  Colonel  Lee  disbursed  in 
Michigan  for  the  General  Government  $7,144,812,  as  follows ;  33,050  horses, 
$3,667,252 ;  transportation  of  troops  and  supplies,  $1,363,812 ;  forage, 
$331,697 ;  equipping  troops,  erection  of  barracks  and  hospitals,  apprehen 
sion  of  deserters,  and  other  incidental  expenses,  $1,782,051. 

In  addition  to  this  large  disbursement  by  the  Quartermaster  Department, 
there  was  a  very  great  expenditure  made  in  the  State  by  the  United  States 
mustering  and  disbursing  officer  for  the  subsistence  and  supplies  of  troops, 
but  it  has  been  found  impossible  to  reach  information  as  to  the  exact  amount 
or  even  to  form  an  approximate  estimate. 

SANITARY  OPERATIONS. 

The  great  beneficent  effort  of  the  American  masses  in  the  wrar,  the  sani 
tary  measure,  was  very  early  adopted  by  Michigan  people.  The  "  Michi 
gan  Soldiers'  Relief  Association,"  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  is  claimed  to  have 
been  the  first  of  the  kind  put  into  the  field  on  the  Atlantic  slope,  and  the 
last  to  leave  it.  It  was  organized  in  Washington  in  the  autumn  of  1861, 
continued  in  successful  operation  until  September  19, 1866,  and  was  a  source 
of  infinite  good  to  Michigan  soldiers,  scattering  among  them  friendship, 
brotherly  care,  and  many  comforts  and  necessaries  of  life  when  most  needed. 
The  association  was  composed  of  the  few  Michigan  citizens  then  in  and 
around  Washington,  including  the  delegation  in  Congress.  The  Hon.  James 
M.  Edmunds  was  president,  Dr.  H.  J.  Alvord  secretary,  who  was  succeeded 
by  C.  Clark,  and  Z.  Moses  treasurer,  all  of  whom  served  gratuitously,  and 
with  a  devotion,  energy,  and  efficiency  unsurpassed. 

The  means  to  sustain  the  measure  at  first  were  assessed  upon  the  mem 
bers  of  the  association,  but  after  a  short  time  were  derived  from  contribu 
tions  made  by  the  people  of  the  State,  and  amounted  to  $24,909.24,  in  the 
aggregate. 

In  connection  with  the  enterprise  was  established  at  City  Point,  imme 
diately  following  Grant's  great  battles,  the  famous  "  Michigan  Soup  House," 
so  well  known  throughout  the  army,  which  afforded  so  much  relief  to  the 
suffering  soldier. 

Judge  Edmunds,  in  his  report,  kindly  mentions  the  faithful  and  patriotic 
ladies  connected  with  the  association  during  its  several  years  of  great  use 
fulness,  whose  generous  and  noble  natures  led  them  to  render  such  services 
in  the  field  for  Michigan  men  as  have  made  their  names  household  words 
at  almost  every  hearthstone  in  the  State,  and  never  to  be  forgotten  by  thou 
sands  upon  thousands  of  brave  men  who  were  recipients  of  their  kindness 
and  motherly  care. 


198  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

The  record  of  Michigan  in  the  great  sanitary  movement  would  be  incom 
plete  without  the  following  extract  from  the  final  report  of  Judge  Edmunds, 
president  of  the  association : 

"  The  Michigan  Soldiers'  Relief  Association  of  the  District  of  Columbia 
was  organized  in  the  autumn  of  1861.  It  was  the  product  of  necessity,  and 
was  composed  of  the  few  Michigan  men  then  resident  at  the  National  Cap 
ital.  Soon  after  the  first  arrival  of  troops  under  the  call  for  75,000  volun 
teers,  the  first  Michigan  regiment  (three  months'  men)  appeared  here.  It 
contained  many  who  were  personally  known  to  the  citizens  of  Michigan 
then  residents  of  Washington,  and  this,  with  the  noble  cause  in  which  they 
were  enlisted,  soon  aroused  a  deep  feeling  of  friendship  between  the  mem 
bers  of  the  regiment  and  all  those  hailing  from  the  same  State.  This  friend 
ship  was  manifested  by  various  and  numerous  acts  of  kindness  and  appre 
ciation.  Among  them,  special  solicitude  for  all  in  the  service  whose  failing 
health  made  demands  upon  this  feeling  for  those  attentions  which  were 
impossible  in  the  then  inexperienced  and  unprepared  state  of  the  hospital 
service. 

"  For  the  first  few  months  the  efforts  made  to  relieve  and  comfort  those 
of  our  friends  in  the  service  were  unorganized,  and  though  throwing  great 
labor  upon  the  few  engaged,  hardly  kept  pace  with  the  growing  demands 
incident  to  the  rapid  increase  of  the  army.  The  battle  of  Bull  Run,  in 
which  our  friends  suffered  severely,  aroused  afresh  the  sympathy  of  all 
whose  hearts  beat  honestly  for  the  country,  and  demonstrated  the  utter  in 
adequacy  of  the  Government  preparation  for  any  such  sudden  emergency. 
It  seemed  impossible  for  the  public  authorities  at  this  time  to  appreciate 
the  necessity  of  ample  preparations  for  the  wounded  and  sick.  Their  atten 
tions  seemed  constantly  directed  to  the  increase  of  the  army  by  new  enlist 
ments.  The  importance  of  providing  for  its  health  was  but  slowly  admitted, 
and  hardly  admitted  at  all  until  it  became  evident  that  the  ranks  could 
only  be  kept  up  by  such  provisions.  To  reach  this  point  and  this  degree 
of  preparation,  required  the  experience  of  an  entire  campaign.  The  conse 
quence  was,  that  there  was  all  the  time  an  urgent  call,  we  might  almost  say 
an  imperative  demand,  for  volunteer  aid.  Such  aid  was  cordially  given, 
but  yet  fell  short  of  what  was  absolutely  essential.  It  became  apparent 
that  we  could  no  longer  meet  the  demand  upon  us  by  individual  and  unor 
ganized  effort.  We  must  have  system,  and  assignment  of  duties.  We  must 
have  contributions  far  beyond  the  means  of  the  small  number  of  Michigan 
citizens  then  here.  These  urgent  demands  so  pressed  upon  us,  that  the  citi 
zens  of  Michigan  then  in  the  District  assembled  for  consultation,  and  the 
result  was  the  organization  of  the  Michigan  Soldiers'  Relief  Association, 
then  composed  of  a  set  of  officers  and  an  executive  committee.  It  claimed 
as  its  members  all  citizens  of  the  State,  residents  of  the  District,  and  the 
Michigan  delegation  in  Congress.  The  association  commenced  by  levying 
a  tax  upon  its  members,  which  was  frequently  repeated  during  the  first  few 
months  of  its  existence,  and  has  been  resorted  to  for  emergencies  from  that 
time  to  the  present. 

"  This  organization  was  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the  field  upon  the  Atlantic 
slope,  and  the  last  to  leave  it.  Its  history,  so  far  as  it  has  not  been  written, 
will  be  briefly  alluded  to  in  the  following  pages. 

"  The  association  having  been  thus  organized,  it  was  called  into  full  ac 
tivity  in  May,  1862,  after  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  made  a  commence 
ment  of  its  peninsula  campaign. 

"  The  battle  of  Williamsburg,  in  which  several  of  our  regiments  partici 
pated,  filled  the  hospitals  of  Baltimore  and  Fortress  Monroe  with  wounded 


SANITARY  OPERATIONS.  199 

men ;  and  from  this  time  forward  to  the  close  of  the  war,  the  whole  energies 
of  the  association  have  been  taxed  to  their  utmost  limits. 

"  By  referring  to  the  reports  of  our  operations  for  1862,  '63,  and  '64,  it 
will  be  seen  that  our  means  were  limited  ;  but  as  the  services  of  the  indi 
vidual  members  of  the  association  have  in  all  cases  been  gratuitous,  and 
always  cheerfully  rendered,  the  money  we  had  was  used  in  such  a  way  as 
secured  the  greatest  amount  of  relief. 

"  In  the  year  1862,  the  first  in  fact  of  our  activity,  the  whole  amount  of 

money  received  from  all  sources  was $2,166  13 

Expended 1,945  84 

In  1863 2,350  39 

Expended 2,037  61 

In  1864 6,779  71 

Expended ^ ; ; 5,488  48 

"This  is,  of  course,  exclusive  of  specific  contributions  of  clothing  and  hos 
pital  stores  always  liberally  furnished  by  the  soldiers'  aid  societies  through 
the  State,  and  which  we  endeavored  to  apply  faithfully  to  the  purposes 
intended. 

"  In  the  summer  and  fall  of  1862,  after  the  dreadful  closing  battles  of  the 
peninsula  and  the  disastrous  campaign  of  General  Pope,  the  whole  city  of 
Washington  became  a  vast  hospital. 

"  The  public  buildings,  the  churches,  and  many  private  residences  were 
made  receptacles  of  wounded  and  sick  soldiers. 

"  Scattered  all  through  these  our  own  brave  men  lay  and  languished,  and 
many  died.  But  we  are  assured  that  the  kind  offices  of  the  members  of  this 
association  assuaged  their  pains  and  carried  relief  to  all  within  their  reach  : 
and  doubtless  many  owe  their  recovery  to  those  special  attentions  impossi 
ble  to  be  secured  from  the  assistants  detailed  for  the  care  of  sick  and  wound 
ed  men  in  hospital.  During  the  fall  of  1862  something  like  system  was 
inaugurated  by  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Government  commensurate 
with  the  magnitude  of  the  exigency.  Columbia  College  was  made  a  per 
manent  hospital.  Carver,  Finley,  Mount  Pleasant,  Emery,  and  subsequently 
Douglas,  Stanton,  Campbell,  Harewood,  and  Lincoln,  wrere  provided  with 
ample  accommodations  for  twenty  thousand  patients;  and  in  1863,  with  the 
hospitals  in.  Alexandria,  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Annapolis, 
Frederick,  and  other  places  North,  the  whole  operations  of  the  Medical  De 
partment  assumed  something  like  order,  efficiency,  and  permanency,  and  it 
became  necessary  for  us  to  employ  agents  wrho  could  give  their  whole  time 
to  the  work. 

"  Mrs.  Brainard  was  early  engaged,  and  perhaps  the  first  among  our  regu 
lar  workers — she  certainly  was  the  last  to  leave.  Her  services  were  invalu 
able,  and  have  never  been  fully  appreciated  and  acknowledged.  The  ser 
vices  of  Miss  Wheelock,  Miss  Bateman,  Mrs.  Mahan,  Mrs.  Gridley,  Mrs. 
Plum,  Mrs.  Johnson,  Mrs.  Hall,  the  Misses  Bull,  and  others,  who  have 
labored  in  the  field  and  hospitals  under  the  auspices  of  this  association,  have 
all  richly  earned  the  thanks  of  the  people  of  Michigan,  and  especially  of  the 
thousands  of  soldiers  who  received  their  kind  ministrations.  Their  reports 
are  necessarily  excluded  for  want  of  space.  In  the  summer  of  1863  the 
battles  around  Fredericksburg,  and  those  of  the  campaign  of  Gen.  Meade's 
army  in  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  and  the  crowning  carnage  at  Gettys 
burg  absorbed  our  entire  energies. 

"Our  agents  were  early  at  their  work,  and  remained  as  long  as  there  was 
suffering  to  be  relieved. 

"  In  1864  the  bloody  struggles  of  the  Wilderness  and  Spottsylvania,  and 


200  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

the  daily  conflicts  during  those  forty  days  of  Grant's  persistent  advance  to 
Richmond,  again  filled  the  hospitals  around  Washington,  and  gave  ample 
employment  to  our  agents  and  the  members  of  the  association,  nnd  drew 
upon  our  means  so  that  we  were  well  nigh  exhausted. 

"  It  is  due  to  ourselves  to  acknowledge  the  generous  co-operation  of  the 
Christian  and  Sanitary  Commissions  during  this  summer.  To  the  former 
we  have  ever  been  indebted  for  the  most  generous  consideration  and  liber 
ality  ;  and  to  the  latter  for  extraordinary  kindness  in  furnishing  our  agents, 
Mrs.  Brainard  and  Mrs.  Mahan,  with  valuable  and  much-needed  supplies, 
to  the  amount  of  more  than  two  thousand  dollars  in  three  months,  and  at  a 
time  when  our  own  were  exhausted. 

"  On  the  1st  of  January,  1865,  the  report  of  the  treasurer  shows  $1,291.30 
available  funds  on  hand.  This  amount  was  soon  after  increased  by  the 
most  liberal  contributions  from  several  associations  and  individuals  in  Mich 
igan,  and  especially  from  the  noble-hearted  people  of  the  Lake  Superior 
region,  till  our  whole  receipts  for  the  year  1865,  including  the  sum  on  hand, 
amounted  to  $14,914.24. 

"  With  the  prospect  of  a  campaign  of  unexampled  activity  on  the  south  side 
of  Richmond  by  the  combined  armies  of  Generals  Grant  and  Butler,  and 
the  reasonable  anticipation  of  a  stout  and  protracted  resistance  on  the  part 
of  the  rebels,  we  early  made  preparations  for  meeting  promptly  the  demands 
that  would  most  likely  be  made  upon  our  association.  We  established  a 
magazine  of  supplies  at  City  Point,  and  sent  thither  an  effective  force  to 
receive  and  provide  for  such  as  should,  in  the  coming  struggle,  be  sent  back 
disabled.  We  also  established  in  Washington  a  '  Home,'  where  our  men 
in  passing  could  find  shelter  for  a  night  without  being  thrown  into  the  bad 
associations  of  the  city. 

"  It  had  long  been  felt  that  such  an  asylum  was  needed,  and  we  had  been 
prevented  from  establishing  one  chiefly  from  scarcity  of  means.  This  ob 
jection  no  longer  existed,  and  the  association  rented  and  furnished  a  house, 
with  comfortable  and  cheap  furniture,  engaged  a  competent  matron,  and 
from  April  1st  to  September  1st,  1865,  were  able  to  provide  for  the  wounded 
and  sick  a  comfortable  resting  place.  The  whole  expenditure  in  this  enter 
prise,  as  shown  by  the  treasurer's  report,  was  $2,675.38,  diminished  by  the 
sum  of  $507.30  received  for  furniture,  &c.,  on  breaking  up  the  house — 
making  the  whole  expense  $2,168.08. 

"  The  sudden  and  unexpected  collapse  of  the  rebellion,  and  the  recall  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  the  arrival  of  Sherman's  grand  columns  in 
Washington,  worn  and  fatigued  by  the  longest  and  most  remarkable  march 
yet  recorded,  imposed  new  work  upon  us. 

"  Our  returned  regiments  were  visited  by  our  agents,  and  supplied  with 
much-needed  vegetables,  pickles,  tobacco,  bread,  &c.,  to  the  amount  of 
$4,000.  Our  force  was  withdrawn  from  City  Point,  and  furnished  ample 
employment  here  till  the  armies  were  disbanded  and  sent  home. 

"At  the  'Home,'  during  the  month  of  June,  all  were  received  who  came. 
Colonel  Pritchard's  detail  for  Jeff.  Davis'  body  guard  was  lodged  and  feasted. 
The  records,  imperfect  though  they  are,  have  the  names  of  about  8,000  who 
took  one  or  more  meals  under  the  roof  and  at  the  tables  of  the  'Home,' 
faithfully  and  ably  conducted  by  the  Matron,  Mrs.  Van  Boskerck,  whose 
executive  ability,  industry,  and  fidelity  cannot  be  too  highly  commended. 

"The  accounts  of  the  'Home'  show  that  as  many  as  725  meals  were 
served  in  a  day,  and  the  bread  consumed  averaged  from  300  to  425  loaves 
a  day  for  many  days.  Above  all  the  labor  and  care  bestowed  upon  this 
house,  the  matron  had  especial  care  of  ten  or  fifteen  patients  at  Douglas 


SANITARY  OPERATIONS.  201 

*v 

and  Stanton  hospitals,  near  the  house,  for  two  months,  visiting  them  daily, 
and  furnishing  them  with  delicacies. 

"The  Executive  Committee  desire  here  to  acknowledge  their  obligation  to 
all  the  agents  who  have  been  employed,  for  devotion  to  their  duties,  and  to 
all  members  of  the  association  for  cheerful  co-operation  in  the  work  in 
which  we  have  been  engaged  during  the  bloody  struggle  now  passed. 

"All  the  services  rendered  by  the  association  have  been  entirely  gratu 
itous,  and  the  agents  have  labored  for  little  more  than  actual  expenses. 
The  motives  of  all,  it  is  believed,  were  patriotic  and  humane  ;  and  the  only 
reward  sought  or  desired  was  the  consciousness  of  having  discharged  well 
the  duties  imposed  by  the  exigency.  We  have  at  least  endeavored  well. 

"  To  the  individuals  and  associations  at  home  who  have  so  nobly  supported 
us  with  contributions  of  money  and  material,  and  surely  not  least,  with 
their  encouraging  words  of  commendation  and  counsel,  we  desire  to  say, 
that  your  noble  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  brave  and  self-sacrificing  young 
men  who  have  given  their  services,  suffered  toils,  hunger,  and  thirst,  en 
countered  dangers  and  disease,  and  death,  for  the  perpetuation  of  the  Gov 
ernment,  in  defence  of  liberty,  and  in  the  cause  of  humanity,  have  no 
parallel  in  the  annals  of  the  world. 

"  If  there  can  be  any  compensations  in  such  a  war  as  we  have  just  emerged 
from,  the  chief  must  besought  in  the  grand  outpouring  of  generous  human 
ities  all  over  the  entire  loyal  portion  of  the  country,  in  endeavoring  to 
ameliorate  the  condition  of  the  soldier,  and  assuage  his  sufferings. 

"  Happily,  the  war  is  ended.  The  grand  armies  that  fought  its  battles 
have  returned  to  their  families  and  to  peaceful  pursuits.  Too  many,  alas, 
have  found  their  last  resting-place  far  from  kindred  and  from  home.  They 
found  bloody  graves  in  a  hostile  land.  Their  memories  live  in  the  hearts 
of  a  grateful  people,  saved  by  their  devotion  and  valor. 

"All  honor  to  the  dead  hero  ;  his  wife  and  children  demand  our  care, 
and  must  not  be  forgotten  or  neglected." 

In  September,  1866,  the  association  discontinued  its  operations,  and 
among  its  last  acts  of  kind  consideration  of  the  soldier,  transmitted  to  the 
trustees  of  Harper  Hospital,  at  Detroit,  81,000,  to  be  by  them  used  in  the 
care  and  maintenance  of  such  disabled  Michigan  soldiers  as  should  from 
time  to  time  become  its  inmates. 

In  addition  to  the  Washington  Association,  the  people  in  the  State  took 
hold  of  the  matter  and  were  busy  in  the  noble  work.  In  April,  1862,  the 
"Michigan  Soldiers'  Relief  Association  "  was  formed,  with  Hon.  John  Owen 
as  president,  Benjamin  Vernon,  Esq.,  secretary,  and  William  A.  Butler, 
Esq.,  treasurer.  It  continued  in  successful  operation  during  the  entire  war, 
doing  much  good,  collecting  from  various  localities  in  the  State  a  large 
amount  of  useful  and  necessary  supplies  and  sending  them  to  the  front;  a 
portion  of  the  packages  forwarded  were  331  boxes,  203  barrels,  containing 
almost  every  conceivable  comfort  for  the  use  of  the  soldier,  sick  or  well, 
viz :  Shirts,  drawers,  socks,  handkerchiefs,  canned  and  dried  fruits,  wines, 
jellies,  pickles  of  all  kinds,  spices,  books,  papers,  pins,  needles,  thread,  sheets, 
quilts,  pillow-cases,  bed  sacks,  bandages,  pads,  lint,  in  fact  everything  useful 
and  that  were  thought  necessary. 

It  also  received  and  expended  in  1864  $3,600,  which  was  made  use  of  as 
stated  in  Mr.  Vernon's  report  in  furnishing  relief  to  sick  and  destitute  sol 
diers  in  sums  of  from  one  to  ten  dollars  as  their  necessities  required ;  in 
sending  agents  to  different  points  to  look  after  the  wants  of  soldiers  ;  in  pro 
viding  refreshments  and  meals  for  returned  veterans ;  in  paying  rent  for 
"  Soldiers'  Home  "  in  Detroit,  and  in  burying  the  dead. 

M* 


202  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Another  most  active  and  useful  association,  accomplishing  much  good 
throughout  the  war  was  the  "  Michigan  Soldier's  Aid  Society,"  a  branch  of 
the  "  United  States  Sanitary  Commission."  It  was  organized  November  6, 
1861,  and  kept  its  office  open  until' January  1st,  1866,  and  after  that  date 
continued  to  supply  destitute  soldiers  and  soldiers'  families,  and  intended  to 
do  so  until  the  fund  on  hand  was  expended. 

The  first  officers  of  the  society  were :  Dr.  Z.  Pitcher,  counsellor ;  Mrs. 
Geo.  Dufficld,  president ;  Mrs.  Theodore  Romeyn,  vice  president ;  Mrs.  D. 
P.  Bushnell,  treasurer ;  Miss  Sarah  T.  Bingham,  recording  secretary ;  Miss 
Valeria  Campbell,  corresponding  secretary. 

At  the  close  of  1864  the  society  was  reorganized,  and  the  following  officers 
selected : 

John  Owen,  president,  associate  member  U.  S.  S.  Commission ;  Benjamin 
Vernor,  James  V.  Campbell,  B.  E.  Demill,  vice  presidents,  associate  mem 
bers  U.  S.  S.  Commission ;  Mrs.  S.  A.  Sibley,  president ;  Mrs.  II.  L.  Chip- 
man,  Mrs.  A.  Adams,  vice  presidents ;  William  A.  Butler,  treasurer ;  Mrs. 
George  Andrews,  assistant  treasurer ;  Mrs.  W.  A.  Butler,  auditor ;  Miss 
Lizzie  Woodhams,  recording  secretary ;  Miss  Valeria  Campbell,  correspond 
ing  secretary. 

The  association  received  from  various  sources  throughout  the  State  and 
sent  forward  from  November  1,  1861,  to  June,  1863,  3,593  packages ;  dis 
tributed  at  home  during  the  same  time,  2,724  packages ;  total,  6,317.  Most 
of  these  were  large  packages,  and  consisted  chiefly  of  articles  contributed  in 
kind,  of  what  value  has  not  been  estimated. 

Cash  expended  from  November  6,  1861,  to  June  1,  1866,  $19,633.18 ; 
from  June  1st,  1866,  to  April  7th,  1868,  $8,496.23;  total,  $28,129.41. 

Of  this  amount,  $11,422.36  was  expended  on  account  of  "Soldiers' 
Home,"  and  the  balance  in  purchases  and  other  expenses.  The  association 
had  on  hand  April  7th,  1868,  $187.01. 

From  May  to  November,  1861,  between  thirty  and  forty  large  packages 
were  received  from  different  parts  of  the  State  by  Mrs.  Morse  Stewart  and 
Mrs.  George  Duffield  and  sent  forward,  besides  an  unrecorded  amount  dis 
tributed  to  regiments  in  Michigan. 

Chaplain  Samuel  Day,  8th  Illinois  infantry,  Military  Agent  for  U.  S. 
Sanitary  Supplies,  a  most  efficient  and  industrious  officer,  and  now  a  resi 
dent  of  Ann  Arbor,  collected  in  this  State  in  1863,  and  forwarded  through 
the  U.  S.  Sanitary  Commission  at  Chicago  for  distribution  in  the  field,  2,337 
barrels  of  vegetables,  (mostly  potatoes  and  green  apples ;)  167  barrels  of 
onions ;  29  barrels  of  best  stock  ale.  Add  to  this  .three  thousand  one  hun 
dred  and  thirty-seven  dollars  and  fifty-five  cents  remitted  to  Sanitary  Com 
mission  at  Chicago  for  the  purchase  of  vegetables,  reducing  the  same  to 
barrels,  would  give  5,673  barrels  vegetables  and  29  barrels  ale,  giving  an 
aggregate  of  5,702  barrels. 

Aeide  from  the  aid  furnished  by  the  associations  referred  to,  there  were 
large  amounts  both  of  money  and  supplies  sent  by  private  agents,  ministers 
of  the  gospel,  and  many  other  noble  and  kind-hearted  people  who  visited 
the  army  and  hospitals  from  time  to  time  on  errands  of  mercy  and  benevo 
lence,  largely  contributing  towards  a  great  cause,  which  was  bountifully 
sustained  without  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  nations. 

These  associations  were  most  opportunely  and  very  substantially  assisted 
in  1864  by  the  "  Ladies'  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  of  Kalamazoo,"  under  whose 
auspices  a  "  State  Sanitary  Fair"  was  held  in  September  of  that  year,  in 
connection  with  the  "  State  Agricultural  Fair."  It  was  a  complete  success, 
and  netted  89,618.78  over  expenses. 


SANITARY  OPERATIONS.  203 

The  following  is  the  report  of  the  Execu  ive  Committee,  made  to  the 
Adjutant-General  of  the  State: 

JOHN  ROBERTSON,  Adjutant- General  State  of  Michigan: 

SIR  :  Herewith  the  undersigned  submit  a  report,  embracing  an  account 
of  receipts  and  disbursements  of  the  "Michigan  State  Sanitary  Fair,"  held 
at  the  village  of  Kalamazoo,  on  the  "State  Agricultural  Fair  Grounds,"  on 
the  20th,  21st,  22d,  and  23d  days  of  September,  A.  D.  1864.  The  follow 
ing  correspondence  exhibits  the  origin  of  the  "  Fair :" 

To  Mrs.  John  Potter  and  Miss  Eliza  Fisher,  of  the  Ladies'  Soldiers'  Aid  So 
ciety,  of  Kalamazoo,  Michigan : 

The  undersigned,  citizens  of  Kalamazoo  county,  knowing  that  you  have 
been  active,  and  have  accomplished  much — ever  since  the  rebellion  com 
menced — in  every  good  work  for  the  relief  of  the  sick  and  wounded  Union 
soldiers,  would  most  respectfully  suggest  that  thousands  of  the  patriotic  and 
generous  people  of  Michigan  will  be  glad,  in  connection  with  the  annual 
fair  of  the  Michigan  State  Agricultural  Society,  to  be  held  on  the  20th, 
21st,  22d,  and  23d  days  of  September,  at  Kalamazoo,  to  contribute  of  their 
abundance,  in  money  and  articles,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  wounded 
and  sick  of  that  army  which  fought  in  defence  of  our  national  flag  and  the 
Union,  against  the  traitorous  designs  of  those  who  hate  liberty  and  love 
despotism.  We  would  suggest  that  a  fair  be  held  on  the  grounds  to  be 
occupied  by  the  Agricultural  Society,  for  the  purpose  above  mentioned,  and 
we  earnestly  solicit  that  you — calling  to  your  aid  suitable  persons — may 
devise  such  plan  for  the  consummation  of  the  foregoing  purpose  as  may  be 
deemed  proper. 

Signed :— H.  G.  Wells,  Joseph  Sill,  Allen  Potter,  John  Baker,  Daniel 
Cahill,  J.  M.  Edwards,  J.  P.  Woodbury,  K  A.  Balch,  J.  W.  Breese,  L.  H. 
Trask,  George  Lewis,  Henry  Montague,  F.  W.  Curtenius,  O.  N.  Giddings, 
David  S.  Walbridge,  Marsh  Giddings,  J.  M.  Neasmith,  B.  M.  Austin, 
George  A.  Fitch,  J.  W.  Mansur,  Henry  Hoyt,  Hiram  Arnold,  Henry 
Bishop,  Henry  Dreese,  Samuel  W.  Walker,  J.  J.  Perrin,  Isaiah  W.  Pur- 
sel,  Frank  Henderson,  J.  A.  B.  Stone,  James  A.  Walter,  G.  H.  Gale, 
Henry  Wood,  David  Fisher,  A.  Cameron,  S.  S.  Cobb,  J.  W.  Lay,  William 
A.  Wood,  John  C.  Bassett,  Trowbridge  &  Bassett,  John  M'Kibben,  Charles 
Bell,  Alfred  Thomas,  George  Colt,  W.  B.  Clark,  F.  Chase,  M.  B.  Miller,  E. 
A.  Carder,  G.  D.  Penfield,  J.  K.  Wagner,  E.  O.  Humphrey,  Charles  S. 
May,  C.  D.  Handscomb,  Thomas  Brownell,  James  Turner,  William  A. 
Hurst,  A.  C.  Wortley,  Thomas  Browning,  S.  K.  Selkrig,  A.  H.  Geisse, 
James  P.  -Clapham,  Pickering  &  Wormley,  Austin  George,  A.  D.  Robinson, 
W.  H.  Snow,  Z.  S.  Clark,  F.  U.  Clark,  P.  L.  Haines,  H.  S.  Parker  &  Co., 
John  Bennett,  I.  C.  Bennett,  A.  E.  Bartlett,  Frank  Little,  D.  Putnam,  C. 
S.  Cobb,  R.  S.  Babcock,  C.  W.  Hall,  H.  F.  Cock,  P.  C.  Davis,  H.  C. 
Briggs. 

KALAMAZOO,  August  23d,  A.  D.  1864. 

To  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MICHIGAN  :  The  undersigned,  of  the 
"Soldiers'  Aid  Society,"  of  Kalamazoo,  pursuant  to  the  foregoing  request, 
after  having  obtained  the  kind  aid  of  many  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  this 
county,  and  other  parts  of  the  State,  have  made  arrangements  for  holding 
a  "Michigan  State  Sanitary  Fair,"  at  Kalamazoo,  011  the  20th,  21st,  22d, 
and  23d  of  September,  A.  D.  1864,  at  which  we  hope  to  avail  ourselves  of 


204  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

patriotic  addresses  from  his  Excellency  Austin  Blair  and  other  distinguished 
persons. 

It  is  proposed  to  devote  the  entire  proceeds  of  this  "Sanitary  Fair"  to 
the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  who  have  gone  forth  in  defence  of  that  flag 
which  is  the  symbol  of  Union,  and  whose  brave  hearts  nerve  them  to  meet 
suffering  and  death  rather  than  permit  one  star  to  be  stricken  from  its 
azure  field. 

One-third  of  the  proceeds  of  this  fair  will  be  distributed  through  the 
"Michigan  Soldiers'  Relief  Committee,"  at  Detroit,  consisting  of  C.  H. 
Buhl,  B.  Vernor,  Adjutant-General  John  Robertson,  W.  A.  Butler,  and 
Anthony  Dudgeon ;  one-third  through  the  "United  States  Christian  Com 
mission,"  to  be  distributed  }yf  David  Preston,  E.  C.  Walker,  Caleb  Ives, 
Francis  Raymond,  J.  S.  Vernor,  and  Charles  F.  Clark,  of  Detroit,  and  one- 
third  through  the  "  Ladies'  Soldiers'  Aid  Society,"  at  Kalamazoo. 

We  ask  the  people  of  Michigan,  men  and  women,  old  and  young,  to 
bring  or  send  to  us  money,  or  such  articles  of  value  as  can  be  spared,  for 
this,  a  great  national  purpose. 

May  we  not,  especially,  appeal  to  the  young  men  who  still  remain  at 
home,  and  who  are  preserved  from  the  accidents  of  the  battle-field,  the 
long  suffering  and  the  weary  night  watches  of  the  hospital  ?  If  home  duties 
and  family  ties,  or  impaired  health,  compel  you  to  resist  the  inclination  to 
aid  your  country  in  this  its  hour  of  peril,  by  active  service  in  the  field,  we 
implore  you  to  give  of  your  means,  that  health  may  possibly  be  restored, 
and  comfort  administered  to  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers. 

Of  the  women  of  Michigan  wre  ask  efficient,  active  aid  in  this  our  effort 
to  accomplish  a  great  good ;  to  them,  we  believe,  we  shall  not  appeal  in 
vain. 

God's  own  blessing,  we  trust,  will  rest  on  all  men,  women,  and  little  chil 
dren  of  Michigan  who  may  be  thus  inclined  to  strengthen  the  hearts  and 
hands,  and  encourage  the  valor  and  patriotism  of  the  fathers  and  husbands, 
and  brothers  and  sons,  who  have  manfully  resisted  the  overthrow  of  that 
Government  which  good  men  of  the  olden  time  established,  and  which  we 
humbly  pray  a  righteous  God  may  ever  preserve. 

RUTH  L.  POTTER, 
ELIZA  W.  FISHER, 
Of  the  Ladies'  Soldiers'  Aid  Society,  Kalamazoo. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  a  very  brief  period  elapsed  between  the  time  that 
the  idea  of  holding  the  "  Fair"  was  first  entertained  and  its  occurrence, 
but  the  foregoing  address  was  as  widely  circulated  among  the  people  of 
Michigan  as  circumstances  would  permit.  The  ladies  of  Kalamazoo  county 
relied  mainly  upon  the  various  Soldiers'  Aid  Societies  of  the  State  for  active 
co-operation,  and  in  view  of  all  the  surroundings,  they  were  not  disap 
pointed.  The  general  outline  for  the  "  Fair  "  having  been  arranged,  the  work 
of  preparation  commenced.  Buildings  were  to  be  erected,  a  hall  in  which 
articles  were  to  be  exhibited  and  sold  to  the  assembled  thousands,  and  an 
extensive  dining-room  for  visitors,  were  to  be  built,  and  considering  the  fact 
that  the  lumber  was  to  be  brought  by  teams  a  distance  of  twenty-eight 
miles,  the  circumstances  seemed  to  be  embarrassing.  The  ladies  had  deter 
mined  that  all  obstacles  should  be  overcome,  and  their  efforts  were  crowned 
with  success. 

Contributions  in  money,  merchandise,  produce,  animals,  implements  and 
works  of  art,  were  furnished  with  a  good  degree  of  liberality,  from  various 
portions  of  this  State,  and  in  a  few  instances  from  beyond  the  limits  of 


SANITARY  OPERATIONS.  205 

Michigan.  "Words  of  encouragement,  with  gifts  of  money  or  articles  for 
sale,  came  alike  from  the  rich  and  the  poor.  In  not  a  few  instances,  the 
widowed  mother,  whose  only  son  had  gone  down  in  the  storm  of  battle,  in 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  or  the  Army  of  the  West,  sent  forward  her  hum 
ble  contribution,  with  an  invocation  that  God  would  bless  the  soldier  who 
stood  ready  to  yield  his  life  in  defence  of  that  Government  which  had  given 
him  protection  from  infancy  to  manhood.  A  little  child  from  an  adjoining 
county,  in  humble  circumstances,  furnished  her  gift,  in  value  the  fraction 
of  a  dollar,  with  the  simple  but  earnest  request  that  she  might  be  permitted 
to  give  something ;  she  wished  to  do  more,  but  they  were  poor ;  her  mother 
was  ill,  and  her  father  and  only  brother  were  soldiers  in  the  war.  This 
gift,  in  fact  the  most  liberal  of  all,  was  sold  and  returned  by  purchasers, 
again  and  again,  until  the  amount  realized  was  a  handsome  addition  to  the 
general  fund. 

On  Thursday,  the  22d  day  of  September,  the  "  Fair  "  was  duly  inaugu 
rated  under  the  direction  of  the  Hon.  James  B.  Crippen  of  Cold  water,  Mich 
igan,  who,  after  appropriate  religious  services,  in  a  brief  address  congratu 
lated  the  assembled  thousands  upon  the  liberality  which  had  been  evidenced 
throughout  the  loyal  States  in  caring  for  the  men  of  the  Union  army,  and 
in  terms  of  merited  compliment  extended  to  the  ladies  of  the  State  of  Mich 
igan  commendation  for  their  zeal  and  active  effort  in  behalf  of  the  sick  and 
wounded  soldier.  His  Excellency  Austin  Blair  was  then  introduced,  and 
in  an  address,  able,  patriotic,  eloquent  and  replete  with  interesting  incidents 
of  the  war,  he  held  the  close  attention  of  his  audience  for  an  hour.  After 
singing,  of  rare  excellence,  by  the  "  Musical  Association  of  Kalamazoo," 
the  vast  crowd  was  dismissed,  every  man  and  woman  seemingly  congratu 
lating  themselves  that  the  public  exercises  had  been  to  them,  of  great  inter 
est,  and  worthy  of  the  cause  for  which  the  "  Sanitary  Fair "  had  been 
planned  and  arranged. 

No  objects  in  the  "  Fair  "  seemed  to  excite  so  much  of  interest  and  fix 
the  attention  of  the  thousands  who  visited  the  "  Sanitary  Hall,"  as  the  torn 
and  battle-scarred  banners,  which  had  been  borne  by  the  regiments  of 
Michigan  during  the  war,  and  which  had  been  kindly  furnished  from  the 
Adjutant-General's  office.  As  the  multitude  gazed  on  these  silent  emblems 
of  the  brave  deeds  of  the  men  of  Michigan,  again  and  again  was  heard  from 
mother  and  father  the  exclamation,  as  the  flag  of  some  particular  regiment 
was  noted,  "  My  son  fought  under  that  banner ;"  and  not  unfrequently  the 
sad,  accompanying  remark,  "  he  fell  in  battle,"  or  "died  in  hospital." 

The  "  Ladies'  Soldiers'  Aid  Society,  of  Kalamazoo,"  desire  to  express 
their  heartfelt  thanks  to  all  who  generously  contributed  to  this  "  Michigan 
State  Sanitary  Fair,"  for  the  benefit  of  the  sick,  wounded,  and  disabled 
soldier.  To  the  delegations  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  from  Wayne,  St.  Clair, 
Macomb,  Lapeer,  Lenawee,  Hillsdale,  Calhoun,  Jackson,  St.  Joseph,  Van 
Buren,  Cass,  and  Allegan  counties,  who  attended  during  the  "  Fair,"  and 
kindly  contributed  by  active  effort  to  its  success,  they  specially  desire  to 
express  their  great  obligation. 

It  will  be  perceived  by  the  accompanying  account  that  the  net  proceeds 
of  the  "  Fair,"  already  distributed,  amounts  to  $9,300,  leaving  with  the 
treasurer  a  small  balance  to  cover  any  possible  outstanding  liability,  or  for 
future  distribution. 


206  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

MICHIGAN   STATE   SANITARY   FAIR. 

1864—  Credit 

By  amount  received,  admission  tickets,  for  Sanitary  Hall $1,213  15 

By  amount  received  at  Presidential  ballot-box .. 454  25 

By  donations  in  money  and  sales  of  articles  contributed 11,097  40 


Total $12,764  80 

Debit. 

To  amount  paid  Kellogg  &  Co.  for  lumber  for  buildings $1,243  91 

To  labor,  printing,  and  sundry  expenses.  502  11 

To  Kalamazoo  Horse  Association  for  rent  of  ground 276  50 

To  supplies  for  dining  tables 1,123  50 

To  "  Kalamazoo  Ladies'  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  " 2,900  00 

To  "United  States  Christian  Commission,"  Detroit.... 2,900  00 

To  "  Michigan  Soldiers'  Relief  Committee,"  Detroit 2,900  00 

To  "  Michigan  Soldiers'  Relief  Association,"  Washington  City, 

per  Hon.  J.  M.  Edmunds 600  00 

To  cash,  balance  on  hand 318  78 

Total $12,764  80 

H.  G.  WELLS, 
S.  W.  WALKER, 
JOHN  POTTER, 

Executive  Com.  Michigan  State  Sanitary  Fair. 
KALAMAZOO,  November  10,  1864. 

Among  the  various  associations  instituted  during  the  war  for  the  relief 
of  the  sick  and  wounded  soldier,  the  "  Christian  Commission  "  loomed  up  as 
a  great  auxiliary  in  the  great  and  good  work.  Possessing  an  immense 
strength  and  energy,  with  true  devotion,  it  competed  most  successfully  as  a 
sanitary  organization,  uniting  therewith  the  religious  instruction  and  admo 
nition  of  good  men  to  the  living,  and  administering  kindly  consolation  to 
those  who  were  being  called  away  forever. 

The  following  report  of  the  Michigan  branch  for  1864  finds  a  proper  place 
at  this  time : 

To  JOHN  ROBERTSON,  Adjutant-  General  State  of  Michigan  : 

In  accordance  with  your  request,  the  Michigan  branch  of  the  U.  S.  Chris 
tian  Commission  beg  leave  to  report  the  nature  and  extent  of  its  work  in 
behalf  of  the  armies  of  the  Union  for  the  past  year. 

The  commission  in  this  State  was  first  organized  on  the  15th  of  June,  A. 
D.  1863,  but  has  practically  been  in  operation  but  a  single  year.  It  had  no 
part  in  the  great  work  of  the  Christian  Commission  at  Gettysburg  in  July, 
1863,  except  that  some  of  our  citizens  were  commissioned  at  Philadelphia, 
and  acted  as  delegates  on  that  field.  Its  first  funds  of  any  large  amount 
were  received  from  the  thanksgiving  collections  of  last  year,  which  were 
nearly  all  poured  into  our  treasury.  Since  that  time  the  operations  of  this 
branch  have  been  steadily  enlarging,  its  resources  increasing,  and  its  plan 
and  system  of  working  gaining  the  favor  and  approbation  of  the  people. 

The  plan  of  the  commission  is  to  minister  both  to  the  mental  and  spiritual, 
as  well  as  the  bodily  wants  of  the  army.  It  sends  the  living  preacher,  the 
Bible,  and  the  religious  newspapers  of  all  denominations,  and  all  the  time 


SANITARY  OPERATIONS.  207 

it  is  ministering  to  the  temporal  wants  of  the  soldier,  and  working  for  the 
sick,  wounded,  and  dying.  It  searches  for  the  wounded  amid  the  thickets 
of  the  battle-field,  and  never  leaves  him  till  he  is  discharged  from  hospital 
or  a  prayer  consigns  him  to  a  soldier's  grave. 

All  the  delegates  of  the  commission  are  ministers  and  laymen,  selected 
for  their  fitness  for  the  work,  who  labor  each  six  weeks  without  any  com 
pensation,  except  the  consciousness  of  doing  good.  All  that  is  given  to  the 
commission  is  dispensed  personally  by  these  delegates,  and  placed  by  their 
own  hands  in  the  hands  of  the  soldier — not  handed  over  to  be  dispensed  by 
officials  of  the  Government,  or  salaried  agents  of  the  commission. 

This  branch  of  the  commission  has  received  from  the  people  down  to  this 
time  $21,725.20,  most  of  which  has  been  forwarded  to  the  central  office  at 
Philadelphia.  Stores  have  been  contributed  and  forwarded  to  the  armies 
from  Michigan  amounting  in  value  to  about  $10,000. 

Michigan  furnished  to  us  the  following  delegates,  fifty-seven  in  number, 
nearly  all  of  whom  have  spent  their  full  term  of  six  weeks  in  the  work  of 
the  commission : 

William  Harvey,  Detroit,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Kev.  Seth  Reed,  Ypsilanti,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Strong,  Clarkston,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Rev.  James  Walker,  Eckford,  Army  of  the  Mississippi. 

Rev.  L.  Slater,  Kalamazoo,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

James  E.  Carson,  Centreville,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Rev.  E.  H.  Pilcher,  Ann  Arbor,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Rev.  B.  Franklin,  Saline,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Rev.  A.  F.  Bournes,  Dexter,  Army  of  the  Mississippi. 

Rev.  F.  R.  Gallaher,  Hillsdale,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Rev.  W.  P.  Wastell,  Holly,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Prof.  A.  Ten  Brook,  Ann  Arbor,  Army  of  the  Mississippi. 

Rev.  George  H.  Hickox,  Saline,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Rev.  D.  H.  Evans,  Palmyra,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Rev.  J.  J.  Gridley,  Pinckney,  Army  of  the  Mississippi. 

Prof.  Joseph  Eastabrook,  Ypsilanti,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Alanson  Sheley,  Detroit,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Rev.  O.  C.  Thompson,  Detroit,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Rev.  Wm.  Hogarth,  D.D.,  Detroit,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

E.  C.  Walker,  Detroit,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Rev.  George  Duffield,  Jr.,  Adrian,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Samuel  W.  Duffield,  Adrian,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Samuel  E.  Hart,  Adrian,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

W.  F.  King,  Adrian,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

A.  S.  Berry,  Adrian,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Rev.  Daniel  E.  Brown,  Flint,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Prof.  J.  C.  Plumb,  Ypsilanti,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Wm.  Patterson,  Ypsilanti,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Robert  H.  Tripp,  Hiilsdale,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Rev.  H.  N.  Bissell,  Mount  Clemens,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

F.  S.  Walker,  Bass  Lake,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 
Rev.  S.  E.  Wishard,  Tecumseh,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
Rev.  J.  W.  Allen,  Franklin,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Rev.  R.  R.  Salter,  D.D.,  LaSalle,  Army  of  the  Mississippi. 
Rev.  James  F.  Taylor,  Chelsea,  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 
C.  K.  Adams,  Ann  Arbor,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
O.  C.  Thompson,  Jr.,  Detroit,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 


9Q8  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Rev.  John  Pierson,  Milford,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Rev.  J.  R.  Cordon,  Oak  Grove,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Rev.  Robert  H.  Conklin,  Detroit,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

George  Andrews,  Detroit,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Rev.  8.  L.  Ramsdell,  Northville,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Rev.  James  S.  Sutton,  Brighton,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Rev.  Wm.  Harrington,  North  Adams,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

H.  B.  Denman,  Dowagiac,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

O.  F.  Shannon,  Fairwater,  Wisconsin,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

J.  P.  Garvin,  M.D.,  Kendalville,  Indiana,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Rev.  O.  H.  Spoor,  Vermontville,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Daniel  "W.  Church,  Vermontville,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Rev.  E.  H.  Day,  Otsego,  Army  of  the  Mississippi. 

Rev.  Thomas  Lowrie,  Stratford,  C.  W.,  Potomac. 

Rev.  E.  J.  Howes,  Sylvanus,  Mississippi. 

Rev.  J.  A.  Ranney,  Sturgis,  Cumberland. 

Prof.  O.  M.  Currier,  Olivet,  Cumberland. 

Prof.  H.  E.  Whipple,  Hillsdale,  Potomac. 

Rev.  Mr.  Taylor,  Tecumseh,  Potomac. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

E.  C.  WALKER,   Chairman. 

CHARLES  F.  CLARK,  Secretary. 

HENRY  P.  BALDWIN,  Treasurer. 

DAVID  PRESTON, 

CALEB  IVES, 

FRANCIS  RAYMOND, 

J.  S.  VERNOR, 
Army  Com.  of  the  U.  S.  Christian  Com.  for  Michigan. 

VOLUNTEER  SURGEONS. 

There  were  times  during  the  war  when  battles  came  thick  and  fast ;  when 
rebel  bullets  felled  men  like  grain  in  harvest ;  when  the  Medical  Depart 
ment  of  the  Government,  with  all  its  accustomed  foresight  and  immense 
resources,  with  vast  preparations  to  meet  coming  emergencies,  failed  in  sup 
plying  the  demand  for  surgeons  in  the  field,  and  when  the  wounded  were 
threatened  with  extreme  suffering;  but  this  deficiency  was  readily  and 
cheerfully  supplied  by  the  medical  men  of  the  land.  The  surgeons  of  Mich 
igan,  without  fee  or  proffer  of  reward,  and  at  much  sacrifice,  never  failed  in 
promptly  and  substantially  responding  on  these  occasions. 

The  following  extract  from  a  report  made  in  1864  by  Dr.  Joseph  Tunni- 
cliff,  of  Jackson,  then  State  agent  at  Washington,  to  the  Adjutant-General, 
sets  forth  their  readiness  for  this  service: 

"The  Potomac  Army,  under  command  of  Lieutenant-General  Grant, 
crossed  the  Rapidan  May  5,  1864,  and  from  that  day  onward  to  about  the 
10th  day  of  June,  there  occurred  a  nearly  continuous  succession  of  battles, 
so  frequent  that  it  is  a  common  remark  of  the  soldiers  returned  from  that 
campaign  that  it  seemed  to  them  like  one  continuous  battle. 

"  Certain  it  is  that  the  entire  region,  from  the  Rapidan  to  Cold  Harbor, 
was  a  continuous  battle-ground.  Three  hundred  thousand  men,  in  daily 
and  nightly  conflict  for  thirty-five  days,  produced  of  necessity  a  host  of 
wounded,  who  demanded  from  not  only  the  Government  but  the  people  every 
possible  assistance. 

"  Not  only  the  Government  ambulances  and  wagons  but  every  other  pos- 


VOLUNTEER  SURGEONS.  209 

sible  means  of  transportation  which  could  be  devised  were  resorted  to  by 
the  sick  and  wounded  to  reach  Fredericksburg,  the  newly-established  base 
and  depot  of  supplies. 

"  On  the  12th  day  of  May  I  received  from  you,  General,  on  behalf  of  the 
Governor,  the  following  telegram : 

" '  To  J.  TUNNICLIFF,  JR.,  Michigan  State  Agent : 

" '  The  Governor  directs  that  you  make  every  exertion  to  take  care  of  the 
Michigan  wounded  soldiers.  Employ  sufficient  assistance  to  do  so,  and  use 
what  money  may  be  necessary.  Should  you  need  any  number  of  assistants 
from  the  State,  inform  by  telegraph,  and  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  this 
dispatch  by  telegraph.' 

"  Upon  receipt  of  the  above,  and  after  consultation  with  General  Joseph 
K.  Barnes,  Surgeon-General — who,  permit  me  to  add,  is  precisely  the  right 
man  in  the  right  place — I  dispatched  the  following  reply : 

" '  GENERAL  ROBERTSON — Sir :  Your  telegram  is  received.  Large  provi 
sion  has  already  been  made  by  the  Surgeon-General  and  the  various  sani 
tary  commissions  to  meet  the  requirements.  I  have  forwarded  Mrs.  Brai- 
nard  and  Miss  Wheelock,  with  three  assistants  and  twenty  boxes  of  sanitary 
stores,  to  Fredericksburg,  on  the  10th  instant.  The  Surgeon-General  directs 
me  to  say  that  he  will  accept  the  services  of  ten  (10)  experienced  surgeons, 
fully  equipped  for  ten  (10)  days'  service  in  the  field.  Direct  them  to  report 
at  this  office.  I  have  made  provision  to  have  them  forwarded.' 

"  It  is  with  no  ordinary  pride  that  I  record  the  fact,  that  in  response  to 
this  invitation,  thirty-three  surgeons, 'with  their  assistants,  left  their  business 
and  the  comforts  of  home  to  volunteer  their  services,  without  compensation, 
to  aid  their  suffering  countrymen  at  this  trying  period,  and  among  them 
are  many  of  the  most  eminent  surgeons  of  our  State.  I  deem  it  but  just 
that  I  should  append  their  names : 

"  Drs.  Alonzo  B.  Palmer,  Ann  Arbor ;  D.  L.  Davenport,  E.  M.  Clark, 
Detroit ;  Edward  Cox,  Z.  L.  Slater,  Battle  Creek ;  C.  F.  Ashley,  W.  G.  Cox, 
A.  F.  Kinney,  Ypsilanti ;  W.  B.  Smith,  Ann  Arbor ;  Gordon  Chittock,  F. 
M.  Reasnor,  Jackson ;  R.  B.  Gates,  George  Barnes,  Chelsea ;  S.  C.  Willie, 
East  Saginaw ;  M.  F.  Baldwin,  Flint ;  Stephen  Griggs,  E.  W.  Goodwin, 
Detroit ;  E.  Church,  Marshall ;  R.  H.  Davis,  Mason ;  James  C.  Willson, 
Flint;  H.  C.  Farrand,  East  Saginaw;  J.  E.  Smith,  Portland;  John  Smith, 
Pontiac;  J.E.Wilson,  Rochester;  F.  B.  Galbraith,  C.  C.  Jerome,  Port 
Huron ;  O.  F.  Burroughs,  Galesburg ;  J.  P.  Nash,  Marshall ;  W.  L.  Still- 
well,  Kalamazoo ;  S.  Lathrop,  Pine  Burr ;  H.  C.  Fairbank,  Grand  Blanc ; 
E.  R.  Ellis,  and  L.  DePuy,  Grand  Rapids. 

"  Thousands  of  the  soldiers  of  our  army — for  their  labors  were  not  re 
stricted  to  the  soldiers  of  our  State — will  remember  so  long  as  the  pulses  of 
life  flow,  with  grateful  hearts,  the  unselfish  devotion  and  skill  with  which 
this  body  of  volunteer  surgeons  labored  to  relieve  them. 

"  They  were  not  all  assigned  to  duty  at  Fredericksburg ;  for,  as  the  army 
advanced,  some  of  them  were  sent  to  the  White  House,  and  many  of  them 
to  City  Point.  Most  of  them  remained  so  long  as  their  services  were  needed, 
and  I  regret  to  add  that  a  number  of  them  returned  in  a  greatly  impaired 
state  of  health. 

"  The  following  young  gentlemen,  students  of  medicine  and  surgery,  for 
warded  by  the  citizens  of  Ann  Arbor,  reported  as  volunteer  dressers,  June 
1st,  were  accepted  by  the  Surgeon-General,  and  sent  to  duty  in  hospitals  at 
City  Point :  Messrs.  O.  Marshall,  M.  O.  Bently,  P.  Martin,  J.  K.  Johnson, 

N 


210  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

and  D.  V.  Dean.  They  all  did  well — indeed,  most  of  them  were  so  well 
liked  by  the  medical  officers  in  charge  that  they  were  soon  employed  as 
assistant  surgeons,  and  placed  in  charge  of  surgical  wards.  It  may  be  well 
to  add  here  that  these  young  men  had  nearly  completed  their  course  of 
study  preparatory  to  graduation.  The  people  of  Ann  Arbor  may  well  feel 
proud  of  their  contribution.  It  was  what  money  could  not  purchase." 

SOLDIERS'  VOTE  IN  THE  FIELD. 

In  accordance  with  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  February  5th, 
1864,  to  enable  the  qualified  electors  of  this  State  in  the  military  service  to 
vote  at  certain  elections,  the  same  were  held  amongst  the  Michigan  troops 
in  the  service  of  the  United  States  on  the  7th  day  of  November,  1864.  They 
took  place  under  the  supervision  of  the  commissioners  appointed  in  the  fol 
lowing  letter  of  the  Executive,  and  were  conducted  in  compliance  with  the 
instructions  therein  contained : 

STATE  OF  MICHIGAN,  EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 

LANSING,  October  14,  1864. 

The  several  commissioners  appointed  and  commissioned  under  the  act 
entitled  "  An  act  to  enable  the  qualified  electors  of  the  State  in  the  military 
service  to  vote  at  certain  elections,  and  to  amend  sections  45  and  61  of 
chapter  6  of  the  compiled  laws,"  are  directed  immediately  to  make  and  file 
with  the  Secretary  of  State  the  oath  of  office  required  by  law,  and  on  or 
before  the  25th  day  of  October  instant  to  report  at  the  office  of  the  Adjutant- 
General  in  Detroit,  where  the  necessary  poll-books,  blank  forms,  certificates, 
and  instructions,  together  with  copies  of  the  law,  will  be  furnished  them. 
Having  been  so  furnished,  the  commissioners  will  immediately  proceed  to 
the  places  where  the  work  assigned  them  is  to  be  performed.  In  the  per 
formance  of  their  duties  they  will  take  the  oath  of  office  as  the  guide,  and 
will  do  their  duty  "  impartially,  fully,  and  without  reference  to  political 
preferences  or  results."  It  will  be  proper  for  them  to  carry  printed  ballots 
with  them  for  the  use  of  the  electors  of  whatever  party ;  but  the  act  forbids 
them  to  attempt  in  any  manner  to  influence  or  control  the  vote  of  any 
soldier. 

Such  printed  ballots  may  also  be  left  at  the  office  of  the  Adjutant-General 
in  Detroit,  to  be  delivered  to  the  commissioners,  or  they  may  be  delivered 
directly  to  the  commissioners  themselves.  In  the  apportionment  of  the  work 
it  has  been  found  very  difficult  to  make  it  equal  or  even  to  cover  the  whole 
ground.  The  commissioners  are  therefore  required,  if  necessary,  to  assist 
each  other,  and  wherever  small  bodies  of  Michigan  troops  are  found  with 
whom  no  commissioner  is  present  to  act  as  such.  The  work  is  apportioned 
among  the  commissioners  as  follows : 

ARMY   OF   THE   POTOMAC. 

David  B.  Harrison,  Mason,  26th  infantry,  1st  division,  2d  army  corps, 
near  Petersburg,  Va. 

M.  D.  Hamilton,  Monroe,  7th  infantry,  2d  division,  2d  army  corps,  and 
company  B,  2d  U.  S.  S.  S.,  1st  division,  3d  army  corps,  near  Petersburg, 
Va. 

Edwin  C.  Hinsdale,  Detroit,  5th  infantry,  3d  division,  2d  army  corps, 
and  companies  C,  I,  and  K,  1st  U.  S.  S.  S.,  in  the  same  division,  near  Pe 
tersburg,  Va. 

John  S.  Estabrook,  East  Saginaw,  1st  and  16th  infantry,  1st  division,  5th 
army  corps,  near  Petersburg,  Va. 


SOLDIERS  VOTE  IN  THE  FIELD.  211 

William  W.  Wright,  Livonia,  24th  infantry,  3d  division,  5th  army  corps, 
near  Petersburg,  Va. 

William  Winegar,  Grass  Lake,  2d,  8th,  and  17th  infantry,  1st  division, 
9th  army  corps,  near  Petersburg,  Va. 

Joseph  Warren,  Detroit,  20th  and  27th  infantry  and  1st  sharpshooters, 
1st  division,  9th  army  corps,  near  Petersburg,  Va. 

Jacob  Kanouse,  Cohoctah,  1st  and  5th  cavalry,  1st  division,  cavalry  corps, 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 

Martin  Gray,  Saline,  6th  and  7th  cavalry,  1st  division,  cavalry  corps,  in 
the  Shenandoah  Valley. 

Andrew  Robinson,  Sharon,  one  company  1st  cavalry,  and  one  company 
26th  infantry,  and  U.  S.  hospitals,  at  Alexandria,  Va. 

Charles  Betts,  Burr  Oak,  13th  and  14th  batteries,  Fort  Foot,  Maryland, 
and  hospitals  in  Washington. 

ARMY  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND. 

Asher  E.  Mather,  Pontiac,  9th  and  22d  infantry,  General  Thomas' 
Headquarters,  near  Atlanta,  Ga. 

William  A.  Robinson,  Grand  Rapids,  10th  and  14th  infantry,  2d  divis 
ion,  14th  army  corps,  near  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Henry  L.  Hall,  Hillsdale,  18th  infantry,  4th  division,  20th  army  corps, 
near  Decatur,  Ala. 

John  C.  Laird,  Mendon,  19th  infantry  and  battery  I,  3d  division,  20th 
army  corps,  near  Atlanta,  Ga. 

L.  M.  S.  Smith,  Grand  Haven,  13th  and  21st  infantry,  engineer  brigade, 
Lookout  Mountain,  Tenn. 

David  Horton,  Adrian,  4th  cavalry,  2d  division,  cavalry  corps,  near 
Atlanta,  Ga. 

John  McNeil,  Port  Huron,  2d  cavalry,  1st  division,  cavalry  corps,  near 
Franklin,  Tenn. 

Albert  Miller,  Bay  City,  batteries  E  and  D,  battery  E  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  battery  D  at  Murfreesborough,  Tenn.,  and  the  hospitals  at  Nash 
ville. 

E.  D.  W.  Burtch,  Lansing,  1st  engineers  and  mechanics,  Cartersville,  Ga. 

Asa  Bunnell,  Lyons,  company  D,  66th  Illinois  volunteers,  and  companies 
B  and  H,  44th  Illinois  volunteers,  near  Atlanta,  Ga. 

John  H.  Richardson,  Tuscola,  29th  infantry,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

ARMY  OF  THE  TENNESSEE. 

William  Sinclair,  Jonesville,  15th  infantry,  2d  division,  15th  army  corps, 
near  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Thaddeus  G.  Smith,  Fentonville,  batteries  B  and  C,  16th  army  corps, 
battery  B,  at  Rome,  Ga.,  and  battery  C,  at  East  Point,  Ga. 

Sylvester  Higgins,  Charlotte,  batteries  H  and  K,  17th  army  corps,  near 
Atlanta,  Ga. 

James  J.  Hogaboom,  Hudson,  23d  and  25th  infantry,  and  battery  F,  2d 
division,  23d  army  corps,  near  Decatur,  Ga. 

William  Hulsart,  Romeo,  8th  cavalry,  Nicholasville,  Ky.,  and  batteries 
L  and  M,  23d  army  corps,  Cumberland  Gap,  Tenn. 

M.  S.  Bowen,  Cold  water,  9th  cavalry,  cavalry  division,  23d  army  corps, 
near  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Henry  H.  Holt,  Muskegon,  10th  cavalry,  cavalry  division,  23d  army 
corps,  Strawberry  Plain,  Tenn. 

William  A.  House,  Kalamazoo,  cavalry  division,  23d  army  corps, 
Louisa,  Ky. 


212 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


ARMY   OP   THE   GULF. 

Warren  S.  Crippen,  Schoolcraft,  6th  heavy  artillery,  near  Mobile,  and 
battery  G,  New  Orleans. 

Levi  Sparks,  Niles,  12th  infantry,  2d  division,  7th  army  corps,  Duvall's 
Bluff,  Ark. 

Nathan  H.  Bitely,  Lawton,  3d  cavalry,  at  Duvall's  Bluff,  Ark. 

William  F.  Neil,  Battle  Creek,  Merrill  Horse,  at  Duvall's  Bluff. 

S.  O.  Kingsbury,  Grand  Rapids,  3d  infantry,  Nashville. 

W.  Y.  Rumney,  Detroit,  4th  infantry,  Nashville. 

William  B.  Williams,  Allegan,  28th  infantry,  Nashville. 

Josiah  Turner,  Owosso,  hospitals  at  Annapolis,  Baltimore,  Philadelphia, 
and  York,  Penn. 

Weston  Flint,  hospitals  at  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Caleb  Clark,  hospitals  at  Washington,  and  Frederick,  Md. 

D.  O.  Farrand,  hospitals  at  Detroit. 

AUSTIN  BLAIR. 

The  result  of  the  vote  for  Presidential  electors  was  as  follows  : 


REPUBLICAN. 


DEMOCRATIC. 


Robert  R.  Beecher 9,402 

Thomas  D.  Gilbert 9,402 

Frederick  Waldorf. 9,402 

Marsh  Giddings 9,402 

Christian  Eberbach 9,402 

Perry  Hannah 9,402 

Omar  D.  Conger 9,402 

George  W.  Peck 9,402 


Samuel  T.Douglas 2,959 

Rix  Robinson 2,959 

Henry  Hart 2,959 

Royal  T.  Twombly 2,920 

D.  Darwin  Hughes 2,959 

John  Lewis 2,959 

Michael  E.  Crofoot 2,942 

Richard  Edwards 2,935 


The  number  of  imperfect  votes  was  47. 

The  vote  for  Governor  was — Henry  H.  Crapo,  Republican,  9,612,  and 
William  M.  Fenton,  Democrat,  2,992. 

The  infantry  regiments  which  did  not  vote  were  the  10th,  llth,  13th, 
14th,  and  21st ;  of  the  cavalry,  the  1st,  4th,  6th,  and  9th,  and  of  the  light 
artillery,  battery  G. 

RECEPTION  OF  TROOPS. 

Early  in  June,  1865,  and  prior  to  the  return  to  the  State  of  the  first  troops 
from  the  field,  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  city  of  Detroit  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  measures  to  provide  for  the  returning  Michigan  regiments  such  re 
freshments  and  attention  as  they  might  stand  in  need  of  on  their  arrival  in 
the  city,  and  the  following  committees  were  appointed  : 

Committee  of  Reception. — Ladies — Mrs.  Brent,  T.  K.  Adams,  Silas  Holmes, 
Walter  Ingersoll,  John  Palmer,  J.  S.  Farrand,  L.  B.  Willard,  Jabez  Holmes, 
L.  S.  Trowbridge,  Slocum,  and  A.  C.  McGraw.  Gentlemen — Rev.  George 
Taylor,  Messrs.  J.  W.  Farrell,  Ed.  Wetmore,  W.  S.  Penfield,  F.  Wetmore, 
T.  K. '  Adams,  George  W.  Hudson,  Jabez  Holmes,  E.  C.  Walker,  George 
Sheley,  and  H.  M.  Wright. 

Committee  of  Finance. — Messrs.  E.  B.  Ward,  David  Preston,  C.  H.  Buhl, 
John  Owen,  0.  C.  Trowbridge,  R.  N.  Rice,  Mark  Flanigan,  W.  K.  Muir, 
Edmund  Trowbridge,  and  Ira  Davis. 

Mr.  H.  R.  Johnson  was  selected  as  purveyor  and  superintendent  of  tables, 


RECEPTION  OF  TROOPS.— PRESENTATION  OF  COLORS.  213 

and  proved  the  right  man  in  the  right  place,  performing  much  service  and 
to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 

By  the  gratuitous  and  attentive  services  of  these  committees,  involving 
much  labor,  both  early  and  late,  aided  by  a  number  of  ladies  and  gentle 
men,  and  sustained  by  the  liberal  contributions  of  the  citizens,  so  generously 
made,  the  object  was  most  successfully  accomplished,  and  from  June  4th, 
1865,  down  to  June  10th,  1866, 14,510  Michigan  and  3,506  Wisconsin  troops 
had  been  received  and  entertained. 

R.  N.  Rice,  Esq.,  Superintendent  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  with 
his  accustomed  liberality  and  kindness,  permitted  the  committees  to  use  the 
upper  story  of  the  freight  house  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  which 
was  properly  fitted  up  as  a  dining  hall  and  appropriately  decorated. 

During  the  whole  period  in  which  regiments  arrived  in  Detroit,  the  Rev. 
George  Taylor,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  formerly  chaplain 
in  the  8th  Michigan  infantry,  an  agent  of  the  Christian  Commission,  was 
permitted  by  that  association  to  devote  his  time  to  the  returning  troops. 
He  was  most  attentive,  seldom  failing  to  be  present  on  their  arrival,  taking 
the  management  of  their  reception,  and  rendering  efficient  services.  Ever 
ready  with  a  warm  and  enthusiastic  welcome,  which  our  Michigan  men  as 
well  as  those  of  Wisconsin  will  long  remember. 

At  Jackson,  a  rendezvous  for  returned  troops,  similar  arrangements  were 
generously  and  liberally  made  by  the  citizens,  and  during  the  time  specified 
above  10,659  Michigan  troops  had  been  received  and  entertained  in  a  like 
manner  as  at  Detroit. 

Most  of  these  troops  arriving  in  Detroit  came  via  the  splendid  Detroit 
and  Cleveland  line  of  steamers,  then  consisting  of  the  Morning  Star,  (since 
lost,)  Captain  E.  R.  Viger,  and  the  City  of  Cleveland,  Captain  William 
McKay.  The  kindness  extended  to  so  many  regiments  of  Michigan  and 
Wisconsin  troops,  and  especially  to  returning  sick  and  disabled  soldiers,  on 
every  occasion  by  their  officers  and  owners,  have  most  positively  identified 
these  steamers  with  the  history  of  Michigan  and  Wisconsin  troops.  Many 
thousands  of  them  will  look  back  with  grateful  memory  to  the  time  when, 
weary,  dusty,  and  longing  for  home  and  friends,  their  eyes  first  caught  a 
glimpse  of  them  and  the  blue,  cooling  waters  of  Lake  Erie. 

PRESENTATION  OF  COLORS. 

The  presentation  of  the  colors  of  Michigan  regiments  to  the  State,  which 
took  place  in  Detroit  on  the  4th  of  July,  1866,  was  an  occasion  of  no  ordi 
nary  interest  to  the  inhabitants  of  that  city  and  the  people  of  the  State  gen 
erally.  In  the  Adjutant-General's  report  for  that  year  is  found  the  follow 
ing  notices  of  these  ragged  but  interesting  standards : 

"  Next  of  interest  to  the  return  to  the  State  of  the  men  themselves  who 
have  so  nobly  established  and  sustained  its  reputation  in  the  field,  and  so 
conspicuously  aided  in  the  salvation  of  the  nation,  is  the  return  of  the  colors 
under  which  their  services  were  so  bravely  and  faithfully  performed  and  so 
successfully  consummated. 

"  These  tattered  but  honored  banners  are  the  cherished  and  venerated 
emblems  of  great  public  services  rendered  by  the  soldiers  of  the  State  to  the 
Republic,  and  are  universally  acknowledged  as  the  symbols  of  regimental 
bravery,  individual  courage,  loyalty,  and  patriotism ;  and  are  recognized  as 
tokens  of  fraternal  associations,  formed  and  cemented  in  trying  times  and 
under  most  extraordinary  circumstances,  enduring  while  life  lasts. 

"  They  are,  aside  from  that,  indelibly  stamped  on  the  hearts  of  the  people, 


214  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

the  most  forcible  mementos  of  the  gallant  regiments  that  so  heroically  up 
held  and  so  persistently  stood  by  them  and  the  country,  even  in  the  darkest 
days  of  the  -war. 

"  They  were  as  little  specs  in  the  long  lines  of  the  great  American  armies, 
yet  they  were  often  watched  in  the  advancing  columns  with  intense  anxiety, 
but  with  strong  confidence  and  hope  by  the  greatest  generals  of  the  land. 

"  To  bear  them  aloft  was  a  signal  for  rebel  bullets,  often  bringing  swift 
and  certain  death,  but  they  were  never  trailed  m  the  dust  nor  lacked  a  gal 
lant  bearer.  On  them  many  a  noble  son  of  Michigan  has  looked  his  last 
and  bade  farewell  to  life." 

On  the  19th  of  May  preceding  an  order  was  issued  from  the  State  Mili 
tary  Department,  by  direction  of  the  Governor,  determining  the  4th  of  July 
for  the  presentation  of  these  colors,  and  extending  a  cordial  invitation  to 
the  officers  and  soldiers  of  all  the  regiments  to  be  present.  Following  is  an 
extract  from  that  order,  which  finds  a  fitting  place  here : 

"  The  appropriateness  of  setting  apart  the  national  birthday  for  that  pur 
pose  will  be  fully  recognized  and  appreciated.  Its  hallowed  memories  will 
remind  the  patriots  present  of  the  gallant  struggle  of  their  patriotic  fore 
fathers  in  establishing  the  Government  in  the  defence  and  maintenance  of 
which  they  have  been  so  successfully  instrumental. 

"  The  State  will  be  highly  honored  in  receiving  on  that  great  national 
day  the  cherished  evidences  of  the  manhood,  courage,  and  patriotism  of  its 
soldiers,  and  of  their  eminently  gallant  and  meritorious  services  to  the  Re 
public  in  its  great  and  successful  battle  for  national  existence,  and  it  will 
proudly  accept  and  faithfully  retain  and  preserve  them  as  sacred  mementos 
thereof  and  of  the  loyalty  and  patriotism  of  its  people. 

"  The  congregated  emblems  of  National  and  State  prowess,  and  of  regi 
mental  bravery  and  fraternal  associations  there  presented,  will  revive  in 
the  mind  of  every  soldier  recollections  of  great  and  gallant  deeds,  of  days 
and  nights  fraught  with  anxiety,  doubt,  danger,  and  death,  of  sacrifices  to 
patriotism,  of  hairbreadth  escapes,  of  attacks,  of  repulses,  of  sad  defeats, 
of  glorious  victories,  of  long  and  weary  marches,  of  hunger,  thirst,  and  cold, 
and  of  sorrow  and  sadness  for  fallen  comrades ;  but  all  will  look  upon  them 
with  reverential  pride,  and  recognize  them  as  having  been  their  guiding 
star  in  many  brilliant  but  sanguinary  conflicts,  having  followed  them  in  the 
victorious  charge  of  the  assaulting  column,  having  from  them  received 
silent  directions  when  all  orders  were  lost  in  the  din  and  confusion  of  con 
tending  armies,  and  having  under  their  tattered  but  glorious  stars  and  stripes 
battled  long  and  bravely  for  the  right." 

On  the  19th  of  June,  in  accordance  with  instructions  from  the  War  De 
partment,  Major  John  H.  Knight,  chief  mustering  officer,  addressed  the 
following  letter  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State,  at  which  time  the 
flags  were  officially  delivered  at  the  military  headquarters  of  the  State : 

OFFICE  CHIEF  MUSTERING  OFFICER, 

DETROIT,  MICH.,  June  19,  1866. 
BRIG.  GEN.  JOHN  ROBERTSON, 

Adjutant  General  State  of  Michigan,  Detroit,  Michigan  : 
GENERAL  : — All  the  regiments  sent  from  the  State  of  Michigan  to  put 
down  the  rebellion  of  the  Southern  States  having  now  been  mustered  out  of 
service,  paid  off,  and  disbanded,  the  time  has  arrived  when  I  should,  in 
compliance  with  orders  from  the  War  Department,  deliver  to  the  Governor 
of  the  State  the  flags  turned  over  to  me  by  the  officers  of  the  disbanded 
regiments. 


PRESENTATION  OF  COLORS.  215 

I  have  the  honor,  this  day,  to  deliver  to  you  (you  being  at  the  head  of 
the  State  Military  Bureau  and  its  chief  officer)  all  of  them  in  my  possession. 

Please  find  a  list  of  the  flags  inclosed.  In  turning  them  over  to  you  I 
am  sensibly  reminded  that  they  are  the  flags  under  which  so  many  brave 
and  successful  deeds  have  been  performed — so  many  valuable  lives  given 
up  in  the  cause  of  the  Union  and  republican  liberty,  and  such  beneficial 
results  obtained. 

In  the  history  of  the  world  we  are  unable  to  find  where  mankind  was 
engaged  in  a  better  or  more  glorious  cause,  or  where  the  results  have  been 
more  important  to  the  cause  of  humanity  and  good  government ;  and  if  the 
sons  of  Michigan  have  been  called  upon  to  give  up  their  lives,  and  part  with 
the  dearest  earthly  objects,  those  whose  immediate  loss  has  been  great 
thereby  have  a  sweet  consolation  in  the  fact  that  their  blood  is  the  seed 
from  which  will  grow  up  fruits  dear  to  succeeding  millions  of  freemen,  and 
who  will  not  fail  to  render  that  devout  homage  to  their  memory  whenever 
they  shall  gather  around  the  Altars  of  Liberty  to  offer  up  thanks  to  Him 
who  is  great  over  all,  for  the  glorious  heritage  which  those  gallant  defenders 
have  so  permanently  secured.  They  will,  therefore,  live  in  their  deeds, 
whilst  a  single  pillar  of  the  Republic  stands.  Those  who  under  these  flags 
survived  the  terrible  battles  which  have  been  fought  during  the  late  rebel 
lion,  in  the  cause  of  our  great  and  powerful  Government,  will  see  and  enjoy 
the  rich  fruits  of  their  heroic  deeds,  and  with  full  hearts  will  join  their 
fellow-countrymen  in  rendering  tribute  to  the  memory  of  their  comrades 
who  fell  in  the  bloody  strife.  And  when  all  who  have  participated  in  the 
war  for  the  Union  have  passed  away,  succeeding  generations  will  catch  up 
the  songs  of  praise  now  being  sung  over  the  glories  achieved,  and  will  chant 
them  with  renewed  and  grateful  strains  through  all  time  to  come. 

It  was  very  proper  that  orders  were  made  to  deposit  these  flags  with  the 
State  authorities.  Torn  and  tattered  into  mere  strips  though  they  be,  yet 
each  piece  will  be  most  sacredly  preserved  by  each  succeeding  State  ad 
ministration,  and  upon  all  great  national  occasions  when  they  are  brought 
forth,  they  will  call  together  not  only  those  who,  under  their  folds  battled 
for  the  preservation  of  the  Republic,  but  lovers  of  liberty  from  all  parts  of 
the  State ;  and  they  will  continually  remind  the  people  of  the  priceless 
heritage  which  has  been  secured  to  themselves  and  to  coming  generations. 
Only  those  who  carried  them  through  the  frightful  scenes  of  suffering  and 
death  can  fully  realize  the  terrible  ordeals  through  which  our  great  nation 
has  been  preserved,  yet  all  will  be  reminded  how  great  is  the  boon  of  con 
stitutional  freedom ;  and  the  warning  they  will  exhibit  to  treason  will  be 
sufficient  to  stay  its  hand  and  compel  obedience  when  inclination  would 
direct  acts  of  rebellion. 

By  depositing  these  flags  with  the  State  authorities  in  each  State,  the 
authorities  of  the  Government  have  placed  therein  a  monument  in  memory 
of  its  glories  which  will  be  most  cherished,  and  whenever  beheld  by  the 

ale  will  far  surpass,  in  the  feelings  of  veneration  which  they  will  call 
,  all  the  pillars  of  marble  or  granite  which  human  genius  could  build. 
It  will  be  remembered  ,that  they  have  passed  through  the  scenes  of  strife, 
and  that  they  have  been  carried  by  the  hands  of  the  brave  men  themselves, 
who  fought  and  died  for  our  national  liberties.  It  will  be  seen  that  on  them 
is  inscribed  the  names  of  the  battles  passed  through,  where  the  fate  of  liberty 
was  staked  and  decided ;  and  with  what  feelings  of  reverence  will  these 
strips  of  bunting  be  looked  upon  by  the  father,  mother,  brother,  or  sister, 
whose  son  or  brother  marched  to  victory  or  glorious  death  under  their  folds. 
Whilst  all  patriots  on  viewing  these  battle-flags  will  remember  and  mourn 


216  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

the  loss  of  life  and  regret  the  vast  expenditures  which  have  been  made  to 
preserve  our  liberties,  yet  all  will  rejoice  over  the  glorious  results  which 
have  been  achieved. 

Permit  me  to  congratulate,  through  you,  the  people  of  Michigan,  for  the 
brilliant  and  conspicuous  part  performed  by  Michigan  regiments  in  the  late 
war  for  the  Union.  I  believe  there  is  no  blot  upon  their  record,  but  all  is 
bright,  conspicuous  and  glorious,  whilst  an  extraordinary  number  of  per 
sonal  distinctions  shine  upon  the  pages. 

Expressing  my  sensibility  of  the  fortunate  honor  in  being  the  instrument 
of  the  Government  for  delivering  to  the  State  these  sacred  colors, 
I  remain  your  most  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  H.  KNIGHT, 

Brevet  Major  U.  S.  Army, 
Chief  Mustering  Officer,  Michigan, 

The  invitation  extended  by  the  Governor  to  the  soldiers  of  Michigan  to 
be  present,  was  responded  to  in  keeping  with  the  great  love  which  they 
have  always  borne  for  the  old  flag,  under  all  circumstances,  and  they 
rallied  in  great  numbers  under  the  war-worn  folds  of  their  old  banner  as 
in  times  gone  by. 

On  the  day  set  apart  for  the  purpose,  the  colors  referred  to  wrere  for 
mally  presented  by  the  respective  regiments,  through  his  Excellency,  to  the 
State. 

"  I  saw  the  soldiers  come  to-day 

From  battle-fields  afar ; 
No  conqueror  rode  before  their  way, 

On  his  triumphal  car  ; 
But  Captains,  like  themselves,  on  foot, 

And  banners  sadly  torn, 
All  grandly  eloquent,  though  mute, 

In  pride  and  glory  borne. 

"Those  banners  soiled  with  dust  and  smoke, 

And  rent  by  shot  and  shell, 
That  through  the  serried  phalanx  broke, 

What  terrors  could  they  tell ! 
What  tales  of  sudden  pain  and  death — 

In  every  cannon's  boom — 
When  e'en  the  bravest  held  his  breath, 

And  waited  for  his  doom." 

The  Hon.  M.  I.  Mills,  Mayor  of  Detroit,  presided  on  the  occasion,  and, 
in  a  most  happy  speech,  welcomed  the  troops  present. 

The  ceremonies  were  commenced  with  prayer,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
McCoskry.  The  flags  were  presented  on  behalf  of  the  troops  by  General 
O.  B.  Wilcox,  in  a  happily  conceived  and  stirring  speech,  and  were  received 
in  an  eloquent  and  appropriate  address  by  Governor  Crapo,  and  the  cer 
emonies  were  closed  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Duffield,  with  an  impressive  bene 
diction. 

It  is  proper  and  just  to  mention  that  the  action  of  the  State  authorities 
was  cheerfully  aided  and  most  liberally  sustained  by  the  citizens  of  De 
troit,  and  after  the  presentation,  the  returned  troops  partook  of  a  sub 
stantial  repast,  prepared  for  them  by  the  people,  and  were  waited  upon 
at  the  tables  by  over  three  hundred  ladies  and  a  large  number  of  gen 
tlemen. 

The  affair  was  graced  and  honored  by  the  largest  and  most  magnificent 
celebration  ever  had  in  Michigan,  and  was  participated  in  by  the  most 


THE  HARPER  HOSPITAL.  217 

numerous  assemblage  of  people,  from  all  parts  of  the  State,  ever  congre 
gated  within  its  borders. 

One  hundred  and  twenty-three  of  these  flags  were  presented,  belonging  to 
the  various  regiments,  and  are  now  deposited  in  the  archives  of  Michigan, 
there  to  be  sacredly  kept  and  carefully  preserved.  Around  them  cluster 
hallowed  memories  of  companions  in  arms,  of  regimental  bravery,  and 
State  pride,  of  national  grandeur  and  prowess,  of  individual  heroism, 
of  fallen  comrades  and  family  bereavements,  and  of  a  nation  saved. 

THE  HARPER  HOSPITAL. 

In  1863  representations  were  made  to  the  Government  by  Colonel  Charles 
S.  Tripler,  surgeon  United  States  Army,  then  United  States  Medical  Di 
rector  in  the  State,  that  the  erection  of  a  general  hospital  at  Detroit,  for 
the  reception  and  care  of  sick  and  wounded  Michigan  soldiers,  was  an 
absolute  necessity.  Accompanying  these  representations  was  an  urgent 
request  for  immediate  action  in  the  matter.  Colonel  Tripler  was  ably 
aided  in  this  effort  by  Colonel  George  W.  Lee,  chief  quartermaster,  and 
Dr.  D.  O.  Farrand,  assistant  surgeon,  United  States  army.  The  object 
had  also  the  influence  and  recommendation  of  the  Governor  and  military 
authorities  of  the  State. 

After  much  laborious  correspondence  and  provoking  delays,  the  autho 
rity  was  finally  obtained,  under  an  order  from  the  Secretary  of.  War,  and 
the  work  on  Harper  Hospital  was  commenced  early  in  1864,  under  the 
superintendence  of  Colonel  Lee. 

Instead  of  constructing  the  building  with  three  stories  or  more,  as  had 
usually  been  the  custom,  the  hospital  was  made  up  of  eleven  one-story 
buildings,  with  the  offices  and  dispensary  in  the  centre,  and  the  whole 
range  connected  with  each  other  by  a  covered  aisle  in  the  rear,  rendering 
ingress  and  egress  easy  and  comfortable. 

It  cost  about  sixty  thousand  dollars,  aside  from  the  grounds,  the  use  of 
which  was  given  gratis  by  the  trustees  of  the  Harper  Hospital  Association. 
It  had  a  capacity  of  about  eight  hundred  patients.  Particular  attention 
having  been  given  in  its  construction  to  ventilation  and  drainage,  with 
superior  water  arrangements,  coupled  with  exceedingly  capable  manage 
ment,  it  was  known  as  one  of  the  most  complete,  comfortable,  and  best- 
regulated  general  hospitals  in  the  West. 

When  completed,  Dr.  Farrand  was  placed  in  charge,  assisted  by  Dr.  W. 
A.  Chandler,  Dr.  William  C.  Catlin,  Dr.  E.  W.  Jenks,  and  Dr.  G.  W. 
Fitzpatrick. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1865  Dr.  Farrand  was  relieved  by  Dr.  Byron 
Stanton,  a  surgeon  of  volunteers,  who  remained  in  charge  only  a  few  weeks, 
when  he  resigned  to  accept  a  position  in  an  insane  asylum  in  Ohio. 

Dr.  Farrand  was  again  placed  in  charge,  and  continued  on  duty  until 
in  June  or  July,  when  he  was,  at  his  own  request,  transferred  to  Fort 
Wayne,  near  Detroit,  to  take  charge  of  the  hospital  at  that  post. 

Dr.  Wynkoop,  a  surgeon  of  volunteers,  from  Philadelphia,  succeeded 
Dr.  Farrand,  and  remained  in  charge  until  the  close  of  the  hospital,  in 
December,  1865.  It  was,  soon  after,  given  by  the  Government  to  the  trus 
tees  of  the  Harper  Hospital,  a  corporate  body,  having  in  view  the  estab 
lishment  of  a  hospital  by  that  name,  for  charitable  purposes,  on  condition 
that  sufficient  accommodation  should  be  at  all  times  furnished  as  a 
"Soldiers'  Home,"  for  the  invalid  and  destitute  Michigan  soldiers  and 
sailors,  and  it  is  now  being  in  part  used  for  that  purpose. 

N* 


218 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


The  erection  of  this  hospital,  at  that  time  affording  so  much  comfort  and 
aid  to  the  sick  and  wounded  who  needed  it  so  much,  should  be  accepted 
by  the  people  of  Michigan  as  a  most  favorable  and  generous  recognition  of 
the  great  claims  of  the  State  and  her  soldiers  upon  the  Government,  and 
the  efforts  made  to  secure  it  by  the  gentlemen  named,  should  entitle  them 
to  the  grateful  remembrance  and  thanks  of  every  soldier,  and  to  the 
kindest  consideration  of  their  friends. 


THE  SOLDIERS  AND  SAILORS'  MONUMENT. 

The  people  of  Michigan,  gratefully  appreciating  the  services  and  sacri 
fices  of  her  sons  who  gave  up  the  dearest  boon  to  man,  life,  and  of  those  who 
risked  it  in  the  same  glorious  cause,  early  in  the  war  determined  to  per 
petuate  their  memories  and  great  deeds  by  erecting  a  monument  chisseled 
from  the  white  marble  or  the  beautiful  granite  of  America,  magnificently 
and  appropriately  ornamented  with  figures'  of  bronze  or  marble. 

This  measure  was  inaugurated  at  a  public  meeting  held  by  citizens  of 
Detroit  on  July  20th,  1861,  when  it  was  resolved  to  erect  a  monument  to 
the  noble  dead  who  had  fallen  in  the  war.  Judge  B.  F.  H.  Witherell,  Col. 
E.  Backus,  U.  8.  A.,  Messrs.  Charles  C.  Trowbridge,  J.  W.  Tillman,  and 
Col.  H.  A.  Morrow  were  appointed  a  committee  to  carry  out  the  resolution. 
This  committee  met  on  the  6th  day  of  August  following,  and  organized  by 
the  appointment  of  Judge  Witherell  chairman,  J.  W.  Tillman  treasurer, 
and  T.  W.  Palmer  secretary. 

After  several  meetings  and  consultations  with  friends  of  the  measure  it 
was  deemed  best  to  postpone  immediate  action  and  await  the  termination 
of  the  war  and  the  crushing  out  of  the  rebellion.  This  desirable  result  hav 
ing  been  reached,  a  meeting  was  held  in  Detroit  on  July  20th,  1865,  when 
it  was  resolved  to  refer  the  whole  matter  to  a  committee  of  seven,  with  in 
structions  to  prepare  and  report  at  a  subsequent  meeting  a  full  and  com 
plete  plan  of  organization,  and  also  to  present  the  names  of  suitable  persons 
to  fill  the  positions  or  offices  they  might  recommend.  Messrs.  J.  W.  Till 
man,  C.  C.  Trowbridge,  John  Owen,  J.  F.  Conover,  T.  W.  Palmer,  B.  F.  H. 
Witherell,  and  John  Robertson  were  appointed  such  committee,  with  power 
to  call  the  next  meeting. 

A  meeting  was  held  on  the  llth  of  August  following,  when  the  committee 
in  their  report  recommended  that  $50,000  be  raised  by  subscription,  and 
submitted  a  plan  of  organization  and  labor,  naming  as  a  board  of  directors 
for  the  management  of  the  business  of  the  association — 

Hon.  B.  F.  H.  Witherell,  Detroit. 
Hon.  C.  C.  Trowbridge,  Detroit. 
J.  W.  Tillman,  Esq.,  Detroit. 
Gen.  H.  A   Morrow,  Detroit. 
T.  W.  Palmer,  Esq.,  Detroit. 
Hon.  H.  P.  Baldwin,  Detroit. 
Hon.  John  Owen,  Detroit. 
Hon.  Henry  N.  Walker,  Detroit. 
W.  A.  Butler,  Esq..  Detroit. 

B.  Vernor,  Esq.,  Detroit. 

C.  F.  Clark,  Esq:,  Detroit. 
Hon.  W.  A.  Howard,  Detroit. 
Gen.  John  Robertson,  Detroit. 
Hon.  J.  F.  Joy,  Detroit. 

Major  Gen.  E.  0.  C.  Ord,  Detroit. 
Major  Gen.  0.  B.  Wilcox,  Detroit. 
Major  Gen.  A.  S.  Williams,  Detroit. 


His  Excellency  Gov.  H.  H.  Crapo,  Flint. 

Hon.  E.  H.  Thompson,  Flint. 

Ex-Gov.  Austin  Blair,  Jackson. 

Hon.  James  Birncy,  Bay  City. 

Hon.  E.  J.  Penniman,  Plymouth. 

James  Burtenshaw,  Esq.,  Ontonagon. 

S.  F.  Page,  Esq.,  Ionia. 

Hon.  Giles  Hubbard,  Mount  Clemens. 

John  A.  Kerr,  Esq.,  Lansing. 

Dr.  Potter,  East  Saginaw. 

Hon.  Peter  White,  Marquette. 

Hon.  T.  D.  Gilbert,  Grand  Rapids. 

Hon.  Hezekiah  G.  Wells,  Kalamazoo. 

Hon.  R.  C.  Paine,  Niles. 

Hon.  W.  S.  Maynard,  Ann  Arbor. 

Talcott  E.  Wing,  Esq.,  Monroe. 

Hon.  R.  R.  Beecher,  Adrian. 


THE  SOLDIERS  AND  SAILORS'  MONUMENT. 


219 


W.  0.  McDonnell,  Esq.,  Pontiac. 

Witter  J.  Baxter,  Esq.,  Jonesville. 

Hon.  Charles  T.  Gorham,  Marshall. 

Hon.  John  R.  Kellogg,  Allegan. 

Hon.  T.  W.  Ferry,  Grand  Haven. 

Hon.  Edwin  Moore,  Three  Rivers. 

Hon.  A.  H.  Morrison,  St.  Joseph. 

Hon.  W.  L.  Bancroft,  St.  Clair  county. 

Hon.  George  Redfield,  Cass  county. 

Morgan  Bates,  Esq.,  Grand  Traverse. 

R.  Shelton,  Esq.,  Houghton. 

Wm.  H.  Maltby,  Esq.,  Sheboygan. 

Wm.  McPherson,  Esq.,  Livingston  county. 

Hon.  Chauncey  Davis,  Muskegon. 

Hon.  G.  T.  Wendell,  Mackinac. 

Hon.  Alex.  Campbell,  Marquette. 

Hon.  H.  A.  Waldron,  Hillsdale  county. 

Hon.  H.  A.  Divine,  Montcalm  county. 

Major  A.  B.  Watson,  Newaygo  county. 

D.  Bethune  Duffield,  Esq.,  Detroit. 

J.  F.  Conover,  Esq.,  Detroit. 

A.  Marxhausen,  Esq.,  Detroit. 

M.  Kramer,  Esq.,  Detroit. 

Theodore  Romeyn,  Esq.,  Detroit. 

C.  I.  Walker,  Esq.,  Detroit. 

Gen.  W.  A.  Throop,  Detroit. 

Hon.  G.  V.  N.  Lothrop,  Detroit. 

Hon.  Wilson  Green,  Oceana  county. 

T.  W.  Planners,  Esq.,  Ontonagon  county. 

John  Moore,  Esq.,  Saginaw  county. 

Hon.  G.  W.  Pack,  Huron  county. 

Hon.  Luther  Smith,  Gratiot  county. 

T.  C.  Owen,  Esq.,  St.  Clair  county. 

Hon.  J.  K.  Boies,  Lenawee  county, 

Hon.  Hugh  McCurdy,  Shiawassee  county. 


j Col.  W.  L.  Stoughton,  St.  Joseph  county. 
Milton  Bradley,  Esq.,  Isabella  county. 
Capt.  Roe,  steamer  Michigan. 
Hon.  C.  A.  Stacey,  Lenawee  county. 
Hon.  W.  G.  Beckwith,  Cass  county. 
Hon.  S.  M.  Cutcheon,  Washtenaw  county. 
J.  B.  Crippen,  Esq.,  Branch  county. 
Hon.  James  Armitage,  Monroe  county. 
Hon.  N.  G.  Isbell,  Wayne  county. 
Hon.  Jas.  B.  Walker,  Grand  Traverse  co. 
Hon.  M.  E.  Crofoot,  Oakland  county. 
Hon.  James  A.  Sweezey,  Barry  county. 
J.  E.  Fisher,  Esq.,  Leelenaw  county. 
Hon.  Delos  Filer,  Manistee  county. 
Hon.  Perry  Hannah,  Grand  Traverse  co. 
Hon.  P.  B.  Barbeau,  Chippewa  county. 
Hon.  Towusend  North,  Tuscola  county. 
Hon.  Edwin  H.  Lothrop,  St.  Joseph  county. 
J.  S.  Farrand,  Esq.,  Detroit. 
Hon.  V.  P.  Collier,  Calhoun  county. 
Jesse  Crowell,  Esq.,  Calhoun  county. 
Hon.  Charles  Mears,  Mason  county. 
John  Larken,  Esq.,  Midland  county. 
John  L.  Woods,  Esq.,  Salinac  county. 
Major  Gen.  Pierce,  Kent  county. 
S.  W.  Hill,  Esq.,  Keewenaw  county. 
E.  S.  Ingalls,  Esq.,  Menominee  county. 
John  Roost,  Esq.,  Ottawa  county. 
Hon.  H  A.  Shaw,  Eaton  county. 
Hon.  George  Luther,  Ottawa  county. 
Niel  Gray,  Esq.,  Macomb  county. 
Col.  J.  R.  White,  Lapeer  county. 
Hon.  P.  Hayden,  Van  Buren  county. 
Charles  Kipp,  Esq.,  Clinton  county. 
S.  M.  Seely,  Branch  county. 


From  this  body  the  committee  designated  as  the  officers  of  the  association 
Hon.  B.  F.  H.  Witherell,  president ;  Gen.  H.  A.  Morrow,  vice  president ;  J. 
W.  Tillman,  Esq.,  treasurer ;  Hon.  John  Owen,  auditor ;  T.  W.  Palmer, 
Esq.,  secretary,  and  J.  W.  Komeyn,  Esq.,  associate  secretary. 

The  committee  also  named  as  the  executive  committee  Hon.  C.  C.  Trow- 
bridge,  Hon.  John  Owen,  Hon.  H.  P.  Baldwin,  Hon.  H.  N.  Walker,  J.  F. 
Conover,  Esq.,  and  C.  J.  Walker,  Esq.,  all  of  Detroit ;  Ex-Governor  Blair, 
of  Jackson ;  Hon.  E.  H.  Thompson,  of  Flint,  and  Hon.  S.  M.  Cutcheon,  of 
Ypsilanti,  with  the  president,  treasurer,  and  secretary  ex  offido. 

On  June  26,  1867,  a  meeting  was  held  with  Judge  Witherell  (president) 
in  the  chair,  when  Mr.  Trowbridge  submitted  a  report,  which  he  had  been 
selected  to  prepare,  on  the  relative  merits  of  the  various  designs  sent  in  by 
different  competing  artists. 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th  Judge  Witherell  died,  and  the  association 
was  called  upon  to  deplore  the  loss  of  its  original  founder,  an  officer  pecu 
liarly  interested  in  its  patriotic  work,  and  who  gave  to  it  the  last  hour  of 
his  life. 

On  the  28th  of  June  the  various  designs,  plans,  and  estimates  were  ex 
amined  by  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  their  relative  merits  fully  and  fairly 
discussed.  On  coming  together  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day  a  ballot  was 
had  to  determine  the  choice  of  the  directors,  when  it  was  found  that  decided 
preference  was  given  to  the  design  by  Randolph  Rogers,  the  eminent  Amer 
ican  sculptor,  a  native  of  Michigan,  and  a  citizen  of  Ann  Arbor  when  a 
voung  man,  who  is  also  the  contractor  for  the  entire  work. 


220  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

The  monument,  when  finished,  is  to  stand  about  forty-six  feet,  to  be 
crowned  by  a  colossal  statue  of  Michigan  ten  feet  high,  a  semi-civilized  In 
dian  Queen,  with  a  sword  in  her  right  hand  and  a  shield  in  her  left ;  the 
figure  in  motion  as  if  rushing  forward  in  defence  of  her  country.  Beneath 
the  plinth  on  which  she  stands  are  stars  and  wreaths.  On  the  next  section 
in  front  is  the  dedication,  "  Erected  by  the  people  of  Michigan  in  honor  of 
the  martyrs  who  fell  and  the  heroes  who  fought  in  defence  of  Liberty  and 
Union."  "  On  the  left  are  the  arms  of  the  State ;  on  the  right  are  the  arms 
of  the  United  States.  On  the  projecting  butrnents  below  are  four  allegori 
cal  figures  seated.  These  figures,  if  standing,  would  be  six  and  a  half  feet 
high,  and  they  represent  Victory,  Union,  Emancipation,  and  History.  On 
the  next  section  below,  standing  upon  projecting  butments  are  the  defenders 
of  Liberty  and  Union,  the  representations  of  the  army  and  navy,  four 
statues,  seven  feet  high,  soldiers  of  infantry,  artillery,  and  cavalry,  with  a 
sailor  of  the  navy.  Between  these  statues  it  is  proposed  to  place  bassi  re- 
lievi,  provided  sufficient  funds  are  obtained  to  defray  the  cost.  In  the 
meantime  the  panels  may  be  left  vacant  without  injury  to  the  general  effect. 
In  the  single  panel  the  artist  has  sketched  Mr.  Lincoln  holding  in  one  hand 
the  emancipation  proclamation,  and  in  the  other  a  pen.  On  either  side  of 
the  bassi  relievi  are  tablets  where  may  be  registered  the  names  of  battles  or 
other  inscriptions.  On  the  outer  pedestals  are  four  eagles.  All  these  figures 
are  to  be  of  the  finest  bronze. 

Mr.  Rogers  presented  an  estimate  for  the  work  in  detail,  each  part  being 
separately  stated,  the  gross  sum  being  850,000,  aside  from  the  architectural 
part  of  granite  or  marble,  which  he  estimated  at  $10,000,  and  a  contract 
was  entered  into  accordingly. 

The  four  allegorical  figures  embraced  in  his  design  are  not  included  in 
this  estimate,  and  if  placed  on  the  structure  will  increase  the  cost  the  amount 
of  their  value. 

The  association  was  incorporated  in  1868  by  the  Legislature,  and  its 
affairs  are  now  managed  by  a  Board  of  Trustees,  composed  of  John  Owen, 
H.  P.  Baldwin,  Theodore  Romeyn,  Wm.  A.  Butler,  R.  A.  Alger,  George  F. 
Bagley,  James  W.  Romeyn,  Henry  N.  Walker,  Thomas  W.  Palmer,  David 
Preston,  J.  F.  Conover,  C.  C.  Trowbridge,  and  G.  V.  K  Lothrop,  of  De 
troit  ;  Austin  Blair,  of  Jackson,  and  S.  M.  Cutcheon,  of  Ypsilanti. 

The  officers  of  the  association  at  present  are  Charles  C.  Trowbridge,  pres 
ident  ;  John  Owen,  vice  president ;  Wm.  A.  Butler,  treasurer ;  James  W. 
Romeyn,  and  Thomas  W.  Palmer,  secretaries.  Committee  on  Finance, 
Henry  P.  Baldwin,  George  V.  N.  Lothrop,  and  George  F.  Bagley,  of  De 
troit. 

In  February,  1866,  the  Rev.  George  Taylor  was  employed  as  the  general 
soliciting  and  collecting  agent,  rendering  valuable  and  faithful  service. 

In  March,  1866,  General  B.  M.  Cutcheon,  of  Manistee,  volunteered  his 
services  in  aid  of  the  measure,  giving  manly  energy  and  successful  effort  to 
the  cause. 

Nearly  sufficient  funds  are  on  hand  to  meet  the  obligations  of  the  asso 
ciation,  arid  they  expect  to  raise  an  additional  sum,  adequate  to  placing  the 
allegorical  figures  on  the  monument,  and  thus  complete  the  full  design  of 
the  sculptor. 

The  ornamental  figures  are  being  cast  at  Munich,  and  the  association 
expect  the  monument  will  be  completed  by  the  4th  of  July,  1871. 

The  corner-stone  was  laid  in  the  city  of  Detroit  on  July  4,  1867,  by 
Grand  Master  S.  G.  Coffinbury,  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  presence  of 
Grand  Commanderies  and  Grand  Lodge  of  that  order,  and  the  Grand 


CEMETERIES.  221 

Lodge  of  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows,  together  with  a  great  many  lodges  of 
both  orders,  several  lodges  of  Good  Templars,  the  United  States  troops 
from  Forts  Wayne  and  Gratiot,  with  the  State  troops  of  the  city,  and  an 
immense  gathering  of  people  from  all  parts  of  the  State,  while  the  interest 
of  the  occasion  was  very  acceptably  increased  by  the  eloquent  and  appro 
priate  oration  of  Governor  Blair. 

CEMETERIES  AT  GETTYSBURG,  SHARPSBURG,  AND   ANDERSONVILLE. 

The  State  of  Michigan  has  always  been  ready  and  prompt  to  respond  to 
calls  made  for  means  to  improve  cemeteries  for  the  heroic  dead  of  the 
nation,  and  to  raise  permanent  works  of  art  and  beauty  in  their  honor  and 
to  perpetuate  their  memories. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  February  3,  1864,  the  sum  of 
83,500  of  the  war  fund  was  appropriated  "for  the  purpose  of  paying  the 
proportion  of  this  State  of  the  estimated  expense  of  preparing  the  ground 
furnishing  the  Soldiers'  National  Cemetery,  at  Gettysburg,  in  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  of  making  improvements  upon  that  portion  thereof 
which  is  set  apart  to  this  State;"  which  sum  the  Governor  was  authorized 
to  disburse  for  said  purposes. 

The  Governor  was  also  authorized  to  appoint  a  commissioner,  whenever 
and  for  such  time  as  he  might  deem  necessary,  to  superintend  the  disburse 
ment  of  said  appropriation,  and  to  take  charge  of  and  represent  the  in 
terest  of  this  State  in  said  cemetery,  under  his  direction  and  subject  to  his 
control.  In  accordance  with  this  provision,  the  Hon.  T.  W.  Ferry  was 
appointed. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  March  8th,  1865,  the  further 
sum  of  82,500  of  said  war  fund  was  appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  paying 
the  proportion  of  the  expense  of  this  State  in  completing  and  keeping  in 
repair  said  cemetery. 

The  cemetery  contains  3,559  bodies,  of  which  979  are  in  the  "unknown" 
lots,  and  2,580  identified,  are  lying  in  the  State  lots.  Numerically,  Michi 
gan  stands  third  in  the  number  slain ;  and  proportionally  to  population 
she  ranks  first  in  this  sacrifice  to  be  made  memorable  forever  by  a  nation's 
gratitude. 

Mr.  Ferry  closes  his  final  and  very  able  report,  made  to  the  Governor  in 
1864,  covering  his  entire  duties,  with  the  following  eloquent  remarks  : 

"It  will,  however,  matter  little  who  were  immediately  instrumental  in 
devising  and  developing  the  sacred  memorial  which  is  to  hand  down  to 
future  generations  the  lustrous  records  of  patriots  who  prized  country  above 
life. 

"  They  will  be  forgotten,  while  shaft,  and  speech,  and  song  shall  tell  of 
battle  and  heroism  to  ages  yet  unborn.  The  decisive  contest — the  turning 
strife  of  the  war,  from  which  victory,  leaping  from  field  to  field,  eventuated 
in  peace,  national  liberty,  and  reunion — this,  this  alone,  will  be  the  en 
during,  emblazoning  chaplet  which  time  shall  weave  for  the  gallant  heroes 
who  sleep  beneath  the  shadow  of  the  nation's  mausoleum  at  Gettysburg." 

The  State  also  appropriated  at  the  session  of  the  Legislature,  in  1867, 
her  proportion  ($3,344.88)  for  the  purchase,  preparation,  and  care  of  the 
Antietam  National  Cemetery  at  Sharpsburg,  Md.  The  Governor  appointed 
John  I.  Bagley,  Esq.,  as  trustee  to  represent  the  State  in  the  corporation 
formed  for  the  purpose  named. 

In  this  resting  place  Michigan  numbers  137  of  the  heroic  dead. 

Most  favorable  locations  for  the  dead  of  Michigan  have  been  secured  by 


222  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

these  gentlemen  in  both  cemeteries,  and  every  duty  confided  to  them  has 
been  most  faithfully  executed. 

Since  the  termination  of  the  war,  the  General  Government,  through  the 
Quartermaster's  Department,  has  been  making  most  praiseworthy  and  very 
successful  efforts  to  gather  together  the  bodies  of  the  soldiers  who  fell  in 
battle,  and  who  died  in  hospital,  in  rebel  prison,  or  by  the  wayside,  into  the 
"  national  cemeteries  "  designated  by  the  War  Department.  With  much 
care  and  great  labor  the  graves  have  been  prepared  and  marked  with  tablets, 
giving  name,  company,  and  regiment.  These  cemeteries  have  been  enclosed, 
the  grounds  laid  out  and  beautified,  and  persons  appointed  to  protect  them 
from  desecration.  Proper  records,  as  far  as  practicable,  have  been  made 
of  those  buried  in  each,  and  they  have  been  made  up  in  printed  volumes, 
copies  of  which  have  been  furnished  to  the  various  States. 

Andersonville,  Georgia,  a  rebel  prison  pen,  associated  as  it  is  with  the 
intentional  perpetration  of  the  most  inhuman  barbarities  ever  committed  by 
a  savage  or  civilized  people,  is  the  most  noted  of  the  national  cemeteries,  con 
taining  nearly  thirteen  thousand  graves  of  Union  soldiers.  Among  this 
number  are  those  of  six  hundred  and  twenty-three  brave  Michigan  men, 
who,  sooner  than  accept  the  standing  proposition  to  enter  the  rebel  ranks 
and  disown  their  State  and  their  country,  suffered  death  by  starvation,  ex 
posure,  and  every  conceivable  manner  of  brutal  cruelty  inflicted  by  rebel 
officers,  and  with  the  full  knowledge  of  the  Confederate  authorities  at  Rich 
mond. 

"  Rest  on,  embalmed  and  sainted  dead, 

Dear  as  the  blood  ye  gave  ; 
No  impious  footsteps  here  shall  tread 

The  herbage  of  your  grave  ; 
Nor  shall  your  glory  be  forgot 

While  Fame  her  record  keeps, 
Or  Honor  points  the  hallow'd  spot 

Where  valor  proudly  sleeps." 


REBEL  RAID  FROM  CANADA. 

The  State  of  Michigan,  being  on  the  Canadian  border,  was  much  har- 
rassed  by  threatenings  of  invasion,  and  at  times  much  exposed  to  raids  of 
rebel  refugees  and  marauders,  who  had  found  a  cheerful  welcome  and  con 
genial  companions,  with  a  safe  asylum  in  the  provinces,  and  who  were  aided 
in  these  raids  by  the  Confederate  Government  at  Richmond,  and  led  by  its 
commissioned  emissaries,  receiving  at  the  same  time  a  hearty  encouragement 
from  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  Canadian  people,  who  were  in  a  most 
unnatural  but  strong  sympathy  with  the  rebellion,  and  who  were  ever  ready 
to  incite  and  assist  when  rebels  found  it  advisable  to  make  incursions  into 
the  adjacent  States  to  pillage  and  destroy. 

In  the  Adjutant-General's  report  for  1864  is  found  the  following  account 
of  a  raid  made  in  September  of  that  year,  and  which  is  illustrative  of  the 
condition  of  affairs  in  this  respect  on  the  frontier  about  that  time : 

"  In  November,  1863,  the  War  Department  was  officially  notified  by  the 
British  Minister,  Lord  Lyons,  that  from  a  telegraphic  despatch  received  by 
him  from  the  Governor-General  of  Canada  there  was  reason  to  believe  that 
a  plot  was  on  foot,  by  persons  hostile  to  the  United  States,  who  had  found 
an  asylum  in  Canada,  to  invade  the  States  on  that  frontier;  that  they 
proposed  to  take  possession  of  some  of  the  steamers  on  Lake  Erie,  to  sur 
prise  Johnson's  Island,  near  Sandusky,  and  set  free  the  rebel  prisoners  of 


REBEL  RAID  FROM  CANADA.  223 

war  confined  there,  and  proceed  with  them  to  attack  Buffalo.  This  infor 
mation  was  communicated  by  the  War  Department  to  the  Governors  of  the 
States  bordering  on  Canada  and  to  the  military  and  civil  authorities  there 
of,  and  urging  them  to  employ  all  the  means  in  their  power  to  suppress  any 
attempt  to  carry  the  plot  into  effect.  That  there  was  such  a  scheme  on  foot, 
and  that  it  was  concocted  and  put  in  operation  in  Canada  by  the  Rebel 
Government,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  as  circumstances  have  transpired  and 
documentary  evidence  received  during  the  past  year  fully  confirming  it,  and 
that  its  execution  was  only  prevented  at  that  time  by  the  prompt  measures 
taken  by  the  military  authorities  in  the  States  referred  to,  and  although 
their  plans  were  frustrated  their  determination  was  still  to  carry  them  into 
effect,  and  their  execution  was  only  deferred  until  a  more  favorable  oppor 
tunity.  During  the  present  year  the  United  States  military  officers,  and 
also  the  civil  and  military  authorities  of  the  State,  have  been  almost  daily 
in  the  receipt  of  rumors  and  reports  from  various  sources  of  contemplated 
raids  to  be  made  on  American  frontier  cities  and  on  the  shipping  of  the 
lakes  to  burn  and  destroy,  many  of  which  could  not  be  traced  to  any  reli 
able  origin,  yet  they  served  to  keep  up  a  continual  state  of  excitement  and 
alarm  in  the  cities  and  villages  on  the  border  of  the  State,  and  to  require 
the  vigilant  attention  of  the  authorities,  and  all  the  preparations  within  their 
power  to  successfully  meet  any  attempted  invasion  of  the  State  were  made, 
which  were  considered  at  the  time  ample  to  repel  any  force  that  might 
be  expected  of  that  description.  Yet,  notwithstanding,  there  was  a  distrust 
and  a  nervous  foreboding  of  coming  mischief  amongst  the  people  of  the 
frontier  cities  and  villages.  This  distrust  also  prevailed  among,  the  railroad 
agencies  and  those  engaged  in  the  shipping  on  the  lakes,  which  led  to  the 
arming  of  the  community  generally  as  individuals,  and  of  railroad  trains 
and  lake  and  river  steamers,  and  to  the  establishing  of  safeguards  about 
private  dwellings,  public  places  of  business,  and  railroad  depots.  This  con 
dition  of  affairs  continued ;  no  overt  act  having  been  committed,  and  no 
visible  combination  of  force  having  been  traced  to  any  locality  until  the  19th 
day  of  September,  1864,  when  they  concluded  to  make  the  attempt  by  seiz 
ing  the  steamer  Philo  Parsons,  belonging  to  Detroit  and  running  as  a  pas 
senger  boat  from  that  point  to  Sandusky,  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  On  the 
morning  of  the  day  above  referred  to,  four  of  the  raiders,  including  Bennet 
G.  Burley,  one  of  their  apparent  leaders,  took  passage  on  the  said  boat  at 
Detroit  On  her  way  down  the  Detroit  river,  on  her  passage  to  Sandusky, 
she  landed  at  the  Canadian  ports  of  Sandwich  and  Amherstburg,  where  the 
balance  of  the  raiders  got  on  board,  the  whole,  as  has  since  been  ascertain 
ed,  numbering  about  thirty.  The  following  condensed  depositions  of  W.  O. 
Ashley  and  D.  C.  Nichols,  belonging  to  the  steamer,  taken  as  evidence  on 
the  extradition  trial  of  Burley  at  Toronto,  in  Canada,  gave  a  full  account 
of  the  occurrences  on  board  the  Philo  Parsons  during  the  time  the  raiders 
held  possession  of  her : 

"These  depositions  showed  that  the  steamboat  'Philo  Parsons^  was 
owned  by  the  informant  Ashley,  and  other  citizens  of  the  United  States ; 
that  this  vessel  was  a  licensed  passenger  and  freight  boat,  and  was  plying 
between  the  city  of  Detroit,  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  and  the  city  of  San 
dusky,  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  was  accustomed  to  touch  in  this  route  at 
the  Canadian  port  of  Amherstburg,  and  occasionally  at  Sandwich,  and 
sometimes  at  Windsor,  Canada.  Ashley  was  clerk  on  board  the  steamer. 
On  Sunday  evening,  the  18th  of  September,  1864,  she  was  lying  at  the  city  of 
Detroit,  and  the  prisoner  came  on  board  and  said  to  Ashley  that  he  intended 
to  go  down  in  the  morning,  and  that  three  of  his  friends  were  going  with 


224  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

him,  and  requested  the  boat  might  stop  at  Sandwich  to  take  them.  Ashley 
told  the  prisoner  that  if  he  took  the  boat  at  Detroit,  and  his  party  were 
ready,  the  boat  would  call  for  them  at  Sandwich.  The  prisoner  came  on 
board  the  next  morning,  and  reminded  Ashley  of  his  promise.  The  boat 
was  stopped  at  Sandwich,  and  three  persons  came  on  board,  without  bag 
gage  or  freight.  They  were  well  dressed,  in  the  'Canadian  style.'  The 
prisoner  said  his  friends  were  taking  a  pleasure  trip,  and  would  probably 
stop  at  Kelly's  Island.  At  Amherstburg  twenty  men  or  more  came  on  board, 
roughly  dressed,  and  paid  their  fare  to  Sandusky.  The  only  baggage 
taken  on  board  at  Amherstburg  was  a  large  old  trunk,  tied  with  a  cord.  In  the 
ordinary  course  the  steamer  should  have  reached  Sandusky  about  five  P. 
M.  Neither  the  prisoner  nor  his  three  friends  apparently  recognized  the 
men  who  came  on  board  at  Amherstburg.  The  boat  reached  Kelly's  Island 
about  four  P.  M.,  and  proceeded  south  from  the  island  toward  Sandusky, 
Kelly's  Island  being  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  about  five  miles  from  the 
main  shore  of  the  United  States.  After  proceeding  about  two  miles,  three 
men  came  up  to  Ashley,  drawing  revolvers,  saying  he  was  a  dead  man  if 
he  offered  resistance.  Two  of  them,  as  Ashley  thought,  came  on  board  at 
Sandwich.  At  this  time  the  prisoner  came  forward  with  a  revolver  in  his 
hand,  followed  by  from  twenty-eight  to  thirty-five  men,  and  leveled  the  re 
volver  at  Ashley,  ordering  him  into  the  ladies'  cabin,  where  Ashley  imme 
diately  went,  and  from  which  he  saw  these  parties  arm  themselves  from  the 
trunk  brought  on  board  at  Amherstburg,  most  of  them  having  two  re 
volvers,  and  some  having  hatchets.  The  prisoner  ordered  a  sulky  and 
some  pig  iron,  which  was  on  deck,  to  be  thrown  overboard,  which  was 
partly  done.  Two  men  guarded  Ashley,  and  they  told  him  they  intended 
to  capture  the  United  States  steamer  'Michigan,'  a  war  vessel.  The  prison 
er  acted  as  one  having  authority.  His  commands  were  obeyed.  Another 
steamer,  called  the  '  Island  Queen,'  was  seized  by  the  same  party,  at  Middle 
Bass  Island,  and  the  passengers  were  brought  as  prisoners  on  board  the 
'Philo  Parsons.'  A  person  named  Captain  Bell  was  of  the  prisoner's  party, 
and  gave  some  orders.  He  told  Ashley  he  wanted  him  in  the  office. 
Ashley  went  there  with  him  and  the  prisoner.  Ashley  requested  permis 
sion  to  take  off  the  boat's  books.  They  refused.  Ashley  then  said  he  had 
some  private  promissory  notes,  amounting  to  about  two  thousand  dollars. 
The  prisoner  took  them,  looked  at  them,  and  said  he  could  not  collect 
them,  and  returned  them  to  Ashley.  Bell  then  said  to  Ashley:  "We  want 
your  money."  He  and  the  prisoners  then  had  revolvers  in  their  hands. 
Ashley  swore  he  was  in  bodily  fear,  but  did  not  consider  his  life  in  danger, 
if  he  did  their  bidding.  He  opened  the  money  drawer.  There  was  very 
little  money  there.  The  prisoner  then  said :  "  You  have  got  more  money ; 
let  us  have  it."  Ashley  took  a  roll  of  bills  from  his  vest  pocket,  and  laid 
it  on  the  desk.  Bell  took  part  and  the  prisoner  took  part,  and  they  took 
the  money  in  the  drawer  (about  $10)  between  them.  In  the  roll  of  bills 
taken  by  them  there  was  a  twenty-dollar  note  of  the  United  States,  com 
monly  called  greenbacks,  issued  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  It  was 
in  use  as  lawful  current  money  of  the  United  States  at  the  time.  It  was 
legal  tender  for  twenty  dollars,  and  was  the  property  of  the  owners  of  the 
boat.  The  prisoner  took  this  money,  as  Ashley  swore,  against  his  (Ashley's) 
will.  He  was  put  in  bodily  fear  and  danger  of  his  life  at  the  time. 
Directly  after  the  money  was  taken  Ashley  was  put  on  shore  at  Middle 
Bass  Island,  by  the  prisoner  and  Bell,  and  the  boat  steered  for  Sandusky, 
with  the  Island  Queen  alongside,  which  last  boat  was  cast  adrift  in  about 
half  an  hour.  Some  of  the  party  said  they  intended  to  release  the  prison- 


REBEL  RAID  FROM  CANADA.  225 

ers  on  Johnson's  Island,  which  is  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  about  two  miles 
from  Sandusky.  The  'Michigan'  was  lying  off  Johnson's  Island,  supposed 
to  guard  it.  There  were  about  three  thousand  prisoners  of  war  there, 
soldiers  of  the  Confederate  States.  Ashley  stated  there  was  a  rebellion 
going  on  by  the  Southern  States.  He  could  not  tell  how  many  States. 
Captain  Bell  appeared  to  be  in  command  of  the  party  on  board  of  the 
'Philo  Parsons.'  He  did  not  say  in  Ashley's  hearing  he  was  in  any  ser 
vice,  nor  for  what  purpose  he  took  the  boat.  There  were  about  twenty-five 
United  States  soldiers  on  board  the  Island  Queen,  who  were  captured.  The 
passengers  were  not  prevented  from  taking  their  baggage.  Nichols  con 
firmed  Ashley's  testimony  in  most  of  the  material  particulars.  He  said 
that  Bell  came  to  him  in  the  pilot  house,  and  said  he  was  a  Confederate 
officer,  and  seized  the  boat,  and  took  him  (Nichols)  a  prisoner.  But  he 
also  said  the  prisoner  seemed  to  be  the  leader  of  them.  He  did  not  see  the 
money  taken.  He  heard  the  prisoner  say,  when  the  Island  Queen  was  set 
adrift,  that  they  had  cut  her  pipes  so  that  she  would  sink.  They  had 
taken  every  person  from  on  board  of  her.  Afterwards  the  'Philo  Parsons' 
was  steered  back  towards  Detroit.  Before  this,  however,  it  seems  that  some 
of  the  passengers  who  were  made  prisoners  were  put  on  shore  on  the  Ameri 
can  territory.  When,  on  the  return,  they  had  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
Detroit  river,  some  of  the  party  asked  Nichols  where  they  were,  and  he 
told  them  '  in  Canadian  waters,'  and  some  of  them  said  it  was  well  for  some 
of  the  vessels  near  them,  or  they  would  board  them ;  and  they  inquired  if 
a  certain  banker  did  not  live  at  Grosse  Isle,  in  the  Detroit  river;  arid  being 
told  by  Nichols  that  one  Ives  lived  there,  they  replied  if  it  had  not  been  so 
late  they  would  go  and  rob  him.  A  short  distance  above  Amherstburg 
two  men  landed  in  a  boat  on  the  Canadian  side.  At  Fighting  Island 
Nichols  and  others,  part  of  the  crews  of  the  'Philo  Parsons'  and  'Island 
Queen '  were  put  on  shore,  and  the  boat  proceeded  to  Sandwich.  Nichols 
followed  her,  and  in  two  hours  got  to  Sandwich,  and  found  her  there  de 
serted  by  the  whole  party,  and  a  piano-forte,  a  mirror,  and  some  other 
articles  of  furniture  belonging  to  the  boat  had  been  landed.  Some  of 
Nichols'  clothing  was  also  taken  away.  One  of  the  party  wore  Nichols' 
India-rubber  coat.  The  male  passengers  who  were  taken  were,  before  they 
were  landed,  sworn  to  keep  silent  as  to  the  transaction  for  twenty-four  hours. 
The  females  were  asked  to  promise  to  do  so,  but  it  was  not  said  in  Nichols' 
hearing  why  this  was  done.  When  the  'Island  Queen'  was  cast  adrift 
they  were  about  fourteen  miles  from  Johnson's  Island,  as  the  boat  would 
have  gone.  When  coming  up  the  Detroit  river,  some  of  the  party  said 
they  had  not  made  much  by  coming  down.  They  had  intended  to  take  the 
'Michigan'  if  they  could.  They  had  a  Confederate  flag,  and  compelled 
Nichols  to  assist  in  raising  it  on  the  '  Philo  Parsons,'  when  the  boat  was  on 
Lake  Erie,  returning  towards  the  Detroit  river.  It  was  put  about  half-way 
up  the  flag-staff." 

The  complicity  of  the  rebel  Government,  with  its  agents,  sympathizers, 
and  refugees  in  Canada,  in  November,  1863,  in  concocting  a  raid  on  the 
territory  of  the  United  States,  is  apparent  from  the  date  of  the  following 
appointment,  given  by  Jefferson  Davis  to  Burley,  on  the  llth  day  of  Sep 
tember  of  that  year,  he  undoubtedly  being  one  of  the  naval  officers  men 
tioned  in  the  report  of  the  rebel  Secretary  of  War  as  having  been  sent  into 
the  British  provinces  with  a  large  number  of  commissioned  and  petty  officers, 
to  organize  an  expedition  against  "  Johnson's  Island,"  during  the  fall  of  the 
year  referred  to. 

That  the  expedition  on  board  the  "  Philo  Parsons,"  in  September,  1864, 
0 


226  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

was  ordered  by  the  rebel  Government,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  if  credence  is 
given  to  the  following  "  manifesto "  of  Jefferson  Davis,  produced  on  the  ex 
tradition  trial  of  Burley  before  the  Canadian  court  at  Toronto,  as  proof  that 
the  acts  of  said  Burley,  in  connection  with  that  expedition,  were  performed 
in  obedience  to  the  instructions  of  the  rebel  Government,  and  that  he  should 
be  treated  as  a  belligerent,  and  not  as  a  pirate  and  robber : 

"  CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 
"NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  KICHMOND,  September  11,  1863. 
"  SIR  : — You  are  hereby  informed  that  the  President  has  appointed  you 
an  acting  master  in  the  navy  of  the  Confederate  States.     You  are  requested 
to  signify  your  acceptance  or  non-acceptance  of  this  appointment;  and 
should  you  accept,  you  are  to  sign,  before  a  magistrate,  the  oath  of  office 
herewith  forwarded,  and  forward  the  same,  with  your  letter  of  acceptance, 

to  this  Department.     Registered  No. .     The  lowest  number  takes  rank. 

"(Signed,)  "S.  R.  MALLORY, 

"Secretary  of  Navy. 
"Acting  Master  BENNET  G.  BURLEY, 

"<7.  S.  Navy,  Richmond,  Va." 

On  this  there  was  the  following  endorsement : 

"  CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 

''Richmond,  %ld  December,  1864. 

"  I  certify  that  the  reverse  of  this  page  presents  a  true  copy  of  the  warrant 
granted  to  Bennet  G.  Burley,  as  acting  master  in  the  navy  of  the  Confed 
erate  States,  from  the  records  of  this  Department.  In  testimony  whereof  I 
have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  affixed  the  seal  of  this  Department,  on  the 
day  and  year  above  written. 

"(Signed,)  "  S.  R.  MALLORY, 

"Secretary  of  Navy,"     [L.  s.] 

[MANIFESTO.] 

CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

"  Whereas  it  has  been  made  known  to  me  that  Bennet  G.  Burley,  an 
acting  master  in  the  navy  of  the  Confederate  States,  is  now  under  arrest  in 
one  of  the  British  North  American  provinces,  on  an  application  made  by 
the  Government  of  the  United  States  for  the  delivery  to  that  Government 
of  the  said  Bennet  G.  Burley,  under  the  treaty  known  as  the  Extradition 
Treaty,  now  in  force  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain ;  and 

"  Whereas  it  has  been  represented  to  me  that  the  demand  for  the  extra 
dition  of  the  said  Bennet  G.  Burley  is  based  on  the  charge  that  the  said 
Burley  is  a  fugitive  from  justice,  charged  with  having  committed  the  crimes 
of  robbery  and  piracy  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States ;  and 

"Whereas  it  has  further  been  made  known  to  me  that  the  accusations 
and  charges  made  against  the  said  Bennet  G.  Burley  are  based  solely  on 
the  acts  and  conduct  of  the  said  Burley,  in  an  enterprise  or  expedition  made 
or  attempted  in  the  month  of  September  last,  (1864,)  for  the  capture  of  the 
steamer  '  Michigan/  an  armed  vessel  of  the  United  States,  navigating  the 
lakes  on  the  boundary  between  the  United  States  and  the  British  North 
American  provinces,  and  for  the  release  of  numerous  citizens  of  the  Confed 
erate  States,  held  as  prisoners  of  war  by  the  United  States  at  a  certain 
island  called  Johnson's  Island  ;  and 

"  Whereas  the  said  enterprise  or  expedition  for  the  capture  of  the  said 


REBEL  RAID  FROM  CANADA.  227 

armed  steamer  Michigan,  and  for  the  release  of  the  said  prisoners  on  John 
son's  Island,  was  a  proper  and  legitimate  belligerent  operation,  undertaken 
during  the  pending  public  war  between  the  two  Confederacies,  known  re 
spectively  as  the  Confederate  States  of  America  and  the  United  States  of 
America,  which  operation  was  ordered  and  sanctioned  by  the  authority  of 
the  Government  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  confided  to  its  commissioned 
officers  for  execution,  among  which  officers  is  the  said  Bennet  G.  Burley ; 

"  Now,  therefore,  I,  Jefferson  Davis,  President  of  the  Confederate  States 
of  America,  do  hereby  declare  and  make  known  to  all  whom  it  may  con 
cern,  that  the  expedition  aforesaid,  undertaken  in  the  month  of  September 
last,  for  the  capture  of  the  armed  steamer  Michigan,  a  vessel  of  war  of  the 
United  States,  and  for  the  release  of  the  prisoners  of  war,  citizens  of  the 
Confederate  States  of  America,  held  captive  by  the  United  States  of  Amer 
ica,  at  Johnson's  Island,  was  a  belligerent  expedition,  ordered  and  under 
taken  under  the  authority  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America,  against  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  that  the  Government  of  the  Confederate 
States  of  America  assumes  the  responsibility  of  answering  for  the  acts  and 
conduct  of  any  of  its  officers  engaged  in  said  expedition,  and  especially  of 
the  said  Bennet  G.  Burley,  an  acting  master  in  the  navy  of  the  Confederate 
States. 

"And  I  do  further  make  known  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that  in  the 
orders  and  instructions  given  to  the  officers  engaged  in  said  expedition,  they 
were  especially  directed  and  enjoined  to  'abstain  from  violating  any  of  the 
laws  and  regulations  of  the  Canadian  or  British  authorities  in  relation  to 
neutrality,'  and  that  the  combination  necessary  to  effect  the  purpose  of  said 
expedition  must  be  made  by  Confederate  soldiers  and  such  assistance  as 
they  might  (you  may)  draw  from  the  enemy's  country. 

"In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  signed  this  manifesto,  and  directed  the 
same  to  be  sealed  with  the  seal  of  the  Department  of  State  of  the  Confed 
erate  States  of  America,  and  to  be  made  public. 

"  Done  at  the  city  of  Richmond,  on  this  24th  day  of  December,  1864. 
"(Signed,)  "JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

"  By  the  President : 

"  J.  P.  BENJAMIN,  Secretary  of  State" 

The  following  correspondence  will  show  that  the  military  authorities  of 
this  State  were  fully  aware  of  the  movements  and  intentions  of  the  raiders 
to  attempt  an  attack  on  Johnson's  Island,  and  that  the  commander  of  the 
steamer  Michigan  received  early  information  in  relation  thereto.  The  mili 
tary  officers  at  Sandusky  were  also  put  on  the  alert,  and  a  reinforcement, 
consisting  of  artillery  and  infantry,  had  been  promptly  ordered  there  from 
Cincinnati,  which  ensured  the  security  of  the  rebel  prisoners  against  any 
possibility  of  rescue : 

(1)  [TELEGRAM.] 

DETROIT,  September  17,  1864. 
To  CAPTAIN  JOHN  H.  CARTER, 

Commanding  U.  S.  Steamer  Michigan,  Sandiisky,  Ohio: 
It  is  reported  to  me  that  some  of  the  officers  and  men  of  your  steamer 
have  been  tampered  with,  and  that  a  party  of  rebel  refugees  leave  Windsor 
to-morrow,  with  the  expectation  of  getting  possession  of  your  steamer. 
(Signed,)  B.  H.  HILL, 

Lieut.  Col.  U.  S.  A.,  Military  Commander. 


228  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

(2)  [TELEGRAM.] 

DETROIT,  MICH.,  September  19,  1864. 
To  CAPTAIN  J.  C.  CARTER, 

U.  S.  Navy,  U.  8.  Steamer  Michigan,  Sandusky,  Ohio : 
It  is  said  the  parties  will  embark  to-day,  at  Maiden,  on  board  the  "  Philo 
Parsons,"  and  will  seize  either  that  steamer  or  another  running  from  Kelly's 
Islands.  Since  my  last  dispatch,  am  again  assured  that  officers  and  men 
have  been  bought  by  a  man  named  Cole.  A  few  men  to  be  introduced  on 
board  under  guise  of  friends  of  officers. 

An  officer  named  Eddy  to  be  drugged.  Both  Commander  Gardner  and 
myself  look  upon  the  matter  as  serious. 

(Signed,)  B.  H.  HILL, 

Lieut.  Col.  U.  S.  A.,  A.  A.  P.  M.  General. 

(3)  [TELEGRAM.] 

U.  S.  STEAMER  MICHIGAN,  OFF  JOHNSON'S  ISLAND,  O., 

September  18,  1864,  via  Sandusky. 

To  LIEUT.  COL.  B.  H.  HILL, 

U.  S.  A.,  Military  Commander,  Detroit,  Mich. : 

Thanks  for  your  dispatch.  All  ready.  Cannot  be  true  in  relation  to  the 
officers  or  men. 

(Signed,)          JOHN  C.  CARTER,  Commander,  U.  S.  N. 

(4)  [TELEGRAM.] 

SANDUSKY,  O.,  September  19,  1864. 
COL.  B.  H.  HILL,  Detroit : 

Your  dispatch  of  19th  received.  I  have  Cole,  and  a  fair  prospect  of 
bagging  the  party. 

(Signed,)  J.  C.  CARTER,  Commander,  U.  S.  N. 

OFFICE  MILITARY  COMMANDER,  DISTRICT  OF  MICHIGAN, 

DETROIT,  September  2lst,  1864. 
Major  C.  H.  POTTER, 

A.  Adj.  General,  Columbus,  Ohio : 

SIR: — I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  on  Saturday  night  last,  17th 
instant,  a  person  called  upon  me  at  my  hotel,  and  introduced  himself  to  me 
as  having  been  for  some  years  a  rebel  soldier,  and  recently  a  refugee  in 
Canada. 

He  informed  me  that  some  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  U.  S.  steamer 
Michigan  had  been  tampered  with,  and  that  it  was  the  intention  of  the 
Rebel  Agent  in  Windsor,  Jacob  Thompson,  late  Secretary  of  the  Interior, 
under  President  Buchanan's  administration,  to  send  a  party  from  Windsor, 
who,  with  the  assistance  of  the  officers  and  men,  would  "endeavor  to  get 
possession  of  the  steamer.  He  said  that  he  had  been  approached  to  form 
one  of  the  party,  and  had  consented  to  do  so,  and  that  he  would  receive 
more  particular  information  on  the  next  morning,  when  the  party  would 
leave  for  Maiden.  He  said  that  with  the  possession  of  the  steamer  Michi 
gan,  they  would  have  control  of  the  Lakes  for  a  couple  of  months,  and 
would  lay  contribution  on  all  the  Lake  cities,  and  had  offered  very  large 
inducements  to  the  officers  and  men  of  the  steamer.  He  stated  that  after 
obtaining  full  information  on  Sunday  morning,  he  would  fail  to  join  the 
party,  and  would  see  me  again  on  Sunday  evening. 

The  statement  of  the  man  and  his  earnestness  made  some  impression  on 


REBEL  RAID  FROM  CANADA.  229 

me,  and  I  telegraphed  to  Captain  J.  C.  Carter,  commanding  officer  of  the 
steamer  Michigan,  that  night,  and  I  enclose  a  copy  marked  "1,"  and  his 
reply  marked  "2." 

On  Sunday  evening,  18th  instant,  my  informant  again  crossed  the  river 
and  saw  me.  He  reported  that  he  had  agreed  to  join  the  party,  and  had 
obtained  all  the  information  he  could,  but  at  the  last  moment  he  had  failed 
them.  He  said  that  the  party  were  to  take  passage  on  board  the  steamer 
"  Philo  Parsons,"  at  Maiden,  and  would  get  possession  of  her  before  reach 
ing  Sandusky ;  that  certain  officers  and  men  of  the  steamer  Michigan  had 
been  tampered  with  by  a  man  named  Cole,  and  that  an  officer  of  the  steam 
er,  named  Eddy,  could  not  be  bought,  and  that  the  intention  was  to  drug 
him  and  others. 

My  informant  thought  that  the  captain  of  the  steamer  Philo  Parsons  had 
also  been  bought,  and  if  he  received  any  hint  on  the  subject  he  would  give 
information,  and  he  himself  would  be  compromised. 

I  went  down  to  the  steamer  Philo  Parsons  the  next  morning  at  6  A.  M. 
and  saw  her.  She  was  too  small  to  be  of  any  danger  if  taken  by  the  per 
sons,  and  after  mature  consideration  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  would 
be  better  to  let  the  steamer  go,  and  place  Captain  Carter  on  his  guard  in  a 
way  that  it  would  make  an  impression  on  him,  so  that  the  whole  party  could 
be  taken. 

See  my  telegram  marked  "3,"  and  his  reply  marked  "4." 

These  plots  are  being  constantly  made  here.  We  had  the  information 
about  this  one,  and  the  question  was  whether  it  would  not  be  better  to  let 
the  steamer  go  and  adopt  measures  to  secure  her  capture,  and  make  an  ex 
ample  in  this  case. 

On  Tuesday  last  the  Philo  Parsons  arrived  at  Sandwich  in  the  possession 
of  some  eighteen  men,  who  had  taken  passage  in  her  at  Maiden  the  day  be 
fore.  It  seems  that  after  taking  possession  of  her  the  piratical  party  seized 
and  sunk  a  small  steamer  named  the  Island  Queen,  both  occurrences  taking 
place  in  the  waters  of  the  State  of  Ohio.  They  then  proceeded  to  within 
four  miles  of  Sandusky,  and  not  probably  seeing  signals  that  had  been  agreed 
upon,  or  receiving  any  assistance  that  was  probably  expected  from  Sandus 
ky,  returned  to  Detroit  river  and  proceeded  to  Sandwich,  C.  W.,  where  they 
plundered  the  steamer  and  cut  her  pipes  to  sink  her  and  abandoned  her. 
The  steamer  was,  however,  recovered  by  her  owners  in  a  damaged  condition, 
half  full  of  water,  and  brought  to  this  side  of  the  river. 

It  seems  that  my  telegrams  to  Capt.  Carter  led  to  the  arrest  of  Cole,  who 
made  some  disclosures  that  caused  the  arrest  of  other  parties  in  Sandusky, 
the  particulars  of  which  will  be  doubtless  communicated  to  the  command 
ing  officer  there. 

It  was  unfortunate  that  Capt.  Carter  did  rot  proceed  to  meet  the  Philo 
Parsons,  as  the  whole  party  could  have  been  captured  ;  but  there  have  been 
so  many  rumors  and  reports  here  of  rebel  plots  that  it  is  hard  to  discrimi 
nate  between  those  having  some  reality  and  those  purely  fabrications.  In 
this  case  had  I  placed  soldiers  on  board,  whom  I  could  not  spare  at  this 
time,  or  defend  in  any  way  the  departure  of  the  steamer,  suspicions  of  the 
conspirators  would  have  been  aroused,  and  the  matter  deferred  to  a  time 
when  we  would  have  had  no  intimation  of  it.  As  the  case  now  stands,  the 
rebel  agent  in  Canada,  residing  in  Sandwich,  Colonel  Jacob  Thompson,  has 
organized  an  expedition  in  Canada  to  seize  American  steamers.  The  steam 
ers  Philo  Parsons  and  Island  Queen  were  seized,  and  the  latter  sunk  in 
American  waters ;  the  Philo  Parsons  plundered  while  lying  in  British  wa 
ters,  off  the  town  of  Sandwich,  an  attempt  made  to  sink  her,  and  the  persons 


230  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

employed  in  these  acts  now  residing  in  Canada  under  the  protection  of  the 
British  Government. 

The  United  States  attorney  has  addressed  a  communication  to  our  consul 
at  Windsor  to  call  upon  the  authorities  to  arrest  the  persons  committing 
these  outrages,  in  anticipation  of  such  a  demand  being  made  for  their  de 
livery,  and  affidavits  will  be  sent  by  him  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  and  I 
had  an  interview  this  morning  both  with  him  and  Senator  Howard,  and 
everything  is  being  adopted  to  place  the  matter  in  proper  legal  shape  before 
the  Government  and  the  British  authorities. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

B.  H.  HILL, 
Lieut.  Col.  U.  S.  Artillery,  Commanding  District,  Michigan. 

OFFICE  MILITARY  COMMANDER,  DISTRICT  OF  MICHIGAN, 

DETROIT,  September  22,  1864. 
Brigadier-General  JAMES  B.  FRY, 

Provost  Marshal-  General,  Washington,  D.  C.  : 

GENERAL  : — I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  a  copy  of  a  report, 
with  accompanying  papers,  made  to  the  Assistant  Adjutant-General  of  the 
Northern  Department,  in  relation  to  the  proposed  attempt  to  capture  the 
U.  S.  steamer  Michigan  and  the  late  piratical  acts  of  the  rebel  refugees  in 
Canada.  The  information  I  communicated  to  Captain  Carter,  commanding 
U.  S.  steamer  Michigan,  doubtless  led  to  the  arrest  of  Cole  and  others  and 
exploded  the  plot. 

The  person  who  gave  me  the  information  writes  me  this  morning  from 
Windsor,  and  states  that  he  has  seen  several  of  the  parties  connected  in  the 
raid,  and  among  others  Dr.  Smith,  who  told  him  all  connected  with  the 
affair.  He  learns  that  the  person  who  was  to  have  met  them  at  Kelly  Island 
failed  to  be  there. 

This  party  was  to  have  given  the  latest  information  and  instructions. 
The  steamer  Philo  Parsons  went  within  two  miles  of  the  steamer  Michigan, 
and  it  was  seen  with  their  night  glasses  that  the  Michigan  had  changed  her 
position  to  one  that  commanded  the  whole  island.  My  informant  also  writes 
me  that  he  thinks  Col.  Jacob  Thompson  and  the  entire  party  engaged  in 
seizing  the  Philo  Parsons  have  left  Windsor. 

The  person  who  gave  me  the  information  states  that  he  has  been  some 
years  in  the  rebel  army ;  that  he  has  been  wounded  three  times,  but  that 
owing  to  injustice  done  him  by  Mr.  Benjamin,  Acting  Secretary  of  War,  in 
not  advancing  him,  he  had  left  the  South,  and  now  entertains  the  most  bit 
ter  hostility  to  the  Southern  cause.  He  -gave  me  what  he  stated  as  his 
real  name,  and  informed  me  that  he  had  been  -a  prominent  politician  in 
Arkansas  and  Kentucky,  and  had  twice  run  for  Congress.  *  * 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

B.  H.  HILL, 
Lieut.  Col.  U.  S.  A.,  A.  A.  P.  M.  General 

The  force  in  the  State  during  the  time  of  these  threatened  raids  on  which 
reliance  was  placed  to  defend  its  borders  against  any  hostile  demonstration 
consisted  of  six  companies  of  the  2d  regiment  veteran  reserve  corps,  three 
companies  of  State  troops,  the  "  Scott  Guard,"  "  Detroit  Light  Guard,"  and 
"  Lyon  Guard,"  with  a  section  of  light  artillery,  fully  equipped  and  supplied 
with  suitable  ammunition ;  and  in  addition  there  were  five  hundred  stand 
of  arms  in  the  State  Armory  at  Detroit,  with  complete  equipments,  and 
abundance  of  ammunition  at  all  times  in  readiness  for  distribution  to  citi- 


THE  MICHIGAN  CONTINGENT.  231 

zens,  with  whom  there  was  an  understanding  and  an  arrangement  to  assist 
in  repelling  any  attack  that  might  be  made  upon  the  city  or  along  the  river 
in  the  vicinity.  There  was  also  a  small  force  guarding  the  arsenal  at  Dear 
born,  in  which  was  stored  about  thirty-five  thousand  stand  of  arms.  To 
guard  against  any  attack  or  landing  being  made  by  steamers  or  vessels  from 
the  Canadian  side  with  a  hostile  intention,  several  armed  steam  tugs  were 
employed  by  the  Government  in  patrolling  the  river  at  various  points. 

THE  MICHIGAN  CONTINGENT. 

The  Michigan  "Contingent"  in  the  war  was  largely  made  up  of  men 
who  enlisted  for  three  years,  and  were  mainly  from  the  more  respectable 
and  industrious  of  the  community.  Leaving  the  peaceful  avocations  of 
civil  life,  these  men  were  disciplined  into  soldiers  and  converted  into 
heroes,  sometimes  even  during  the  operations  and  emergencies  of  a  single 
campaign.  Patient  and  obedient  under  the  most  rigid  discipline,  persis 
tent  and  enduring  on  the  long  and  tedious  march,  cheerful  and  untiring  in 
the  trenches,  apt  in  experiment,  and  most  ingenious  in  construction,  they 
added  to  all  these  qualifications  and  merits  true  courage  in  the  field,  while 
almost  every  important  action  has  illustrated  their  heroism,  and  almost 
every  battle-field  is  consecrated  with  their  blood.  Their  services  were 
eagerly  sought  for  by  all  the  best  generals — whether  to  construct  a  defence, 
lead  a  "  forlorn  hope,"  or  charge  a  battery. 

The  armies  of  no  other  nation,  even  after  many  years  of  the  training 
which  war  brings  with  it,  have  evinced  so  marvellous  a  developement  of 
soldierly  qualities  as  characterized  the  American  troops  during  their  com 
paratively  short  term  of  service.  The  annals  of  the  times  will  rear  an 
imperishable  monument  to  the  patriotism  of  all  the  States  which  in  the 
nation's  peril  gave  their  sons  in  the  conflict,  and  the  honor  of  one  will  be 
among  the  precious  possessions  of  the  others  ;  but  it  will  be  for  Michigan 
to  cherish  with  peculiar  pride  and  tenderness  the  remembrance  and  the 
fame  of  the  gallant  band  of  patriots  who,  in  the  fiercest  struggles  of  mod 
ern  warfare,  and  among  comrades  of  equal  worth  and  bravery,  while  pre 
serving  the  national  life  and  integrity,  have  reflected  undying  lustre  upon 
her  own  escutcheon. 

Scarcely  had  the  rebel  gauntlet  been  tossed  in  defiance,  scarcely  had  the 
echo  of  the  first  rebel  gun  passed  away,  scarcely  had  the  electric  mes 
senger  done  its  momentous  errand — proclaiming  the  fact  of  civil  war,  and 
that  the  flag  of  America  had  been  insulted  and  struck  from  its  proud 
perch  on  Sumter's  walls,  ere  the  men  of  Michigan  were  in  arms,  eager  and 
ready  to  defend  and  maintain  the  National  Union,  and  protect  its  flag,  to 
uphold  the  honor  of  their  State,  and  save  their  glorious  birth-right  of  free 
men.  They  vowed  to  God  and  their  native  laud,  and  pledged  their  arms 
and  their  lives,  that  the  beloved  flag  of  their  country  should  again  wave 
triumphantly  on  the  walls  of  Sumter,  and  over  every  State  and  inch  of 
ground  in  the  Union,  and  that  the  Republic  should  be  saved  and  forever 
preserved. 

The  call  of  Abraham  Lincoln  received  a  ready  and  substantial  response 
from  the  people  of  Michigan.  With  remarkable  dispatch  her  gallant  regi 
ments  armed,  clothed,  equipped,  and  fully  appointed,  left  the  State  to  meet 
the  enemies  of  American  liberty. 

Michigan  troops,  prompt  and  prominent  at  the  outset  of  the  rebellion, 
were  also  in  at  its  death.  They  were  among  those  who,  under  Wilcox,  first 
crossed  the  Long  Bridge  into  Virginia,  and  participated  in  the  capture  of 


232  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Alexandria.  They  were  in  the  command  of  the  brave  and  lamented 
Richardson,  who  first  opened  fire  upon  the  rebels  at  Blackburn's  Ford,  on 
July  18,  1861,  in  the  vicinity  of  Bull  Run. 

They  were  with  General  McClellan  in  West  Virginia,  in  the  first  year 
of  the  war,  and  were  in  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  in  1862,  and  during 
that  year  served  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  on  the  Peninsula  and  in 
Maryland,  with  General  Banks  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  in  Virginia 
under  General  Burnside,  in  Louisiana  under  General  Butler,  and  in  Mis 
souri  with  General  Pope  and  Colonel  Mulligan. 

In  1863  they  bore  a  conspicuous  and  gallant  part  in  the  ever  memorable 
campaigns  under  General  Hooker,  in  Virginia,  and  General  Meade,  in 
Pennsylvania,  at  the  defence  of  Knoxville  by  General  Burnside,  at  the 
capture  of  Vicksburg  by  General  Grant,  and  on  the  celebrated  Kilpatrick 
raid  against  Richmond.  They  were  also  engaged  in  the  campaign  of  Gen 
eral  Rosecrans  against  Chattanooga,  and  were  actively  employed  in  the 
field  at  various  points  in  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  Kentucky,  and  Louisiana, 
under  other  generals. 

In  1864-5  they  were  with  General  Grant  on  his  great  march  against 
Richmond,  and  bravely  participated  in  most  of  the  hard  fought  battles  of 
that  eventful  campaign.  They  were  also  with  General  Sherman  on  his  re 
markable  march  from  Chattanooga  to  the  sea,  and  were  prominently 
engaged  in  most  of  his  memorable  and  successful  battles,  and  with  Gen 
eral  Sheridan  in  his  matchless  encounters  with  the  enemy  in  the  valley  of 
the  Shenandoah,  where,  in  command  of  Custer,  their  sabres  flashed  in 
every  battle.  They  took  part  in  the  gallant  defence  of  Nashville  by 
General  Thomas,  and  were  with  Generals  Stoneman  and  Wilson  on  their 
raids  into  North  Carolina  and  Georgia.  They  were  also  at  the  capture  of 
Mobile,  and  served  in  Texas  and  Utah  Territory  during  a  part  of  1865-6. 

Michigan  was  well  represented  in  the  Union  armies  at  the  surrender  of 
Lee  and  Johnston,  and  a  Michigan  regiment  captured  the  President  of  the 
so-called  Confederacy — Jefferson  Davis — in  his  inglorious  flight  to  escape 
deserved  punishment  for  his  infamous  treason  and  rebellion. 

Michigan  troops,  in  all  the  campaigns  and  battles  in  which  they  partici 
pated,  were  most  reliable,  conspicuously  brave  and  gallant.  In  every 
position  in  which  they  were  placed  they  were  true,  self-sacrificing,  patient 
under  hardship,  murmuring  not,  meeting  death  by  exposure,  starvation, 
and  cruel  treatment  in  rebel  prisons,  and  many  more  by  rebel  bullets  in 
sanguinary  strife. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  war  until  its  end,  the  motto  of  Michigan  sol 
diers  was,  fight  on  until  every  rebel  shall  be  conquered  and  made  to  yield 
obedience,  or  if  needs  be  utterly  destroyed.  That  motto  they  most  success 
fully  maintained ;  meeting  the  enemy  on  his  last  field,  they,  in  common 
with  their  comrades  of  the  Union  army,  compelled  him  to  lay  down  his 
rebellious  arms,  to  beg  not  only  for  quarter  but  for  peace,  and  submit  un 
conditionally  to  the  terms  of  their  dictation.  Having  accomplished  that, 
they  returned  to  their  homes  the  preservers  of  their  nation,  receiving  the 
plaudits  and  gratitude  of  their  fellow  countrymen,  and  of  every  friend  of 
freedom  and  humanity  throughout  the  civilized  world. 

To  have  included  in  this  volume  the  entire  campaigns  of  these  regiments, 
would  have  been  a  most  desirable  and  pleasant  labor,  but  would  have  en 
grossed  its  whole  space,  and  therefore  has  been  abandoned,  leaving  a  sub 
ject  rich  in  record  of  faithful  and  gallant  service  and  brave  deeds  for  future 
publication,  and  giving  only  a  few  of  the  leading  achievements  of  each. 

It  would  also  have  been  very  satisfactory  to  have  referred  to  the  special 


REGIMENT  OF  ENGINEERS  AND  MECHANICS.  233 

services  and  achievements  of  the  many  companies  and  men  of  Michigan, 
that  were  connected  with  regiments  of  other  States,  but  not  having  any 
data  from  which  to  sketch  them,  the  matter  has  been  reluctantly  deferred. 
Undoubtedly,  they  maintain  the  reputation  of  Michigan  troops,  which  was 
always  pre-eminently  high. 

REGIMENT  OF  ENGINEERS  AND  MECHANICS. 

The  celebrated  regiment  of  Michigan  engineers  and  mechanics  was  raised 
and  organized  under  the  supervision  of  Colonel  William  P.  Innes,  of  Grand 
Rapids,  and  went  to  the  field  in  Kentucky  December  17th,  1861,  in  com 
mand  of  that  officer.  It  is  but  justice  to  this  regiment  to  state  a  fact  gen 
erally  conceded  by  the  whole  Western  army  that  a  more  useful  regiment, 
or  one  performing  more  valuable  service,  was  not  found  in  that  great  army, 
as  during  its  entire  service,  ending  with  the  surrender  of  Lee  and  Johnston, 
including  the  great  Sherman  campaign,  scarcely  a  bridge  was  built  or  a 
road  opened  for  the  use  of  the  Western  army  that  was  not  either  wholly 
accomplished  or  aided  by  this  regiment.  While  it  was  at  all  times  ready 
and  expeditious  in  the  performance  of  the  legitimate  duties  of  an  engineer 
regiment  it  never  failed  as  a  gallant  fighting  force  when  opportunity  offered. 
First  meeting  the  enemy  at  Mill  Springs,  in  Kentucky,  January  19th,  1862, 
then  in  Mississippi  at  Farmington  May  9th,  at  Corinth  the  10th,  and  at 
Perryville,  Kentucky,  same  year,  where  its  reputation  as  a  fighting  regiment 
was  fully  established  ;  but  at  Lavergne,  Tennessee,  January  1st,  1863,  it  was 
most  signally  distinguished,  and  its  gallant  conduct  in  that  battle  gives  it  a 
most  enviable  page  in  the  history  of  the  war. 

While  General  Rosecrans  was  fighting  the  important  battle  of  Stone  river, 
the  regiment,  then  in  command  of  Col.  Innes,  on  the  31st  December,  1862, 
was  specially  ordered  by  the  commanding  general  to  take  a  position  in  the 
of  his  army  at  Lavergne,  on  the  main  road  from  Nashville  to  Murfrees- 


rear 


boro,  to  protect  the  baggage  trains.  On  the  next  morning,  for  greater  safety 
Colonel  Innes  formed  his  wagon  train  in  the  form  of  a  half  circle  and  made 
some  hastily-constructed  breastworks  of  logs  and  such  loose  material  as 
could  be  found  at  hand.  This  precaution  seems  to  have  been  taken  none 
too  soon,  as  at  2  P.  M.  the  command  was  attacked  by  an  overwhelming  rebel 
force  of  from  three  to  four  thousand  cavalry,  with  one  section  of  light  artil 
lery,  the  whole  commanded  by  the  rebel  Major-General  Wheeler.  Their 
object,  as  afterwards  ascertained,  was  to  burn  and  plunder  the  heavily-laden 
trains  passing  on  the  pike  between  Nashville  and  Rosecrans'  army.  Col. 
Inues  and  his  small  but  gallant  regiment,  numbering  not  over  315,  fought 
this  superior  force  until  dark,  when  it  was  withdrawn  with  heavy  loss,  hav 
ing  vainly  endeavored  to  compel  a  surrender.  During  this  five  hours'  en 
gagement  the  enemy  made  seven  separate  and  distinct  charges,  sometimes 
forcing  their  horses  on  to  the  very  breastworks,  which  were  as  often  most 
gallantly  repelled ;  at  the  same  time  their  artillery  was  kept  constantly  in 
play,  with  considerable  effect,  damaging  the  wagons,  killing  some  thirty  or 
forty  horses  and  mules  attached  to  wagons  both  inside  and  outside  the  cir 
cle.  Three  times  Gen.  Wheeler  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  Colonel  Innes  de 
manding  a  surrender,  and  claiming  an  increase  of  his  force,  to  which  the 
colonel  replied  in  a  most  characteristic  manner  "that  he  could  notice  it;" 
so  long  as  his  ammunition  held  out  he  could  not  see  the  force  of  his  argu 
ment. 

A  correspondent  at  the  time  says :  "  The  scene  was  at  times  thrilling  be 
yond  description.     The  rebel  horde,  exasperated  at  the  successful  resistance 

0* 


234  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

of  the  little  force,  dashed  their  horses  against  the  circular  brush  fence,  which 
was  only  breast  high,  with  infuriated  shouts  and  curses.  But  the  Michigan 
troops  were  cool  and  determined ;  they  loaded  fast  and  aimed  well,  and,  as 
the  troopers  rushed  on  upon  all  sides,  they  were  met  with  staggering  volleys 
almost  at  the  muzzle  of  the  muskets.  Horses  and  riders  recoiled  again  and 
again  until  they  despaired,  and  soon  swept  away  through  the  dense  forests, 
leaving  over  fifty  of  their  dead  upon  the  field,  which  were  buried  by  our 
forces.  The  ground  all  around  that  small  circle  of  brush  was  strewn  with 
dead  horses  of  the  rebel  troopers,  and  with  their  clothing,  guns,  &c.  Truly 
this  was  one  of  the  most  gallant  affairs  of  the  campaign." 

Mr.  Greeley,  in  his  excellent  work,  "  The  American  Conflict,"  notices  Col. 
Innes'  extraordinary  defence  at  Lavergne,  and  says : 

"  On  the  whole,  the  enemy's  operations  in  the  rear  of  our  army  during  this 
memorable  conflict,  (battle  of  Stone  river,)  reflect  no  credit  on  the  intelli 
gence  and  energy  with  which  they  were  resisted.  '  The  silver  lining  to  this 
cloud'  is  a  most  gallant  defence  made  on  the  1st  January  by  Col.  Innes' 
1st  Michigan  engineers  and  mechanics,  only  391  strong,  who  had  taken  post 
on  high  ground  near  Lavergne,  and  formed  such  a  barricade  of  cedars,  <fcc. 
as  they  hurriedly  might.  Here  they  were  attacked,  at  2  P.  M.,  by  Whar- 
ton's  cavalry,  whom  they  successfully  resisted  and  beat  off.  Wharton's 
official  report  is  their  best  eulogium.  He  was  in  command  of  six  or  eight 
regiments.  '  Wharton.'  '  A  regiment  of  infantry,  under  Colonel  Dennis, 
(Innes,)  also  was  stationed  in  a  cedar  brake  and  fortifications  near  this 

Eoint.  I  caused  the  battery  under  Lieut.  Pike,  who  acted  with  great  gal- 
intry,  to  open  on  it.  The  fire,  at  a  range  of  not  more  than  400  yards,  was 
kept  up  for  more  than  an  hour,  and  must  have  resulted  in  great  damage  to 
the  enemy.  I  caused  the  enemy  to  be  charged  on  three  sides  at  the  same 
time  by  Colonels  Cox  and  Smith  and  Lieut.  Col.  Malone,  and  the  charge 
was  repeated  four  times  ;  but  the  enemy  was  so  strongly  posted  that  it  was 
found  impossible  to  dislodge  him.'  " 

The  regiment  lost  only  two  killed  and  twelve  wounded,  while  the  rebel 
loss,  as  estimated  at  the  time,  was  something  over  a  hundred  in  killed  and 
wounded. 

General  Kosecrans,  in  his  official  report,  gave  the  regiment  credit  for  hav 
ing  successfully  repulsed  ten  times  its  own  number  on  that  occasion. 

During  the  residue  of  the  year  the  regiment  was  actively  employed  in  its 
ordinary  duties,  building  bridges,  repairing  railroads,  &c.,  with  its  head 
quarters  in  the  neighborhood  of  Elk  River  Bridge.  In  the  early  part  of 
1864  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Col.  John  Yates,  was  with  the  advance 
of  Sherman's  army  on  Atlanta,  and  on  the  30th  of  September  had  its  head 
quarters  there.  On  the  16th  of  November  it  marched  from  Atlanta  as  a 
part  of  the  engineer  force  of  General  Sherman's  army,  performing  with  re 
markable  promptness  its  arduous  and  important  duties  on  that  great  march. 
It  is  estimated  that  during  that  campaign,  besides  making  and  repairing  a 
great  distance  of  corduroy  road,  the  regiment  destroyed  and  twisted  the 
rails  of  thirty  miles  of  railroad  tract  and  built  eight  or  ten  important  bridges 
and  crossings.  At  Edisto  it  constructed  a  bridge  under  a  severe  fire  from 
the  enemy's  sharpshooters ;  continuing  its  faithful  and  important  services 
throughout  the  rest  of  the  campaign  and  until  the  arrival  of  Sherman's  army 
at  Washington.  Early  in  June  it  was  ordered  to  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
and  thence  to  Nashville,  where  it  was  mustered  out  of  service  on  the  22d 
of  September. 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  235 

THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE, 
CONSISTING  OF  THE  IST,  5TH,  GTH,  AND  TTH  REGIMENTS. 

The  1st  regiment  of  cavalry  was  organized  during  the  summer  of  1861, 
by  Col.  T.  F.  Brodhead,  and  left  its  rendezvous  in  Detroit  on  the  29th  of 
September  for  Washington,  in  command  of  that  officer.  It  lay  in  camp  at 
Frederick,  Md.,  a  considerable  portion  of  the  winter,  and  its  principal  ser 
vice  was  on  the  upper  Potomac,  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  near  the 
eastern  slopes  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  It  was  in  action  at  Winchester,  March 
23,  1862 ;  at  Middletown,  March  25th ;  at  Strasburg,  March  27th ;  at  Har- 
risonburg,  April  22d ;  at  Winchester  again,  May  24th ;  at  Orange  Court- 
House,  July  16th ;  at  Cedar  Mountain,  August  9th ;  and  at  Bull  Run,  Au 
gust  30th.  At  the  latter  action  its  commanding  officer,  Colonel  Brodhead,* 
was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  September  2d,  and  its  casualties  in  that 
engagement  showed  7  killed,  13  wounded,  7  prisoners,  and  106  missing. 

During  November  and  December  following,  and  the  early  part  of  1863, 
the  regiment,  in  command  of  Colonel  Charles  H.  Town,  was  engaged  on 
grand  guard  duty  in  front  of  the  defences  of  Washington,  on  a  line  extend 
ing  from  Edward's  Ferry  to  the  mouth  of  the  Occoquan. 

During  the  raid  about  the  Union  lines,  made  by  the  rebel  Gen.  Stuart, 
in  February,  1863,  a  detachment  of  fifty-six  men  of  this  regiment  were  sent 
out  to  watch  his  movements.  Near  Occoquan  the  enemy  came  in  range  of 
the  carbines  of  this  party,  and  fell  back  in  confusion  at  the  first  fire.  Dis 
covering  the  weakness  of  the  force  opposed  to  them,  the  rebel  cavalry  recov 
ered  and  charged  vigorously  with  a  large  force,  before  which  the  detach 
ment  retired,  fighting  from  behind  bushes,  &c.,  during  a  pursuit  of  several 
miles,  with  a  resulting  loss  to  Stuart's  troopers  of  fifteen  in  killed  and 
wounded,  and  to  themselves  of  none.  On  the  27th  of  June,  the  regiment 
took  up  its  line  of  march  northward  in  the  Gettysburg  campaign. 

The  5th  cavalry  was  organized  under  the  authority  given  by  the  War 
Department  and  the  Governor  to  Colonel  J.  T.  Copeland,  then  in  the  1st 
cavalry.  Its  organization  began  in  July,  1862,  and  it  was  mustered  into 
service  as  a  regiment  on  the  30th  of  August,  at  its  rendezvous  in  Detroit. 
The  regiment  was  subjected  to  a  long  delay  in  procuring  its  arms  and  equip 
ments,  and  left  the  State  only  partly  armed,  but  fully  equipped,  mounted, 
and  clothed,  on  the  4th  of  December  following,  for  Washington.  A  num 
ber  of  men  were  lost  by  desertion  previous  to  its  departure,  and  its  rolls 
show  that  down  to  that  period  it  had  carried  the  names  of  1,305  officers  and 
men.  A  battery  of  light  artillery  was  raised  in  connection  with  this  regi 
ment,  which  was  classed  as  the  9th  Michigan  battery,  and  originally  known 
as  Daniel's.  This  battery  was  afterwards  designated  as  Battery  "  I,"  1st 
Michigan  light  artillery. 

On  November  29,  1862,  Colonel  Copeland  was  appointed  a  brigadier- 
general  of  volunteers,  being  succeeded  in  the  command  of  the  regiment  by 
Colonel  Freeman  Norvell,  who  was  promoted  from  lieutenant-colonel  on  the 
31st  of  December.  He  served  in  command  of  the  regiment  in  the  field 
until  the  27th  of  February  following,  when  he  resigned.  Major  R.  A.  Alger, 


^Report  of  Major  Charles  H.  Town,  commanding  1st  Michigan:  *  "Col- 

Thornton  P.  Brodhead,  mo  tally  wounded  at  Bull  Run,  Va.,  August  30,  1862,  while  gal 
lantly  leading  his  men  to  the  charge."  *  * 

While  on  his  death-bed  in  the  field,  almost  the  last  words  to  his  attending  surgeon 
were,  "  The  Old  Flag  will  triumph  yet." 

In  his  letter  to  his  wife,  he  writes  :  "  I  fought  manfully  and  now  die  fearlessly." 


236  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

of  the  2d  cavalry,  was  commissioned  as  colonel  on  the  28th  of  the  same 
month,  and  served  in  that  capacity  down  to  September  20,  1864,  when,  on 
account  of  ill  health,  he  was  compelled  to  resign. 

The  6th  regiment  of  cavalry  was  organized  at  Grand  Rapids,  under  au 
thority  granted  to  Hon.  F.  W.  Kellogg  by  the  War  Department,  sanctioned 
by  the  Governor.  It  was  rapidly  filled,  and  mustered  into  service  on  the 
13th  of  October,  1862,  its  rolls  carrying  the  names  of  1,229  officers  and 
men.  It  left  its  rendezvous  on  the  10th  of  December  following,  in  com 
mand  of  Col.  George  Gray,  taking  the  route  to  Washington,  fully  mounted 
and  equipped,  but  not  armed. 

The  7th  regiment  of  cavalry  was  also  raised  at  Grand  Rapids,  under  the 
same  authority.  Two  battalions  of  this  regiment  left  the  State  for  Wash 
ington  on  the  20th  of  February,  1863,  and  the  remaining  companies  joined 
them  in  May  following.  The  regiment  entered  the  field  in  command  of 
Col.  W.  D.  Mann. 

These  regiments  served  to  the  end  of  the  war,  bearing  so  important  a  part 
in  the  great  struggle  for  union  and  freedom  as  to  become  eminently  famous 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  as  the  "  Michigan  Cavalry 
Brigade." 

The  1st  cavalry,  while  in  command  of  Colonel  Brodhead,  served  in  the 
command  of  General  Alpheus  S.  Williams,  of  Michigan,  in  1862,  and  cov 
ered  the  retreat  of  General  Banks'  army  from  the  Shenandoah  Valley, 
serving  with  much  distinction,  and  rendering  very  important  service  in  that 
affair,  being  continuously  under  fire. 

Following  the  surrender  of  Lee  and  Johnston,  and  consequent  collapse 
of  the  Southern  Confederacy,  this  brigade,  which  had  served  during  the 
war  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  was  sent  West  to  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
thence  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  where  the  5th  cavalry  were  mustered  out  of 
service,  except  the  men  having  two  years  or  more  to  serve,  and  these  were 
transferred  to  the  1st  and  7th.  The  regiments  then  crossed  the  Plains  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  in  suppressing  the  war 
which  was  then  being  waged  by  several  Indian  tribes  on  citizens  of  the 
United  States  in  the  Territories  of  the  far  West.  These  orders  caused 
much  justifiable  dissatisfaction  in  the  brigade,  indicating  as  they  did  the 
commencement  of  another  arduous  campaign,  which,  in  consideration  of 
past  long  and  faithful  services,  they  thought  might  have  been  spared  them, 
especially  as  the  campaign  was  for  an  object  foreign  to  their  contract  of 
service.  But  remembering  their  noble  record,  and  adhering  to  their  uni 
form  high  degree  of  discipline  and  subordination,  and  having  in  view  the 
honor  of  a  State  whose  troops  had  never  disgraced  it,  obeyed  the  orders 
and  crossed  the  plains. 

After  reaching  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  men  of  these  regiments,  with 
certain  exceptions,  were,  in  violation  of  the  orders  of  the  War  Department, 
consolidated  into  one  regiment,  designated  as  the  1st  regiment  Michigan 
veteran  cavalry,  four  companies  of  which  were  stationed  at  Fort  Bridger 
and  eight  companies  were  sent  forward  to  Camp  Douglas,  at  Salt  Lake 
City.  The  regiment  garrisoned  these  two  stations  until  March  10,  1866, 
when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service,  paid  off,  and  disbanded. 

Owing  to  gross  injustice  done  these  troops  by  the  officers  of  the  Govern 
ment  in  Utah,  in  the  settlement  of  their  transportation  account,  the  War 
Department  was  asked  by  the  State  authorities  to  make  certain  additional 
allowance,  which  was  refused,  when  an  appeal  was  made  to  Congress.  The 
claim  having  been  promptly  and  properly  presented,  it  was  supported  and 
insisted  upon  by  the  Michigan  representatives  of  both  Houses  of  Congress, 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  237 

then  composed  of  Chandler  and  Howard  in  the  Senate,  and  in  the  House, 
Beaman,  Driggs,  Ferry,  Longyear,  Trowbridge,  and  Upson,  who,  ever  true 
to  the  interest  of  the  soldier,  determined  that  this  claim  should  be  secured 
and  justice  done,  and  therefore  united  their  influence  and  effort  for  that 
purpose,  and  with  commendable  zeal  and  great  ability,  together  with  close 
attention  and  much  tact,  procured  an  enactment  for  their  relief. 

While  these  Michigan  troops  were  engaged  in  this  service,  Captain 
Osmer  F.  Cole,  of  the  6th  cavalry,  was  killed  in  action  with  Indians  at 
Tongue  river,  M.  T.,  August  30,  1865. 

At  the  request  of  the  Governor  of  the  State,  a  special  report  was  made 
by  the  Adjutant-General,  covering  the  unlawful  and  unauthorized  consoli 
dation  of  the  Michigan  cavalry  brigade,  consisting  of  the  1st,  6th,  and 
7th  regiments,  into  an  organization  to  be  known  as  the  1st  regiment  of 
Michigan  cavalry,  detailing  the  ill-treatment  and  injustice  attending  the 
detention  in  service  and  muster-out  and  payment  of  that  regiment.  On 
this  report  a  claim  was  made  to  the  War  Department  for  an  additional 
allowance  of  transportation.  The  claim  was  rejected  on  the  ground  that 
the  parties  for  whom  the  allowance  was  asked  had  already  received  from 
the  Government  all  that  existing  law  provided  for  in  such  cases.  It  there 
fore  became  necessary  to  apply  to  Congress  for  special  relief.  Accordingly, 
the  matter  was  referred  to  Senator  Chandler  for  presentation  to  Congress, 
and  which  received  at  his  hands  the  fullest  attention,  aided  by  Senator 
Howard  and  our  members  of  Congress — Beaman,  Ferry,  Upson,  Driggs, 
Trowbridge,  and  Longyear.  These  gentlemen,  as  before  stated,  properly 
concerned  for,  and  true  to  the  interest  of  the  Michigan  soldiers,  by  their  con 
certed  action  in  Congress,  ultimately  succeeded  in  securing  the  passage  of 
the  following  enactment,  rendering  the  justice  so  essentially  due  to  those 
who  had  never  faltered  in  the  soldier's  line  of  duty  : 

"And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  there  is  hereby  appropriated  for  the 
payment  of  the  travelling  expenses  of  the  members  of  the  1st  regiment  of 
Michigan  cavalry  from  the  place  in  Utah  Territory  where  they  were  mus 
tered  out  of  service,  in  the  year  1866,  to  the  place  of  their  enrollment,  a 
sum  sufficient  to  allow  to  each  member  $325,  deducting  therefrom  the 
amount  paid  to  each  for  commutation  of  travel,  pay  and  subsistence,  by 
the  Government,  when  thus  mustered  out,  and  that  the  accounts  be  settled 
and  paid  under  the  direction  of  the  Secretary  of  War." 

The  selection  of  special  engagements  in  which  these  regiments  most  dis 
tinguished  themselves  respectively,  has  been  abandoned,  because  of  their 
services  in  the  field  being  so  united  in  the  operations  of  the  Michigan  cav 
alry  brigade.  It  has,  therefore,  been  deemed  best  to  take  official  reports 
of  General  Custer,  covering  certain  movements,  as  illustrating  more  fully 
than  any  others  on  file  the  brilliant  and  important  achievements  of  these 
gallant  regiments  during  the  rebellion.  To  these  have  been  added  extracts 
from  reports  of  other  officers,  while  in  command  of  the  brigade  and  of  regi 
ments  respectively. 

Following  is  General  Custer's  report,  made  August  22, 1863,  covering  the 
operations  of  his  cavalry  during  a  portion  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg : 

"  In  compliance  with  instructions  received  from  the  headquarters  of  the 
3d  division,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  part 
taken  by  my  command  in  the  engagements  near  Gettysburg,  July  3,  1863 : 

"At  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  I  received  an  order  through 
a  staff-officer  of  the  brigadier-general  commanding  the  division*  to  move  at 
once  my  command,  and  follow  the  first"  brigade  on  the  road  leading  from 
'  Two  Taverns'  to  Gettysburg. 


238  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

"Agreeably  to  the  above  instructions,  my  column  was  formed  and  moved 
out  on  the  road  designated,  when  a  staff-officer  of  Brigadier-General  Gregg, 
commanding  2d  division,  ordered  me  to  take  my  command  and  place  it  in 
position  on  the  pike  leading  from  York  to  Gettysburg,  which  position  formed 
the  extreme  right  of  our  line  of  battle  on  that  day.  Upon  arriving  at  the 
point  designated,  I  immediately  placed  my  command  in  position,  facing  to 
wards  Gettysburg.  At  the  same  time  I  caused  reconnoisances  to  be  made 
on  my  front,  right,  and  rear,  but  failed  to  discover  any  considerable  force 
of  the  enemy.  Everything  remained  quiet  till  10  A.  M.,  when  the  enemy 
appeared  on  my  right  flank,  and  opened  upon  me  with  a  battery  of  six 
guns.  Leaving  two  guns  and  a  regiment  to  hold  my  first  position  and  cover 
the  road  leading  to  Gettysburg,  I  shifted  the  remaining  portion  of  my  com 
mand,  forming  a  new  line  of  battle  at  right  angles  to  my  former  line.  The 
enemy  had  obtained  correct  range  of  my  new  position,  and  were  pouring 
solid  shot  and  shell  into  my  command  with  great  accuracy.  Placing  two 
sections  of  battery  M,  2d  regular  artillery,  in  position,  I  ordered  them  to 
silence  the  enemy's  battery,  which  order,  notwithstanding  the  superiority 
of  the  enemy's  position,  was  successfully  accomplished  in  a  very  short  space 
of  time.  My  line,  as  it  then  existed,  was  shaped  like  the  letter  L,  the 
shorter  branch  formed  one  section  of  battery  M,  supported  by  four  squad 
rons  of  the  6th  Michigan  cavalry,  faced  toward  Gettysburg,  covering  the 
Gettysburg  pike ;  the  long  branch,  composed  of  the  remaining  two  sections 
of  battery  M,  2d  artillery,  supported  by  a  portion  of  the  6th  Michigan  cav 
alry  on  the  left  and  the  1st  Michigan  cavalry  on  the  right,  with  the  7th 
Michigan  cavalry  still  further  to  the  right  and  in  advance,  was  held  in 
readiness  to  repel  any  attack  the  enemy  might  make  coming  on  the  Oxford 
road.  The  5th  Michigan  cavalry  was  dismounted  and  ordered  to  take  posi 
tion  in  front  of  my  centre  and  left.  The  1st  Michigan  cavalry  was  held  in 
a  column  of  squadrons,  to  observe  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  I  ordered 
fifty  men  to  be  sent  one  mile  and  a  half  on  the  Oxford  road,  while  a  detach 
ment  of  equal  size  was  sent  one  mile  and  a  half  on  the  road  leading  from 
Gettysburg  to  York,  both  the  detachments  being  under  the  command  of  the 
gallant  Major  Webber,  who,  from  time  to  time,  kept  me  so  well  informed 
of  the  movements  of  the  enemy  that  I  was  enabled  to  make  my  dispositions 
with  complete  success.  At  12  o'clock  an  order  was  transmitted  to  me  from 
the  brigadier-general  commanding  the  division,  by  one  of  his  aids,  directing 
me,  upon  being  relieved  by  a  brigade  from  the  2d  division,  to  move  with 
my  command  and  form  a  junction  with  the  1st  brigade  on  the  extreme  left. 
On  the  arrival  of  the  brigade  of  the  2d  division,  commanded  by  Col.  Mcln- 
tosh,  I  prepared  to  execute  the  order.  Before  I  had  left  my  position  Briga 
dier-General  Gregg,  commanding  the  2d  division,  arrived  with  his  entire 
command.  Learning  the  true  condition  of  affairs  in  my  front,  and  rightly 
conjecturing  that  the  enemy  was  making  his  dispositions  for  vigorously 
attacking  our  position,  Brigadier-General  Gregg  ordered  me  to  remain'  in 
the  position  I  then  occupied. 

"  The  enemy  was  soon  after  reported  to  be  advancing  on  my  front.  The 
detachment  of  fifty  men  sent  on  the  Oxford  road  were  driven  in,  and  at  the 
same  time  the  enemy's  line  of  skirmishers,  consisting  of  dismounted  cavalry, 
appeared  on  the  crest  of  the  ridge  of  hills  on  my  front.  The  line  extended 
beyond  my  left.  To  repel  their  advance,  I  ordered  the  5th  Michigan  cav 
alry  to  a  more  advanced  position,  with  instructions  to  maintain  their  ground 
at  all  hazards.  Colonel  Alger.  commanding  the  5th,  assisted  by  Majors 
Trowbridge  and  Ferry,  of  the  same  regiment,  made  such  admirable  dispo 
sition  of  their  men  behind  fences  and  other  defences  as  enabled  them  to 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  239 

successfully  repel  the  repeated  advance  of  a  greatly  superior  force.     I  attri 
buted  their  success  in  a  great  measure  to  the  fact  that  this  regiment  is  armed 
with  the  Spencer  repeating  rifle,  which  in  the  hands  of  brave,  determined 
men,  like  those  composing  the  5th  Michigan  cavalry,  is,  in  my  estimation, 
the  most  effective  fire-arm  that  our  cavalry  can  adopt.     Colonel  Alger  held 
his  ground  until  his  men  had  exhausted  their  ammunition,  when  he  was 
compelled  to  fall  back  on  the  main  body.     The  beginning  of  this  movement 
was  the  signal  for  the  enemy  to  charge,  which  they  did  with  two  regiments, 
mounted  and  dismounted.     I  at  once  ordered  the  7th  Michigan  cavalry, 
Colonel  Mann,  to  charge  the  advancing  column  of  the  enemy.     The  ground 
over  which  we  had  to  pass  was  very  unfavorable  for  the  maneuvering  of 
cavalry,  but,  despite  all  obstacles,  this  regiment  advanced  boldly  to  the  as 
sault,  which  was  executed  in  splendid  style,  the  enemy  being  driven  from 
field  to  field  until  our  advance  reached  a  high  and  unbroken  fence,  behind 
which  the  enemy  were  strongly  posted.     Nothing  daunted,  Colonel  Mann, 
followed  by  the  main  body  of  his  regiment,  bravely  rode  up  to  the  fence  and 
discharged  their  revolvers  in  the  very  face  of  the  foe.     No  troops  could  have 
maintained  this  position ;  the  7th  was,  therefore,  compelled  to  retire,  fol 
lowed  by  twice  the  number  of  the  enemy.     By  this  time  Colonel  Alger,  of 
the  5th  Michigan  cavalry,  had  succeeded  in  mounting  a  considerable  por 
tion  of  his  regiment,  and  gallantly  advanced  to  the  assistance  of  the  7th, 
whose  further  pursuit  by  the  enemy  he  checked.     At  the  same  time  an  en 
tire  brigade  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  consisting  of  four  regiments,  appeared 
just  over  the  crest  in  our  front.     They  were  formed  in  column  of  regiments. 
To  meet  this  overwhelming  force  I  had  but  one  available  regiment — the  1st 
Michigan  cavalry,  and  the  fire  of  battery  M,  2d  regular  artillery.     I  at 
once  ordered  the  1st  to  charge,  but  learned  at  the  same  moment  that  similar 
orders  had  been  given  by  Brigadier-General  Gregg.     As  before  stated,  the 
1st  was  formed  in  column  of  battalions.     Upon  receiving  the  order  to  charge, 
Colonel  Town,  placing  himself  at  the  head  of  his  command,  ordered  the 
*  trot '  and  sabres  to  be  drawn.     In  this  manner  this  gallant  body  of  men 
advanced  to  the  attack  of  a  force  outnumbering  them  five  to  one.     In  ad 
dition  to  this  numerical  superiority,  the  enemy  had  the  advantage  of  posi 
tion  and  were  exultant  over  the  repulse  of  the  7th  Michigan  cavalry.     All 
these  facts  considered,  would  seem  to  render  success  on  the  part  of  the  1st 
impossible.     Not  so,  however.     Arriving  within  a  few  yards  of  the  enemy's 
column  the  charge  was  ordered,  and  with  a  yell  that  spread  terror  before 
them,  the  1st  Michigan  cavalry,  led  by  Colonel  Town,  rode  upon  the  front 
rank  of  the  enemy,  sabering  all  who  came  within  reach.     For  a  moment,  but 
only  a  moment,  that  long,  heavy  column  stood  its  ground ;  then,  unable  to 
withstand  the  impetuosity  of  our  attack,  it  gave  way  into  a  disorderly  rout, 
leaving  vast  numbers  of  their  dead  and  wounded  in  our  possession,  while 
the  1st,  being  masters  of  the  field,  had  the  proud  satisfaction  of  seeing  the 
much-vaunted  '  chivalry,'  led  by  their  favorite  commander,  seek  safety  in 
headlong  flight.     I  cannot  find  language  to  express  my  high  appreciation 
of  the  gallantry  and  daring  displayed  by  the  officers  and  men  of  the  1st 
Michigan  cavalry.     They  advanced  to  the  charge  of  a  vastly  superior  force 
with  as  much  order  and  precision  as  if  going  upon  parade ;  and  I  challenge 
the  annals  of  warfare  to  produce  a  more  brilliant  or  successful  charge  of 
cavalry  than  the  one  just  recounted.     Nor  must  I  forget  to  acknowledge  the 
individual  assistance  rendered  by  battery  M,  2d  regiment  of  artillery,  in  this 
charge.     Our  success  in  driving  the  enemy  from  the  field  is  due,  in  a  great 
measure,  to  the  highly  efficient  manner  in  which  the  battery  was  handled 
by  Lieutenant  A.  C.  M.  Pennington,  assisted  by  Lieutenants  Clark,  Wood- 


240  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

ruff,  and  Hamilton.  The  enemy  made  but  slight  demonstration  against  us 
during  the  remainder  of  the  day,  except  in  one  instance  he  attempted  to 
turn  my  left  flank,  which  attempt  was  most  gallantly  met  and  successfully 
frustrated  by  Second  Lieutenant  J.  H.  Kellogg,  with  company  H,  6th  Mich 
igan  cavalry.  We  held  possession  of  the  field  until  dark,  during  which  time 
we  collected  our  dead  and  wounded.  At  dark  I  returned  with  my  com 
mand  to  Two  Taverns,  where  I  encamped  for  the  night. 

"  In  this  engagement  my  command  lost  as  follows :  Nine  officers  and  sixty- 
nine  men  killed,  twenty-five  officers  and  two  hundred  and  seven  men  wound 
ed,  seven  officers  and  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  men  missing ;  making  a 
total  of  five  hundred  and  forty-two.  Among  the  killed  I  record  the  name 
of  Major  N.  H.  Ferry,  of  the  5th  Michigan  cavalry,  who  fell  while  heroically 
cheering  on  his  men.  It  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  particularize  in  those 
instances  deserving  special  mention ;  all,  both  men  and  officers,  did  their 
duty.  There  were  many  cases  of  personal  heroism,  but  a  list  of  their  names 
would  make  my  report  too  extended.  To  Colonel  Town,  commanding  the 
1st  Michigan  cavalry,  and  to  the  officers  and  men  of  his  regiment  for  the 
gallant  manner  in  which  they  drove  the  enemy  from  the  field,  great  praise 
is  due.  Colonel  Mann,  of  the  7th  Michigan  cavalry,  and  Colonel  Alger,  of 
the  5th  Michigan  cavalry,  as  well  as  the  officers  and  men  of  their  commands, 
are  entitled  to  much  credit  for  their  united  efforts  in  repelling  the  advance 
of  the  enemy.  The  6th  Michigan  cavalry  rendered  very  good  service  by 
guarding  both  my  right  and  left  flank ;  also  by  supporting  battery  M  under 
a  very  hot  fire  from  the  enemy's  battery.  Colonel  Gray,  commanding  the 
regiment,  was  constantly  seen  wherever  his  presence  was  most  needed,  and 
is  deserving  of  special  mention.  I  desire  to  commend  to  your  favorable  no 
tice  Lieutenants  Pennington,  Clark,  Woodruff,  and  Hamilton,  of  battery  M, 
2d  artillery,  for  the  zeal  and  ability  displayed  by  each  on  this  occasion. 
My  thanks  are  personally  due  to  the  following  named  members  of  my  staff, 
who,  on  many  occasions,  exhibited  remarkable  gallantry  in  transmitting 
and  executing  my  orders  on  the  field : 

'  Captain  G.  A.  Drew,  6th  Michigan  cavalry,  Assistant  Inspector  General. 

'  First  Lieut.  R.  Baylis,  5th  Michigan  cavalry,  Acting  Assistant  Adju 
tant  General. 

'  First  Lieut.  Wm.  H.  Wheeler,  1st  Michigan  cavalry,  A.  D.  C. 

'  First  Lieut.  Wm.  Colerick,  1st  Michigan  cavalry,  A.  D.  C. 

'  I  desire  also  to  mention  two  of  my  buglers,  Joseph  Fought,  company  D, 
5th  U.  S.  cavalry,  and  Peter  Boehn,  company  B,  5th  U.  S.  cavalry ;  also 
Orderlies  Norvall  Churchill,  company  L,  1st  Michigan  cavalry,  George  L. 
Foster,  company  C,  1st  Michigan  cavalry,  and  Benjamin  H.  Butler,  com 
pany  M,  1st  Michigan  cavalry." 

Following  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  these  regiments  were  engaged  with 
the  enemy  in  Maryland  during  July  at  the  following  points :  Monterey  4th ; 
Cavetown  5th  ;  Smithtown,  Boonsboro',  Hagerstown,  and  Williamsport  6th ; 
Boonsboro'  8th ;  Hagerstown  and  Williamsport  10th ;  Falling  Waters  14th; 
and  Snicker's  Gap,  Va.,  on  the  19th. 

They  were  also  engaged  in  Virginia  at  Kelly's  Ford  September  13th,  at 
Culpepper  Court-house  September  14th,  at  Raccoon  Ford  September  16th, 
at  White's  Ford  September  21st,  and  at  Jack's  Shop  September  26th. 

At  the  second  battle  of  Hagerstown,  July  10th,  1863,  the  rebels  becoming 
panic-stricken,  abandoned  their  wagons,  ammunition,  arms,  tents,  and  even 
provisions.  Hundreds  of  them,  fearing  Kilpatrick's  men,  fled  to  the  right 
and  left  to  avoid  their  terrific  charges,  and  subsequently  surrendered  them 
selves.  One  strapping  fellow  surrendered  to  a  little  bugler  who  was  attach- 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  241 

ed  to  General  Ouster's  brigade.  As  he  passed  down  the  line,  escorting  his 
prisoner,  a  Colt's  revolver  in  hand,  he  called  out :  "  I  say,  boys,  what  do 
you  think  of  this  fellow  ?" 

Report  of  Colonel  C.  H.  Town,  commanding  1st  Michigan,  covering  a 
portion  of  the  operations  of  his  regiment  around  Gettysburg : 

*  *  *  "We  moved  early  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  July  to 
Emmetsburg,  thence  to  Monterey.  Before  reaching  the  latter  place  the 
enemy  was  discovered  in  force  upon  the  hills  to  the  right  of  the  road.  The 
regiment,  being  in  advance  of  the  column,  was  sent  on  a  road  leading  to 
Fairfield  Gap.  The  enemy  having  possession  of  the  gap,  a  charge  was 
made  by  one  squadron,  which,  with  the  remainder  of  the  regiment  deployed 
as  skirmishers,  was  successful  in  driving  the  enemy  from  the  gap.  The 
regiment  held  the  position  until  the  entire  column  had  passed,  though  the 
enemy  made  desperate  efforts,  with  superior  numbers,  to  drive  us  out.  Our 
loss  here  was  heavy.  Captain  William  R.  Elliott,  while  bravely  leading 
his  company,  was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  the  next  morning,  and 
Lieutenant  James  S.  McElhenny,  commanding  company  G,  was  killed  in 
stantly. 

"  I  must  embrace  the  present  opportunity  to  pay  a  parting  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  the  noble  men  whose  names  I  have  above  mentioned.  Elliott 
and  McElhenny  were,  indeed,  true  types  of  the  American  soldier.  They 
devoted  their  whole  time  to  their  duties,  ever  ready  and  faithful  in  their 
discharge.  They  died  as  the  Union  soldier  loves  to  die — leading  in  the 
charge. 

"On  the  6th  of  July  the  regiment  was  in  support  of  a  battery  at  Hagers- 
town,  fortunately  without  loss. 

"Permit  me  here  to  speak  of  the  late  Captain  Charles  I.  Snyder,  of  this 
regiment,  who  was  mortally  wounded  while  gallantly  leading  a  squadron 
of  the  18th  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  in  the  streets  of  Hagerstown.  He  had 
been  detailed  for  some  days  as  an  aid  to  General  Kilpatrick,  and  was 
ordered  by  that  officer  to  assist  in  the  charge.  Fearlessly  he  entered  upon 
his  duty,  and  nobly  did  he  discharge  it.  Meeting  six  sturdy  Confederates, 
he  engaged  them  single-handed,  cutting  three  of  them  out  of  the  saddle 
and  putting  the  rest  to  flight,  though  he  received  the  pistol  shot  which 
caused  his  death,  and  a  sabre  cut  on  the  head  as  well,  early  in  the  melee. 
The  memory  of  this  brave  and  noble-hearted  man  will  ever  be  cherished 

with  brotherly  fondness  by  the  officers  and  men  of  the  1st  Michigan  cav- 
aj  »**##*** 

Captain  Snyder  died  of  his  wounds  at  Hagerstown,  on  July  1st,  fol 
lowing. 

The  1st  cavalry  lost  at  Gettysburg  80  men  and  11  officers  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing,  out  of  300.  The  7th  cavalry  had  16  killed,  41  wounded,  12 
missing,  and  12  prisoners.  Casualties  of  5th  and  6th  are  not  reported. 

General  Kilpatriok,  in  his  report,  referring  to  the  engagement  at  Falling 
Waters,  July  14,  1863,  says  : 

"The  enemy  was,  when  first  seen,  in  two  lines  of  battle,  with 
arms  stacked,  within  less  than  one  thousand  yards  of  the  large  force.  A 
portion  of  the  6th  Michigan  cavalry,  seeing  only  that  part  of  the  enemy 
behind  the  earthworks,  charged.  This  charge  was  led  by  Major  Webber, 
and  was  the  most  gallant  ever  made.  At  a  trot  they  passed  up  the  hill, 
received  the  fire  from  the  whole  line,  and  the  next  moment  rode  through 
and  over  the  earthworks,  sabering  the  rebels  along  the  entire  line,  and  re 
turned  with  a  loss  of  thirty  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  including  the 
gallant  Major  Webber,  killed."  *  *  * 

P 


242  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Captain  David  G.  Royce  and  Lieutenant  Charles  E.  Bolza,  6th  Michi 
gan,  were  killed  in  this  action,  Lieutenant  Bolza  in  the  charge,  and  Captain 
Royce  in  action  succeeding  it. 

Report  of  Colonel  R.  A.  Alger,  commanding  5th  Michigan,  in  which  he 
refers  to  the  services  of  his  regiment  at  Gettysburg,  says : 

*  *  *  "The  5th  has  won  an  enviable  reputation.  Every  moment 
brings  a  sad  gloom  over  all  our  hearts  for  the  noble  Ferry.  He  was  in 
stantly  shot  through  the  head,  while  leading  his  battalion  at  Gettysburg. 
He  was  a  brave  officer.  I  cannot  supply  his  place." 

NOTE. — A  correspondent  says  of  the  cavalry  on  the  Gettysburg  campaign  :  "  In  six 
teen  days,  one  division  of  our  cavalry  has  had  fifteen  battles,  with  infantry,  in  nearly  all 
to  contend  against,  captured  and  destroyed  nearly  or  quite  one  thousand  loaded  wagons 
and  between  three  and  four  thousand  horses  and  mules ;  taken  between  four  and  five 
thousand  rebel  prisoners,  destroyed  one-half  of  the  rebel  General  Stuart's  cavalry  force, 
and  so  demoralized  the  balance,  that  when  a  green  (or  blue)  .militia  regiment,  (the 
Philadelphia  Blues,)  with  a  regiment  of  Green  Mountain  Boys,  attacked  them  while 
posted  behind  earth-works  at  Hagerstown,  the  whole  command  fled  panic-stricken — or 
at  Williamsport,  where  Ouster's  brigade  of  Michiganders,  with  Pennington's  battery, 
captured  more  than  man  for  man,  from  an  enemy  whose  force  consisted  of  four  times 
their  numbers,  and  strongly  located  behind  earth-works.  This  is  cavalry  fighting,  the 
superior  of  which  the  world  never  saw.  The  cavalry  also  contributed  largely  to  the 
success  of  our  arms  at  Gettysburg." 

The  same  correspondent  in  noticing  the  engagement  at  Falling  Waters,  which  imme 
diately  followed  Gettysburg,  says  :  "  Hearing  that  a  force  had  marched  towards  Falling 
Waters,  General  Kilpatrick  ordered  an  advance  to  that  place.  Through  some  mistake, 
only  one  brigade,  that  of  General  Ouster's,  obeyed  the  order.  When  within  less  than  a 
mile  of  Falling  Waters,  four  brigades  were  found  in  line  of  battle,  in  a  very  strong  posi 
tion,  and  behind  half  a  dozen  Eleventh-Corps  or  crescent-shaped  earth-walls.  The 
6th  Michigan  cavalry  was  in  advance.  They  did  not  wait  for  orders,  but  a  squadron, 
companies  D  and  C,  under  Captain  Royce  (who  was  killed,)  and  Captain  Armstrong, 
were  deployed  as  skirmishers,  while  companies  B  and  F,  led  by  Major  Webber,  (who 
was  killed,)  made  the  charge.  The  line  of  skirmishers  was  forced  back  several  times, 
but  the  men  rallied  promptly,  and  finally  drove  the  enemy  behind  the  works.  A  charge 
was  then  made,  the  squadron  passing  between  the  earth-works.  So  sudden  and  spirited 
was  the  dash,  and  so  demoralized  were  the  enemy,  that  the  first  brigade  surrendered 
without  firing  a  shot.  The  charging  squadron  moved  directly  on,  and  engaged  the 
second  brigade,  when  the  brigade  that  had  surrendered  seized  their  guns,  and  then 
commenced  a  fearful  struggle.  Of  the  one  hundred  who  made  the  charge,  only  thirty 
escaped  uninjured;  seven  of  their  horses  lay  dead  within  the  enemy's  works." 

A  correspondent  says  of  the  cavalry  on  the  right  of  our  army  at  Gettysburg,  and  who 
noticed  a  charge  of  the  7th  cavalry:  "But  little  has  been  said  of  the  part  taken  by  the 
cavalry  on  the  right  at  Gettysburg,  Friday,  July  3d.  General  Gregg's  division,  assist 
ed  by  General  Ouster's  brigade,  of  General  Kilpatrick's  division,  rendered  an  important 
service  here.  The  enemy  seemed  determined  to  capture  our  batteries  and  turn  the 
flank.  The  movement  was  only  prevented  through  the  stubborn  bravery  of  the  troops. 
The  7th  Michigan,  a  new  regiment,  charged  up  to  a  stone  wall  under  a  front  and  flank 
fire  from  a  concealed  enemy,  charging  in  column  by  company,  closed  en  masse.  When 
the  first  company  reached  the  wall,  and  was  brought  to  a  sudden  stand,  the  balance 
of  the  column,  being  in  a  very  exposed  position,  was  thrown  into  some  confusion.  The 
regiment  was  recalled,  when  the  1st  Michigan,  Colonel  Town,  made  a  more  successful 
charge." 

In  a  report  of  Col.  Alger  commanding  5th  cavalry,  is  found  the  following  :  "At  3  A. 
M.  on  the  1st  of  September,  1863,  we  moved  towards  Port  Conway,  arriving  there  at  2 
P.  M.  The  enemy's  pickets  and  skirmishers  were  driven  across  the  river,  and  the  regi 
ment  advanced  to  the  bank,  exposed  to  a  severe  fire  from  the  enemy's  artillery,  which 
was  in  position  on  the  south  side  of  the  Rappahannock.  Two  gunboats  and  some  sup 
plies  were  destroyed  and  we  moved  back,  returning  to  camp  on  the  following  day  ; 
Lieut.  P.  S.  Leggett,  a  gallant  young  officer,  was  killed.  He  was  serving  on  the  staff 
of  Gen.  Kilpatrick,  and  is  mentioned  in  the  official  report  of  that  officer,  as  'a  young 
man  of  great  daring,  perseverance  and  energy,'  and  was  on  several  occasions  sent  by 
the  General  inside  of  the  enemy's  lines,  and  succeeded  in  gaining  much  information  in 
regard  to  their  strength,  position,  &c." 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  243 

Under  date  of  October  24, 1863,  covering  operations  of  his  cavalry  during 
that  month,  General  Ouster  in  his  report  says : 

"  In  compliance  with  instructions  received  from  the  general  commanding 
the  division,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  opera 
tions  of  my  command  from  October  9th  to  October  23d,  1863: 

"  On  the  night  of  October  9th,  my  picket  line,  which  extended  along  the 
north  bank  of  Robertson  river  in  the  vicinity  of  James  city,  was  attacked, 
and  a  portion  of  the  line  forced  back  upon  the  reserves ;  at  the  same  time 
my  scouts  informed  me  that  the  enemy  was  moving  in  heavy  column  toward 
my  right ;  this  report  was  confirmed  by  deserters.  In  anticipation  of  an 
attack  by  the  enemy  at  daybreak,  I  ordered  my  entire  command  to  be 
saddled  at  3  A.  M.,  on  the  10th.  At  daylight  the  enemy  began  by  cau 
tiously  feeling  my  line ;  but  seeing  his  inability  to  surprise  us,  he  contented 
himself  with  obtaining  possession  of  Cedar  Mountain,  which  point  he  after 
wards  used  as  a  signal  station.  At  1  P.  M.  I  received  orders  from  the  gen 
eral  commanding  the  division  to  report  with  my  command  at  James  City. 
The  head  of  my  column  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  that  point  at  3  P.  M. 
The  enemy  had  already  obtained  possession  of  the  town,  and  had  brought 
several  guns  to  bear  upon  the  position  I  was  ordered  to  take.  Battery  M, 
2d  U.  S.  artillery,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Pennington,  was  unlim- 
bered,  and  succeeded  in  shelling  the  enemy  out  of  the  woods  on  the  right 
of  the  town.  At  the  same  time,  Colonel  Alger,  of  the  5th  Michigan  cavalry, 
who  held  the  extreme  left  of  my  line,  moved  forward  with  one  battalion  of 
his  regiment,  under  the  gallant  Major  Clark,  and  charged  the  battery.  The 
charge,  although  daring  in  the  extreme,  failed  for  want  of  sufficient  sup 
port.  It  was  successful  so  far,  however,  as  to  compel  the  enemy  to  shift  the 
position  of  his  battery  to  a  more  retired  point.  Night  setting  in  prevented 
us  from  improving  the  advantage  we  had  gained.  Most  of  my  command 
rested  on  their  arms  during  the  night.  Early  in  the  morning  I  retired  on 
the  road  leading  to  Culpepper,  which  point  I  reached  without  molestation 
from  the  enemy.  It  was  not  until  the  rear  of  my  column  was  leaving  the 
town  that  the  enemy  made  his  appearance,  and  attempted  unsuccessfully 
to  harass  my  rear  guard.  On  the  hills  north  of  the  town  I  placed  my  com 
mand  in  position  to  receive  an  attack.  The  enemy  not  feeling  disposed  to 
accept  the  invitation,  I  retired  on  the  road  leading  to  Rappahannock  Sta 
tion.  My  column  had  scarcely  begun  to  march  before  the  officer  command 
ing  the  rear  guard,  Colonel  Mann,  of  the  7th  Michigan  cavalry,  reported 
the  enemy  to  be  pressing  him  closely.  At  the  same  time  a  strong  column 
was  seen  on  my  outer  flank,  evidently  attempting  to  intercept  our  line  of 
march  to  the  river.  The  vigorous  attacks  now  being  made  upon  my  rear 
guard  compelled  me  to  place  my  battery  at  the  head  of  the  column,  and  to 
employ  my  entire  force  to  keep  the  enemy  from  my  guns.  My  advance 
had  reached  the  vicinity  of  Brandy  Station,  when  a  courier  hastened  back 
with  the  information  that  a  brigade  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  was  in  position 
directly  in  my  front,  thus  cutting  us  completely  off  from  the  river.  Upon 
examination,  I  learned  the  correctness  of  the  report.  The  heavy  masses  of 
the  rebel  cavalry  could  be  seen  covering  the  heights  in  front  of  my  advance. 
When  it  is  remembered  that  my  rear  guard  was  hotly  engaged  with  a  supe 
rior  force,  a  heavy  column  enveloping  each  flank,  and  my  advance  con 
fronted  by  more  than  double  my  own  number,  the  perils  of  my  situation 
can  be  estimated.  Lieutenant  Pennington  at  once  placed  his  battery  in 
position,  and  opened  a  brisk  fire,  which  was  responded  to  by  the  guns  of  the 
enemy.  The  major-general  commanding  the  cavalry  corps  at  this  moment 
rode  to  the  advance.  To  him  I  proposed,  with  my  command,  to  cut  through 


244  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

the  force  on  my  front,  and  thus  open  a  way  for  the  entire  command  to  the 
river. 

"  My  proposition  was  approved,  and  I  received  orders  to  take  my  avail 
able  force  and  push  forward,  leaving  the  6th  and  7th  Michigan  cavalry  to 
hold  the  force  in  rear  in  check.  I  formed  the  5th  Michigan  cavalry  on  my 
right,  in  column  of  battalions ;  on  my  left  I  formed  the  1st  Michigan  in 
column  of  squadrons.  After  ordering  them  to  draw  their  sabres,  I  informed 
them  that  we  were  surrounded,  and  all  we  had  to  do  was  to  open  a  way 
with  our  sabres.  They  showed  their  determination  and  purpose  by  giving 
three  hearty  cheers.  At  this  moment  the  band  struck  up  the  inspiring  air 
'  Yankee  Doodle,'  which  excited  the  enthusiasm  of  the  entire  command  to 
the  highest  pitch,  and  made  each  individual  member  feel  as  if  he  was  a 
host  in  himself.  Simultaneously  both  regiments  moved  forward  to  the 
attack.  It  required  but  a  glance  at  the  countenances  of  the  men  to  enable 
me  to  read  the  settled  determination  with  which  they  undertook  the  work 
before  them.  The  enemy,  without  waiting  to  receive  the  onset,  broke  in 
disorder  and  fled.  After  a  series  of  brilliant  charges,  during  which  the 
enemy  suffered  heavily,  we  succeeded  in  reaching  the  river,  which  we  crossed 
in  good  order.  From  the  llth  to  the  15th  instant  my  command  was  em 
ployed  in  picketing  and  guarding  the  flank  and  rear  of  the  army.  On  the 
afternoon  of  the  15th,  the  brigade  being  posted  on  Bull  Hun  battle  ground, 
I  detailed  Major  Kidd  with  his  regiment,  the  6th  Michigan  cavalry,  to  re 
connoitre  the  position  and  strength  of  the  enemy  in  the  vicinity  of  Gaines 
ville.  The  reconnoisance  was  entirely  satisfactory,  and  showed  the  enemy 
to  be  in  considerable  force  at  that  point.  Sunday,  the  18th  instant,  at  three 
P.  M.,  the  entire  division  was  ordered  to  move  on  the  pike  leading  from 
Groveton  to  Warrenton.  The  1st  brigade  moved  on  the  pike,  the  2d  moved 
on  a  road  to  the  left  of,  and  parallel  to  the  pike,  but  soon  encountered  the 
enemy,  and  drove  him  as  far  as  Gainesville,  where  the  entire  command 
bivouacked  during  the  night.  The  1st  Vermont  cavalry,  under  Colonel 
Sawyer,  deserves  great  credit  for  the  rapidity  with  which  they  forced  the 
enemy  to  retire.  At  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  my  brigade 
took  the  advance,  and  skirmished  with  the  enemy's  cavalry  from  Gaines 
ville  to  Buckland  ;  at  the  latter  point  I  found  him  strongly  posted  upon 
the  south  bank  of  Broad  Run.  The  position  for  his  artillery  was  well 
chosen.  After  a  fruitless  attempt  to  effect  a  crossing  in  his  front,  I  suc 
ceeded  in  turning  his  left  flank  so  completely  as  to  force  him  from  his 
position.  Having  driven  him  more  than  a  jnile  from  the  stream,  I  threw 
out  my  pickets  and  ordered  my  men  to  prepare  their  dinner.  From  the 
inhabitants  of  Buckland  I  learned  that  the  forces  of  the  enemy  with  whom 
we  had  been  engaged  were  commanded  by  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  in  per 
son,  who,  at  the  time  of  our  arrival  at  that  point,  was  seated  at  the  dinner- 
table  eating,  but,  owing  to  my  successful  advance,  he  was  compelled  to 
leave  his  dinner  untouched — a  circumstance  not  regretted  by  that  portion 
of  my  command  into  whose  hands  it  fell.  The  1st  brigade  took  the  ad 
vance.  At  this  point  I  was  preparing  to  follow,  when  information  reached 
me  that  the  enemy  was  advancing  on  my  left  from  the  direction  of  Green 
wich.  I  had  scarcely  time  to  place  my  command  in  position  to  resist  an 
attack  from  that  direction  before  the  enemy's  skirmishers  appeared.  Pen- 
nington's  battery  opened  upon  them,  while  the  6th  Michigan  cavalry,  under 
Major  Kidd,  was  thrown  forward  and  deployed  as  skirmishers.  One  gun 
of  Pennington's  battery,  supported  by  the  1st  Vermont  cavalry,  was  placed 
on  my  extreme  left.  The  1st  Michigan  cavalry,  under  Major  Brewer, 
acted  as  a  reserve,  and  as  a  support  for  the  remaining  five  guns  of  the  bat- 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  245 

tery.  The  7th  Michigan  cavalry,  under  Colonel  Mann,  were  engaged  in 
the  woods  on  my  right.  At  first  I  was  under  the  impression  that  the  skir 
mishers  were  composed  of  dismounted  cavalry,  but  later  developments 
convinced  me  that  it  was  a  very  superior  force  of  infantry  that  now  con 
fronted  me.  After  completing  his  disposition  for  attack,  the  enemy  ad 
vanced  upon  me.  In  doing  so  he  exposed  a  line  of  infantry  of  more  than 
a  mile  in  extent.  At  the  same  time  he  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  me  from 
his  artillery.  Pennington's  battery,  aided  by  the  6th  Michigan  cavalry, 
poured  a  destructive  fire  upon  the  enemy  as  he  advanced,  but  failed  to 
force  him  back.  A  desperate  effort  was  made  to  capture  my  battery. 
Pennington  continued  to  fire  until  the  enemy  was  within  twenty  yards  of 
his  guns.  He  was  then  compelled  to  limber  up  and  retire  to  the  north 
bank  of  Broad  Run.  The  other  portions  of  the  command  followed.  The 
1st  Michigan  cavalry  was  intrusted  with  the  duty  of  covering  the  move 
ment — a  task  which  was  gallantly  performed.  My  command  being  very 
exhausted,  I  retired  to  the  vicinity  of  Gainesville,  where  I  encamped  for 
the  night.  Major  Clark,  5th  Michigan  cavalry,  was  detached  with  his 
regiment  with  one  battalion.  When  the  command  retired  to  the  north 
bank  of  Broad  Run,  he,  with  a  small  portion  of  his  battalion,  became  sep 
arated  from  the  rest  of  the  command,  and  were  captured  by  the  enemy. 
Computing  my  losses  from  the  9th  instant,  I  find  them  to  be  as  follows : 
Nine  men  killed,  two  officers  and  forty-one  men  wounded,  eight  officers  and 
onehundjed  and  fifty -four  men  missing. 

"  Before  closing  my  report,  I  desire  to  make  honorable  mention  of  the 
highly  creditable  manner  in  which  both  officers  and  men  of  my  command 
have  discharged  their  duty  during  the  long  and  arduous  marches  as  well  as 
the  hard-fought  engagements  of  the  past  few  days.  Too  much  praise  cannot 
be  given  to  the  officers  and  men  of  battery  M,  2d  artillery,  for  the  gallantry 
displayed  on  more  than  one  occasion.  For  the  untiring  zeal  and  energy, 
added  to  the  unflinching  bravery  displayed  in  transmitting  and  executing 
my  orders  upon  the  field,  my  acknowledgments  are  due  to  the  following 
members  of  my  staff:  Captain  R.  F.  Judson,  A.  D.  C. ;  Lieut.  R.  Bayless, 
A.  A.  D.  C. ;  Lieut.  William  Colerick,  A.  D.  C. ;  and  to  Lieutenant  E.  G. 
Granger,  A.  A.  A.  G.  Lieut.  Granger,  while  leacjjng  a  charge  at  Brandy 
Station,  had  his  horse  shot  in  two  places.  Surgeon  Wooster,  of  my  staff,  in 
addition  to  his  professional  duties,  rendered  me  valuable  assistance  by  aid 
ing  in  transmitting  my  orders." 

Lieut.  George  W.  Robinson,  1st  cavalry,  was  killed  in  action  October 
21st,  1864. 

After  the  severe  engagement  at  Buckland's  Mills  on  November  19th,  the 
regiments  met  the  enemy  on  the  26th  at  Morton's  Ford. 

On  the  28th  of  February,  1864,  the  brigade  broke  camp  at  Stevensburg, 
Virginia,  and  started  on  the  cavalry  raid  to  Richmond  under  General  Kil- 
patrick. 

Following  is  an  extract  from  a  report  of  the  officer  in  command  of  the  5th 
Michigan  regarding  the  part  taken  by  his  regiment  in  that  affair : 

"  Taking  part  in  the  raid  made  by  the  cavalry  under  Gen.  Kilpatrick  to 
the  outer  defences  of  Richmond,  the  main  body  of  the  regiment  crossed  the 
Rapidan,  and  moving  via  Spotsylvania  and  Beaver  Dam  Station  to  Hun 
gary  Station,  and  thence  down  the  Brook  Turnpike  to  within  five  miles  of 
the  city  of  Richmond.  Being  here  attacked,  March  2d,  by  a  large  body 
of  the  enemy's  forces  the  Union  cavalry  were  obliged  to  retire.  The  main 
body  of  the  regiment  joined  Gen.  Butler's  forces  at  New  Kent  C.  H.  A 
detachment  of  the  regiment  had  accompanied  the  force  under  Colonel  Ulric 


246  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Dahlgren,  marching  via  Frederick's  Hall  Station  to  Dover's  Mill,  twelve 
miles  above  Kichmond,  on  the  James  river,  where  it.  arrived  on  the  2d  of 
March.  The  command  then  moved  down  to  within  five  miles  of  Richmond, 
the  detachment  being  in  the  advance  and  charging  the  enemy's  lines  near 
the  city  drove  them  from  their  first  line  of  fortifications.  Following  up  the 
movement,  the  command  drove  the  enemy  from  one  line  to  another  until  a 
point  was  reached  within  two  miles  of  the  city,  when  it  was  found  impossi 
ble  to  advance  further  with  so  small  a  force.  Retreating  from  in  front  of 
the  city  the  command  endeavored  to  force  its  way  to  the  Union  forces  be 
yond  the  Chickahominy.  The  detachment  of  the  5th,  with  another  portion 
of  the  command  became  separated  in  the  night,  which  was  cold,  rainy,  and 
very  dark,  from  the  main  body  under  Dahlgren.  Although  attacked  by 
the  rebels,  who  were  posted  in  strong  force  near  Old  Church,  they  succeeded 
in  cutting  their  way  through  and  in  joining  the  regiment  near  White  House 
Landing  on  the  following  day.  At  Yorktown,  on  the  llth,  the  regiment 
embarked  on  transports  for  Alexandria,  whence  it  moved  to  Stevensburg, 
where  it  arrived  April  18th." 

The  commanding  officer  of  the  6th  Michigan  says  of  his  regiment  in  the 
same  affair : 

"  On  the  28th  of  February,  leaving  camp  at  Stevensburg,  it  started  on 
the  cavalry  raid  to  Richmond  under  General  Kilpatrick.  Its  division  being 
attacked  near  Mechanicsville  on  the  night  of  the  2d  of  March  it  was  obliged 
to  retire,  a  portion  of  the  6th  cavalry  forming  a  part  of  the  rear  guard. 
Having  succeeded  in  joining  the  forces  at  New  Kent  Court-house,  the  regi 
ment  moved  down  the  Peninsula,  and,  embarking  on  transports,  proceeded 
to  Alexandria,  whence  it  returned  to  its  former  camp  at  Stevensburg." 

In  the  report  of  the  7th  cavalry  is  found  the  following : 

"  This  regiment,  on  the  7th  of  November,  1863,  joined  the  advance  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  toward  the  Rappahannock.  On  the  morning  of  the 
26th  it  crossed  the  enemy's  rifle-pits  near  Morton's  Ford,  and  moving  for 
ward  captured  prisoners  from  the  rear  of  the  rebel  column.  It  was  em 
ployed  on  picket  duty  until  the  28th  of  February,  wThen  it  started  on  the 
'  Kilpatrick  raid.'  On  the  afternoon  of  the  29th  it  arrived  at  Beaver  Dam 
Station,  on  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad,  after  a  twenty  hours'  march,  and 
assisted  in  burning  the  station  and  destroying  the  track.  Resuming  the 
march,  it  arrived  before  Richmond  on  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day,  and 
while  on  picket  during  the  night  was  attacked  by  a  superior  force.  After 
a  desperate  fight,  being  unsupported,  it  was  obliged  to  retire,  with  a  loss  in 
missing  of  forty-four,  among  whom  was  its  commanding  officer,  Lieut.  Col.  A. 
C.  Litchfield,  who  was  taken  prisoner.  Having  reached  Yorktown,  the  com 
mand  moved  from  thence  to  Alexandria  by  transports,  and  marched  to  its 
former  camp  near  Stevensburg." 

Entering  the  campaign  of  1864,  the  brigade  crossed  the  Rapidan  on  the 
5th  of  May  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

The  1st  cavalry,  being  absent  from  the  field  in  Michigan  on  veteran  fur 
lough,  did  not  participate  in  the  "  Kilpatrick  raid,"  but  returned  in  time 
to  enter  on  the  great  campaign  of  1864  under  General  Grant. 

General  Ouster,  in  a  report  dated  July  4,  1864,  covering  the  operations 
of  his  command  in  that  campaign,  says : 

"  In  obedience  to  the  instructions  of  the  general  commanding  the  divi 
sion,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  operations  of 
this  brigade  from  May  4th  to  June  30th.  On  the  4th  of  May  this  brigade 
left  camp  near  Culpepper  and  marched  to  Stony  Mountain,  where  it  en 
camped  during  the  night,  picketing  from  the  Mountain  to  the  Rapidan. 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  247 

At  3  o'clock  on  the  following  morning  the  march  was  resumed  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Germania  Ford ;  the  point  of  crossing  was  afterwards  changed  to 
Ely's  Ford,  from  which  point  we  moved  to  Chancellorsville,  and  encamped 
about  one  mile  beyond  on  the  Fredericksburg  plank  road.  At  2  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  we  moved  by  the  Furnace  road  to  its  intersection 
with  the  Brock  pike,  taking  a  position  to  hold  the  intersection.  Communica 
tion  was  also  opened  with  General  Gregg's  division,  which  was  then  at 
Todd's  Tavern.  While  in  position  at  the  cross-roads,  an  order  was  received 
from  the  division  commander,  directing  me  to  take  the  1st  and  2d  brigades 
and  move  out  on  the  Brock  pike  for  the  purpose  of  harassing  Longstreet's 
corps,  which  was  reported  to  be  moving  on  Hancock's  left  flank.  Before 
the  order  could  be  executed,  my  pickets  on  the  Brock  pike,  under  Captain 
Maxwell,  1st  Michigan,  were  driven  in,  and  a  large  force  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry  appeared  on  my  front.  Most  of  my  command  were  concealed  by 
the  woods,  only  the  pickets  and  reserve  being  visible  to  the  enemy.  This 
fact  induced  the  enemy  to  charge;  but  the  1st  Michigan, under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Stagg,  charged  the  enemy's  advancing  column  and  repulsed  him 
handsomely,  killing  and  wounding  a  large  number  of  the  enemy.  My 
entire  line  was  then  thrown  forward  and  advantageously  posted  in  a  ravine 
fronting  an  extended  open  country.  The  enemy  made  repeated  and  des 
perate  efforts  to  drive  me  from  this  position,  but  was  defeated  each  time 
with  heavy  loss.  Failing  to  dislodge  me  by  attacking  my  front,  he  moved 
a  heavy  force  of  dismounted  men  through  the  woods  on  my  right,  intending 
to  turn  my  right  flank  and  gain  possession  of  the  Furnace  road  in  my  rear. 
Discovering  this  movement,  I  sent  the  5th  Michigan  cavalry,  Colonel  Alger 
commanding,  and  the  6th  Michigan  cavalry,  Major  Kidd  commanding,  to 
check  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  and  if  possible  drive  him  to  the  open 
country  beyond.  About  this  time,  Colonel  Devin  reported  to  me  with  the 
2d  brigade.  A  section  of  artillery,  sent  to  me  by  General  Gregg,  also  ar 
rived.  Eight  guns  were  placed  in  a  favorable  position  for  silencing  the 
guns  of  the  enemy.  I  directed  Colonel  Devin  to  support  the  battery  placed 
in  position  with  one  of  his  regiments.  The  17th  Pennsylvania  was  sent,  dis 
mounted,  into  the  woods  on  my  right,  to  reinforce  the  5th  and  6th  Michigan 
cavalry,  which  at  this  time  were  hard  pressed  by  the  enemy.  With  the 
remaining  portion  of  his  command,  Colonel  Devin  was  instructed  to  protect 
and  to  hold  the  left  flank.  When  these  dispositions  were  completed,  I 
ordered  the  battery  of  eight  guns  to  fire  as  rapidly  as  they  could  be  loaded 
and  aimed,  while  the  three  regiments  dismounted  on  my  right  were  ordered 
to  advance.  Captain  Maxwell,  1st  Michigan,  with  one  squadron,  charged 
the  enemy  in  front.  The  enemy,  after  contesting  the  ground  obstinately, 
were  driven  from  the  field  in  great  disorder,  leaving  his  dead  and  many  of 
his  wounded  upon  the  ground.  We  also  captured  a  considerable  number 
of  prisoners,  who  informed  us  that  we  had  been  engaged  with  Fitz  Hugh 
Lee's  division  of  cavalry.  Orders  having  been  received  not  to  pursue  the 
enemy  beyond  this  point,  we  remained  on  the  field  until  near  night,  estab 
lishing  communication  in  the  meanwhile  with  the  left  of  the  2d  corps.  Just 
before  dark,  I  received  orders  to  withdraw  my  command  and  encamp  near 
the  Furnace.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  we  reoccupied  the  ground  we 
held  the  day  before.  Upon  arriving  at  the  intersection  of  the  Furnace  road 
and  Brock  pike,  the  1st  Michigan  was  thrown  forward  to  hold  the  road 
leading  to  Todd's  Tavern.  The  enemy  were  encountered  in  heavy  force 
about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  beyond  the  cross-roads.  A  portion  of  the  1st 
Michigan  was  dismounted,  and  advanced  through  the  woods  on  both  sides 
of  the  road,  while  the  remainder  of  the  regiment,  under  Captain  Brevoort, 


248  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

moved  up  the  road  mounted.  After  a  short  but  severe  engagement,  the 
enemy  was  driven  back  towards  Todd's  Tavern,  which  point  was  soon  after 
occupied  by  our  forces  under  General  Gregg,  whose  right  flank  connected 
with  my  left.  But  little  fighting  occurred  en  my  front  during  the  remainder 
of  that  day.  On  the  8th,  we  moved  from  Todd's  Tavern  to  '  Silver/  a  point 
on  the  Fredericksburg  plank  road,  where  the  entire  corps  was  massed.  At 
daylight,  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  the  corps  started  on  the  '  Richmond 
raid/  this  brigade  being  in  the  advance.  After  a  short  halt  at  Childsbury, 
where  the  division  was  massed,  we  moved  on  the  road  leading  to  Beaver 
Dam  Station,  on  the  Virginia  Central  railroad.  Just  before  reaching  the 
North  Anna  river,  the  advance  guard  reported  a  train  of  the  enemy's  am 
bulances  to  be  in  sight.  Major  Brewer,  of  the  1st  Michigan  cavalry,  with 
one  battalion  of  his  regiment,  was  ordered  to  push  forward  and  capture 
them ;  after  which  he  was  to  move  rapidly  on  Beaver  Dam  Station,  the  re 
mainder  of  the  brigade  to  follow  closely  in  support.  Before  reaching  the 
station,  the  advance  encountered  a  considerable  force  of  the  enemy,  con 
ducting  upwards  of  four  hundred  Union  prisoners  to  Richmond.  Major 
Brewer  gallantly  charged  the  enemy,  and  succeeded  in  recapturing  all  our 
men  and  quite  a  number  of  their  captors.  Among  the  recaptured  men  of 
our  army  was  one  colonel,  two  lieutenant-colonels,  and  a  considerable  num 
ber  of  captains  and  lieutenants,  all  belonging  to  infantry  regiments,  and 
having  been  captured  during  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness.  Pressing  on, 
we  obtained  possession  of  Beaver  Dam  Station,  where  we  captured  three 
trains  and  two  first-class  locomotives.  The  trains  were  heavily  laden  with 
supplies  for  the  army.  In  addition,  we  captured  an  immense  amount  of 
army  supplies,  consisting  of  bacon,  flour,  meal,  sugar,  molasses,  liquors,  and 
medical  stores ;  also  several  hundred  stand  of  arms,  and  a  large  number  of 
hospital  tents,  the  whole  amounting  to  several  millions  of  dollars. 

After  supplying  my  command  Avith  all  the  rations  they  could  transport, 
I  caused  the  remainder  to  be  burned.  I  also  caused  the  railroad  track  to 
be  destroyed  for  a  considerable  distance.  The  enemy  made  frequent 
attempts  during  the  night  to  drive  me  from  the  station,  but  were  unsuc 
cessful.  On  the  following  day  this  command  moved  with  the  corps  to  the 
south  bank  of  the  South  Anna,  crossing  at  Ground  Squirrel  Bridge.  On 
the  llth  the  enemy's  cavalry,  under  Major-General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  was 
met  at  Yellow  Tavern,  near  the  intersection  of  the  telegraph  road  and 
Brock  Pike.  The  2d  and  reserve  brigades  were  first  engaged ;  afterwards 
the  brigade  was  thrown  in  on  the  left  of  the  reserve  brigade,  connecting  on 
my  left  with  the  right  of  the  3d  division.  The  enemy  was  strongly  posted 
on  a  bluff  in  rear  of  a  thin  skirt  of  woods,  his  battery  being  concealed  from 
our  view  by  the  woods,  while  they  had  obtained  a  perfect  range  of  my 
position.  The  edge  of  the  woods  nearest  to  my  front  was  held  by  the 
enemy's  dismounted  men,  who  poured  a  heavy  fire  into  my  lines:  The  5th 
and  6th  Michigan  were  ordered  to  dismount  and  drive  the  enemy  from  his 
position,  which  they  did  in  the  most  gallant  manner,  led  by  Colonel  Alger, 
of  the  5th,  and  Major  Kidd,  of  the  6th.  Upon  reaching  the  woods  I  di 
rected  Colonel  Alger  to  establish  the  5th  and  6th  upon  a  line  near 
the  skirts  of  the  woods,  and  hold  his  position  until  further  orders. 
From  a  personal  examination  of  the  ground,  I  discovered  that  a  successful 
charge  might  be  made  upon  the  battery  of  the  enemy  by  keeping  well  to 
the  light.  With  this  intention  I  formed  the  1st  Michigan  cavalry  in  column 
of  squadrons  under  cover  of  the  woods.  At  the  same  time  I  directed 
Colonel  Alger  and  Major  Kidd  to  move  the  5th  and  6th  Michigan  cavalry 
forward  and  occupy  the  attention  of  the  enemy  on  the  left,  Heaton's  bat- 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  249 

tery  to  engage  them  in  front,  while  the  1st  charged  the  battery  on  the 
flank.  The  bugle  sounded  the  advance,  and  the  three  regiments  moved 
forward.  As  soon  as  the  1st  Michigan  moved  from  the  cover  of  the  woods 
the  enemy  divined  our  intention,  and  opened  a  brisk  fire  from  his  artillery 
with  shell  and  canister.  Before  the  battery  of  the  enemy  could  be  reached 
there  were  five  fences  to  be  opened  and  a  bridge  to  cross  over,  which  it  was 
impossible  to  pass  more  than  three  at  one  time,  the  intervening  ground 
being  within  close  range  of  the  enemy's  battery.  Yet  notwithstanding 
these  obstacles,  the  1st  Michigan,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stagg  commanding, 
advanced  boldly  to  the  charge,  and  when  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the 
battery,  charged  it  with  a  yell  which  spread  terror  before  them.  Two 
pieces  of  cannon,  two  limbers  filled  with  ammunition,  and  a  large  number 
of  prisoners  were  among  the  results  of  this  charge.  While  it  is  impossible 
to  mention  all  the  names  of  the  officers  of  the  1st  Michigan  who  dis 
tinguished  themselves  by  their  gallantry  in  this  charge,  I  cannot  forbear 
from  referring  specially  to  the  conduct  of  Major  Howrigan,  of  this  regi 
ment,  whose  bravery  on  this  occasion  rendered  him  conspicuous.  He  was 
the  first  to  reach  the  rebel  battery,  and  in  doing  so  received  a  wound  in 
the  arm.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stagg,  who  commanded  the  1st  Michigan  in 
the  charge,  with  the  officers  and  men  of  his  command,  deserve  great  credit 
for  the  daring  manner  in  which  the  rebel  battery  was  taken.  The  assist 
ance  of  the  5th  and  6th  Michigan  cavalry,  by  engaging  the  enemy  in  front, 
was  also  most  important.  After  the  enemy  was  driven  across  a  deep 
ravine,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  beyond  the  position  held  by  his  battery, 
he  rallied  and  reformed  his  forces,  and  resisted  successfully  the  further 
advance  of  the  1st  Michigan.  The  7th  Michigan,  commanded  by  Major 
Granger,  was  ordered  forward  at  a  trot,  and  when  near  the  enemy's  posi 
tion,  was  ordered  to  charge  with  drawn  sabres.  Major  Granger,  like  a  true 
soldier,  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  his  men,  and  led  them  up  to  the  very- 
muzzles  of  the  enemy's  guns ;  but,  notwithstanding  the  heroic  efforts  of  this 
gallant  officer,  the  enemy  held  their  position,  and  the  7th  Michigan  was 
compelled  to  retire ;  but  not  until  the  chivalric  Granger  had  fallen,  pierced 
through  the  head  and  heart  by  the  bullets  of  the  enemy.  He  fell,  as  the 

NOTE. — The  regiment  had  charged  through  and  driven  the  enemy  out  of  the  first  line 
of  woods  near  "Yellow  Tavern,"  and  had  reached  an  open  space,  when  the  command 
was  given  to  cease  firing  ;  just  at  that  instant  a  rebel  officer,  who  afterwards  proved  to 
be  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  rode  up  with  his  staff  to  within  about  eighty  rods  of  our 
line,  when  a  shot  was  fired  by  a  man  of  the  5th.  John  A.  Huff  of  company  E,  remarked 
to  him  :  "  Tom,  you  shot  too  low,  and  to  the  left;"  then  turning  round  to  Col.  Alger 
who  was  near,  he  said:  "  Colonel,  I  can  fetch  that  man."  The  Colonel  replied,  "  Try 
him."  He  took  deliberate  aim  across  a  fence  and  fired — the  officer  fell.  Huff  turned 
round  to  the  Colonel  and  coolly  said  :  "  There's  a  spread  eagle  for  you." 

Huff  had  won  the  first  prize  for  shooting  while  serving  in  Berdan's  Sharpshooters, 
and  was  a  most  remarkable  shot.  He  was  from  Macomb  county,  Mich.,  and  died  June 
23d,  1864,  of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Cold  Harbor  on  the  first  of  that  month. 

Pollard,  in  his  "  Lost  Cause,"  says  of  the  death  of  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  :  "An  ex 
pedition  of  Federal  cavalry,  commanded  by  General  Sheridan,  was  directed  to  make  a 
bold  dash  around  Lee's  flank  towards  Richmond.  It  passed  around  the  righ_t  flank  of 
the  Confederates  to  the  North  Anna  river  :  committed  some  damage  at  Beaver  Dam  ; 
moved  thence  to  the  South  Anna  and  Ashland  Station,  where  the  railroad  was  de 
stroyed ;  and  finally  found  its  way  to  the  James  river,  where  it  joined  the  forces  of 
Butler.  On  the  10th  May,  a  portion  of  Sheridan's  command  under  Custer  and  Merrill, 
were  encountered  by  a  body  of  Stuart's  cavalry  near  Ashland,  at  a  place  called  Yellow 
Tavern,  on  the  road  to  Richmond.  An  engagement  took  place  here.  In  a  desperate 
charge,  at  the  head  of  a  column,  Gen.  Stuart  fell,  terribly  wounded.  He  was  imme 
diately  taken  to  Richmond,  and  every  effort  made  to  save  his  valuable  life,  but  in  vain  ; 
he  died  the  next  day." 

P* 


250  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

warrior  loves  to  fall,  with  his  face  to  the  foe.  The  united  efforts  of  the  1st, 
5th,  6th,  and  7th,  assisted  by  Keaton's  battery,  and  the  1st  Vermont,  under 
the  gallant  Colonel  Preston,"  proved  sufficient,  after  a  short  contest,  to  rout 
the  enemy  and  drive  him  from  his  position.  His  defeat  was  complete.  He 
fled,  leaving  a  large  number  of  dead  arid  wounded  in  our  hands.  Among 
the  dead  was  the  body  of  the  notorious  Colonel  Henry  Clay  Pate.  From 
facts  obtained  on  the  battle-field,  and  from  information  derived  since,  I 
have  reason  to  believe  that  the  rebel  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  received  his 
death  wound  from  the  hand  of  private  John  A.  Huff,  of  company  E,  5th 
Michigan  cavalry,  who  has  since  died  from  a  wound  received  at  Hawes's 
Shop.  After  the  enemy  had  been  driven  across  the  upper  Chickahominy, 
this  command  remained  upon  the  battle-ground  until  after  midnight,  when 
it  moved  in  rear  of  other  portions  of  the  command,  towards  Meadow  Bridge, 
by  way  of  the  Brook  Turnpike.  On  arriving  near  the  bridge,  this  brigade 
was  ordered  by  the  Major-Gen  era!  commanding  the  corps  to  take  the  ad 
vance  and  open  the  way  across  the  Chickahominy  at  this  point.  The 
enemy,  after  destroying  the  bridge,  had  taken  a  very  strong  position  upon 
the  opposite  side,  from  which  they  commanded  the  bridge  and  its  approaches 
by  artillery,  infantry,  and  dismounted  cavalry.  The  5th  Michigan,  under 
Colonel  Alger,  was  dismounted  and  crossed  the  river  on  the  railroad  bridge, 
a  short  distance  below.  The  6th  Michigan,  under  Major  Kidd,  also  crossed 
the  same  bridge,  dismounted.  These  two  regiments  advanced  far  enough 
to  protect  the  pioneers  while  building  the  bridge.  This  being  done,  the  7th 
Michigan,  two  regiments  from  Colonel  Devin's  brigade,  and  two  regiments 
from  General  Merritt's  brigade,  crossed  the  bridge  to  the  support  of  the 
5th  and  6th  Michigan.  The  enemy  had  improved  the  natural  strength  of 
their  position  by  heavy  breastworks.  After  a  hard  contest,  from  which  we 
suffered  severely,  the  enemy  was  driven  from  his  position,  leaving  his  dead 
and  wounded  in  our  hands.  His  retreat  was  so  rapid  that  pursuit  by  dis 
mounted  men  was  impossible,  and  the  1st  Michigan,  supported  by  the  regi 
ments  of  the  reserve  brigade,  commanded  by  Colonel  Gibbs,  was  sent  for 
ward  and  drove  the  enemy  for  two  miles,  returning  with  many  prisoners. 

"  In  this  engagement  the  enemy  lost  heavily  in  officers ;  among  others, 
General  Gordon,  mortally  wounded.  From  this  point  the  entire  command 
moved  to  Games'  Mills,  this  brigade  being  in  advance,  when  the  entire 
command  encamped  for  the  night.  The  following  morning,  May  13th,  we 
marched  to  Bottom's  Bridge  and  encamped.  May  14th  we  arrived  at  Mal- 
vern  Hill,  and  opened  communication  with  General  Butler's  forces.  May 
17th,  about  dark,  started  on  our  return  to  the  army.  May  18th  crossed  the 
Chickahomiuy  at  Jones's  Bridge,  and  about  two  P.  M.  reached  Baltimore 
Cross-roads,  when  we  encamped  until  the  20th.  This  brigade  was  then  de 
tached  from  the  corps  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  Richmond,  Frede- 
ricksburg,  and  Virginia  Central  Railroads  at  their  crossing  of  the  South 
Anna.  On  the  morning  of  the  same  day  reached  Hanover  Court-house, 
where  we  burned  two  trestle  bridges  over  Hanover  creek,  and  destroyed 
about  one  mile  of  railroad  at  that  place,  capturing  some  commissary  stores 
at  the  station.  Not  deeming  it  advisable  to  encamp  at  that  point,  we 
marched  back  to  Hanover  town.  The  next  morning  returned  to  Hanover 
Court-house,  when  we  ascertained  that  a  brigade  of  rebel  cavalry  had  occu 
pied  the  town  that  night,  and  had  retired  in  the  direction  of  Hanover  Junc 
tion.  A  heavy  force  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  infantry,  cavalry,  and  ar 
tillery,  was  also  reported  at  the  railroad  bridge  on  the  South  Anna.  Leav 
ing  the  6th  and  7th  Michigan  to  hold  the  cross-roads  at  Hanover  Court 
house,  the  1st  and  5th  Michigan  were  ordered  to  move  in  the  direction  of 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  251 

the  South  Anna,  and  ascertain  the  strength  and  position  of  the  enemy.  They 
had  not  proceeded  beyond  two  miles  when  the  enemy  were  discovered  in 
strong  force  in  front,  while  a  heavy  column  of  his  was  reported  to  be  moving 
on  our  left  flank.  Not  desiring  to  bring  on  an  engagement  at  this  point, 
and  having  accomplished  the  main  object  of  the  expedition,  the  command 
was  withdrawn  and  rejoined  the  division  the  following  day  at  the  White 
House,  where  we  crossed  the  Pamunkey  about  dark,  and  encamped  about 
one  mile  from  the  river.  May  23d,  marched  to  Herring  Creek,  and  en 
camped  about  two  miles  from  Dunkirk. .  The  following  day  marched  to 
near  Milford  Station.  May  25th,  we  rejoined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
May  26th,  we  broke  camp  and  marched  until  midnight,  reaching  Darney's 
Ferry,  on  the  Pamunkey.  The  ferry  was  held  by  a  portion  of  Butler's 
brigade,  of  the  enemy's  cavalry.  The  1st  Michigan,  under  command  of 
Lieut.  Col.  Stagg,  were  ordered  to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  banks,  and 
cover  the  laying  of  the  pontoon  bridge.  After  a  brisk  engagement  we  ob 
tained  possession  of  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river,  capturing  a  number  of 
prisoners.  After  the  bridge  was  completed  the  whole  command  crossed,  this 
brigade  being  in  the  advance.  At  Hanover  Town  this  brigade  was  divided, 
the  1st  and  6th  Michigan  moving  up  the  direct  road  to  Hanover  Court 
house,  the  5th  and  7th  taking  a  road  to  the  left,  leading  to  Hawes's  Shop. 
The  1st  and  6th  had  proceeded  but  a  short  distance  from  Hanover  Town, 
when  they  encountered  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  dismounted 
and  holding  the  woods  on  each  side  of  the  road.  The  enemy,  by  his  supe 
riority  in  numbers  and  his  advantage  in  position,  successfully  checked  the 
further  advance  of  the  1st  and  6th  Michigan  until,  ascertaining  the  fact,  I 
ordered  the  5th  and  7th  to  move  by  a  road  leading  from  Hawes's  Shop  to 
the  rear  of  the  enemy's  position.  A  considerable  force  of  the  enemy  was 
found  holding  this  road  ;  but  the  advance  of  the  5th  Michigan,  under  Capt. 
Hastings,  supported  by  the  main  body  of  the  regiment  under  Capt.  Magoffin, 
charged  and  drove  them  in  great  disorder.  Upon  arriving  near  Crump 
Creek,  the  enemy  took  up  a  new  position  and  attempted  to  prevent  our  fur 
ther  advance.  The  5th  Michigan  was  dismounted  and  deployed  on  the 
right,  while  the  7th  Michigan  charged  with  the  sabre  on  the  left.  The  en 
emy,  not  waiting  to  receive  our  charge,  fled  in  confusion  across  Crump  Creek, 
followed  by  the  7th  Michigan,  which  charged  them  three  miles,  returning 
with  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  The  position  now  held  by  the  5th  Mich 
igan  was  almost  in  rear  of  that  portion  of  the  enemy  confronting  the  1st  and 
6th  Michigan.  My  diminished  numbers,  and  the  exhaustion  of  both  men 
and  horses,  prevented  me  from  making  an  attack  upon  the  enemy's  rear.  I 
contented  myself  by  making  a  diversion  in  favor  of  the  1st  and  6th  Michi 
gan,  the  effect  of  which  was  to  relieve  them  from  the  presence  of  the  enemy 
in  their  front,  who,  estimating  the  force  in  their  rear  to  be  a  vastly  superior 
one,  gave  way  in  a  disorderly  rout.  The  1st  and  6th  Michigan  were  moved 
forward,  and  united  with  the  5th  and  7th  Michigan,  when  we  took  up  a  po 
sition  on  Crump  Creek.  We  encamped  on  Crump  Creek  until  the  following 
morning,  when  the  2d  division,  being  attacked  by  the  whole  force  of  cavalry 
of  the  enemy,  we  were  ordered  to  Gen.  Gregg's  assistance.  x\fter  marching 
to  Hawes's  Shop,  we  moved  down  the  Richmond  Road  near  the  vicinity  of 
Eauon  Church.  Owing  to  the  thick  woods  and  dense  underbrush  (in  front 
of  the  enemy's  position)  it  was  impossible  to  manoauvre  the  command  mount 
ed.  The  entire  brigade  was  therefore  dismounted  and  formed  in  line,  cross 
ing  the  road  at  right  angles ;  the  1st  and  6th  Michigan  being  formed  on  the 
right  of  the  road,  the  5th  and  7th  Michigan  on  the  left  of  the  road,  the  left 
of  the  6th  connecting  with  the  right  of  the  7th.  In  this  manner  the  brigade 


252  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

moved  forward  until  near  General  Gregg's  line  of  battle,  when  a  gap  was 
opened  in  his  line  for  our  occupation.  By  this  time  the  engagement  had 
become  general  throughout  the  entire  line  and  the  firing  very  heavy. 

"  Severe  losses  had  been  inflicted  on  both  sides  without  decided  advantage 
to  either.  As  soon  as  all  necessary  disposition  had  been  made,  this  brigade 
moved  forward  and  engaged  the  enemy.  The  5th  and  7th  Michigan,  in 
their  advance,  were  exposed  to  a  well-directed  cross-fire  from  the  enemy,  as 
weli  as  to  a  heavy  fire  in  their  front.  More  than  once  were  they  compelled 
to  give  ground  before  the  destructive  storm  of  bullets  which  was  showered 
upon  them,  but  only  to  advance  again  with  courage  and  determination. 
Seeing  that  it  was  within  the  power  of  the  1st  and  6th  Michigan  to  advance 
and  dislodge  that  portion  of  the  enemy  which  had  poured  such  a  destructive 
cross-fire  into  the  ranks  of  the  5th  and  7th  Michigan,  I  gave  the  order  for 
the  two  former  regiments  to  advance  their  line,  which  order  was  obeyed 
with  promptness,  the  men  moving  forward  with  a  cheer,  driving  the  enemy 
from  his  position  in  great  confusion,  and  compelling  him  to  leave  the  ground 
strewn  with  his  dead  and  wounded.  At  the  same  time,  the  5th  and  7th  on 
the  left  of  the  road  advanced,  and  were  successful  in  dislodging  the  enemy 
from  their  front,  inflicting  upon  him  a  terrible  loss.  The  pursuit  was  kept 
up  until  the  enemy  had  placed  himself  beyond  the  range  of  our  guns.  From 
an  examination  of  the  ground  after  the  engagement,  it  was  ascertained  that 
the  loss  of  the  enemy  was  far  heavier  than  during  any  previous  engagement 
of  the  same  extent  and  duration.  The  havoc  was  particularly  great  in 
Butler's  brigade  of  mounted  infantry,  composed  of  seven  large  regiments, 
principally  from  South  Carolina.  Our  loss  in  this  engagement  was  greater 
than  in  any  other  of  the  campaign.  Captain  Maxwell,  of  the  1st  Michigan, 
Captain  Oliphant,  Lieutenants  Brewer,  Osborn,  and  Muthersell,  of  the 
5th  Michigan,  were  severely  wounded,  and  Captain  Dodge,  of  the  5th  Mich 
igan,  slightly  wounded.  Lieutenant  James  Christiancy,  one  of  my  personal 
aids,  while  gallantly  cheering  on  the  men  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  and 
at  the  moment  when  the  tide  of  battle  was  being  turned  in  our  favor,  re 
ceived  two  wounds,  one  of  which  carried  away  the  end  of  his  thumb,  the 
other  inflicting  a  very  dangerous  and  painful  wound  through  the  thigh ;  at 
the  same  time  his  horse  was  shot  under  him.  Lieutenant  Nims,  of  my  staff, 
also  had  his  horse  shot  under  him.  We  held  our  position  here  until  after 
dark,  when  we  were  relieved  by  the  infantry.  We  marched  back  and 
encamped  on  the  Pamunkey,  about  one  mile  from  the  Tolopotomoy  creek. 
The  following  day  we  crossed  the  creek,  and  encamped  about  one  mile  from 
New  Castle  ferry,  where  we  remained  until  3  P.  M.  on  the  30th,  when  we 
marched  to  Old  Church.  Here  we  found  the  reserve  brigade  engaged  with 
the  enemy,  who  had  taken  up  a  position  on  the  Matedequin  creek.  Being 
ordered  to  the  support  of  General  Merritt,  I  ordered  the  5th  Michigan  on 
the  right  of  the  road,  dismounted,  the  1st  and  7th  Michigan  on  the  left, 
also  dismounted.  As  soon  as  I  had  formed  my  line,  I  ordered  it  to  advance. 
The  men  went  forward  with  a  yell,  and  in  a  very  short  time  we  had  driven 
the  enemy  from  his  position.  The  5th  Michigan,  on  the  right  of  the  road, 
moved  forward  much  faster  than  the  regiments  on  the  left,  those  on  the  left 
having  met  a  larger  force,  who  opposed  them  with  great  determination.  I 
then  ordered  the  6th  Michigan,  (then  in  reserve,)  mounted,  to  charge 
them ;  but  before  I  could  get  that  regiment  up,  the  enemy  had  been  driven 
from  the  field,  leaving  his  dead  and  wounded  in  our  hands.  In  this  fight 
we  captured  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  Lieutenant  E.  G.  Granger,  of 
my  staff,  was  struck  on  the  left  shoulder  by  a  spent  ball.  We  encamped  at 
Parsely's  Mills,  on  the  Matedequin. 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  253 

"May  31. — About  3  P.  M.  the  brigade  moved  toward  Cold  Harbor;  the 
6th  Michigan  moved  by  a  country  road,  with  orders  if  possible  to  connect 
with  the  right  of  Colonel  Devin's  brigade.  Arriving  near  that  place,  we 
found  the  reserve  brigade  hotly  engaged  with  a  superior  force  of  cavalry, 
infantry,  and  artillery.  The  rebels  had  a  strong  barricade  on  the  crest  of 
the  hill  on  which  Cold  Harbor  is  situated,  which  was  well  defended.  All 
our  efforts  to  dislodge  the  enemy  for  a  time  were  unsuccessful,  until  the  5th 
Michigan  and  a  portion  of  the  reserve  brigade  were  ordered  to  move  on  one 
of  the  enemy's  flanks.  The  enemy,  finding  their  position  turned,  began  to 
abandon  their  works.  At  this  moment  one  battalion  of  the  1st  Michigan, 
under  Major  Brewer,  was  ordered  to  charge  the  enemy  with  drawn  sabres. 
This  charge  produced  the  desired  effect.  The  enemy,  without  waiting  to 
receive  it,  threw  down  their  arms  and  fled,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded 
on  the  field. 

"  This  position  being  an  important  one,  and  having  received  orders  to  hold 
it  at  any  cost,  measures  were  taken  to  put  it  in  as  defensible  condition  as 
possible. 

"We  remained  on  the  ground  that  night,  the  troops  sleeping  on  their  arms. 
Soon  after  daybreak  the  next  morning,  a  portion  of  the  line  held  by  the 
1st  Michigan  was  attacked  by  a  large  force  of  the  enemy.     Heavy  firing 
was  kept  up  for  a  long  time,  but  the  enemy,  finding  our  position  too  strong, 
withdrew.     It  was  here  that  Captain  Brevoort,  of  the  1st  Michigan,  one  of 
the  most  gallant  officers  in  the  corps,  was  killed ;   also  Captain  Haslet,  of 
the  same  regiment,  was  wounded.     We  were  then  relieved  by  a  portion  of 
the  6th  corps,  after  which  we  moved  back  to  within  a  few  miles  of  Parsely's 
Mills  and  encamped.     June  2d,  we  moved  toward  the  Chickahominy,  and 
encamped  at  Bottom's  Bridge.     We  remained  here  till  the  4th,  when  we 
moved  to  the  Old  Church  Tavern ;  5th,  encamped  at  Shedley's,  near  Hawes' 
Shop;   6th,  encamped  at  Newcastle  Ferry;  7th,  crossed  the  Pamunkey, 
marched  about  a  mile  beyond  Aylett's,  and  remained  there  till  the  next 
morning,  when  we  moved  to  Hening  Creek  and  encamped ;  June  9th,  en 
camped  at  Young's  Bridge ;  June  10th,  encamped  within  three  miles  of 
Louisa  Court-house.     About  daylight  of  the  llth,  the  7th  Michigan,  who 
were  on  picket  on  the  road  leading  to  the  court-house,  was  attacked  by 
Wickham's  rebel  cavalry.     As  soon  as  I  received  notice  of  this  attack,  I 
ordered  the  1st  Michigan  to  move  to  the  support  of  the  7th.     The  enemy 
did  not  follow  up  his  attack.     We  then  moved  toward  Travillian  Station. 
The  other  brigades  of  the  division  had  already  moved  by  another  road,  and 
I  was  ordered  to  connect  with  them  at  the  station.     The  force  by  which  we 
had  been  attacked  followed  us  up,  but  did  not  press  my  rear  very  close. 
My  advance  had  arrived  within  a  short  distance  of  the  station,  when  I  re 
ceived  word  from  Captain  Hastings,  commanding  the  advance,  that  there 
was  a  wagon  train  in  sight.     I  immediately  ordered  the  5th  Michigan  (Col. 
Alger)  to  charge  them.     This  regiment  charged  down  past  the  station,  cap 
turing  a  large  number  of  wagons,  ambulances,  caissons,  and  about  eight 
hundred  led  horses.     These  being  the  horses  of  the  force  engaging  General 
Merritt  and  Colonel  Devin.     I  then  sent  the  6th  Michigan  forward  to  the 
support  of  the  5th.     They  had  gone  but  a  short  distance,  when  the  rebels 
charged  them  in  the  rear.     I  then  dismounted  a  portion  of  my  command, 
and  very  soon  had  driven  the  enemy  from  my  front.     I  moved  down  to  the 
station,  and  discovered  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  with  a  battery  in  position 
on  the  right  of  the  road.     I  ordered  Major  Brewer  with  the  7th  Michigan 
down  the  road  mounted,  with  orders  as  soon  as  my  battery  opened  to  charge 
them  with  drawn  sabres.    I  had  then  one  section  of  Captain  Pennington's 


254  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

battery  in  position  near  the  station-house,  and  had  sent  orders  for  the  1st 
Michigan,  which  was  in  the  rear,  to  move  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible  to 
charge  the  enemy  on  his  left  flank  at  the  moment  the  7th  Michigan  charged 
him  in  front.  But  this  regiment  was  fully  employed  in  holding  the  enemy, 
who  were  making  a  vigorous  assault  on  our  rear ;  consequently,  before  those 
dispositions  could  be  made,  the  enemy  had  gained  possession  of  the  woods 
on  our  right,  and  poured  such  a  destructive  fire  on  the  cannoneers  that  they 
were  compelled  to  change  the  position  of  the  section.  Colonel  Alger,  acting 
under  the  impulse  of  a  pardonable  zeal,  did  not  halt  at  the  station  as  the 
order  required,  but  advanced  more  than  a  mile  beyond,  hoping  to  increase 
his  captures.  The  enemy,  taking  advantage  of  this,  interposed  his  force 
between  Colonel  Alger's  rear  and  the  advance  of  the  6th  Michigan,  reoccu- 
pying  the  station  and  cutting  Colonel  Alger  off  from  support. 

"  Disappointed  in  not  meeting  the  other  brigades  of  the  division,  with 
which  I  expected  to  form  a  junction  at  this  point,  and  the  enemy  having 
shown  himself  in  heavy  force  on  all  sides,  I  was  compelled  to  take  up  a 
position  near  the  Station,  from  which  I  could  resist  the  attacks  of  the 
enemy,  which  were  now  being  made  on  my  front,  right,  left,  and  rear.  As 
firing  could  now  be  heard  in  the  direction  from  which  the  reserve  and  2d 
brigades  were  expected,  I  determined  to  hold  my  position  until  reinforce 
ments  could  arrive.  The  enemy  made  repeated  and  desperate  efforts  to 
break  our  lines  at  different  points,  and  in  doing  so  compelled  us  to  change 
the  position  of  our  batteries.  The  smallness  of  my  force  compelled  me  to 
adopt  very  contracted  lines.  From  the  nature  of  the  ground  and  character 
of  the  attacks  that  were  made  upon  me,  our  line  resembled  very  nearly  a 
circle.  The  space  over  which  we  fought  was  so  limited  there  was  actually 
no  place  which  could  be  called  under  cover,  or  in  other  words,  the  entire 
ground  was  within  range  of  the  enemy's  fires.  This  fact  induced  the  officer 
who  had  charge  of  the  pack-trains,  caissons,  headquarters  wagons,  and  all 
the  property  we  had  captured,  to  seek  without  orders  a  place  of  safety.  In 
doing  so  he  conducted  them  into  the  lines  of  the  enemy,  when  they  were 
re-captured.  In  causing  this  mishap  he  acted  on  his  own  responsibility, 
impelled  by  fear  alone,  and  I  might  add  that  for  his  conduct  on  this  occa 
sion  the  President  of  the  United  States  has  dismissed  him  from  the  service 
for  cowardice  and  treachery. 

"About  this  time  the  enemy  charged  one  of  my  guns,  but  before  he 
could  get  it  from  the  field  the  7th  Michigan,  led  by  Major  Brewer  and 
Walker,  charged  them,  killing  and  wounding  quite  a  number.  Twice  the 
enemy  charged  this  gun,  but  were  unsuccessful  in  its  capture.  In  this 
charge  Major  Brewer  was  severely  wounded.  After  the  enemy  had  been 
driven  from  this  point,  I  started  with  the  7th  Michigan  after  the  trains. 
We  came  upon  the  rear  of  them,  and  recaptured  two  caissons,  three  ambu 
lances,  and  several  wagons.  The  enemy's  force  being  so  much  greater  than 
mine,  I  did  not  deem  it  advisable  to  follow.  I  then  ordered  this  regiment 
back  to  its  position  on  the  line.  At  this  time  we  had  connected  with  the 
other  brigades  of  the  division.  In  this  fight  Majors  Kidd  and  Deane,  of 
the  6th  Michigan  were  captured,  but  were  shortly  afterwards  retaken  by  a 
portion  of  their  own  regiment,  led  by  Captain  Birger.  Also  in  this  fight 
Lieutenant  Kichard  Baylis,  of  my  staff,  received  a  severe  and  painful 
wound  through  the  shoulder  while  bravely  leading  a  successful  charge 
against  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy.  He  continued  to  fight  and  encour 
age  the  men  until  compelled  to  leave  the  field  from  loss  of  blood.  Captain 
Jacob  L.  Greene,  my  A.  A.  G.,  was  here  taken  prisoner.  With  unfeigned 
sorrow  I  am  called  upon  to  record  the  death  of  one  of  the  '  bravest  of  the 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  255 

brave,'  Sergeant  Mitchell  Belvir,  of  the  1st  Michigan  cavalry.  He  has 
been  my  color-bearer  since  the  organization  of  this  brigade.  He  received 
his  death  wound  while  nobly  discharging  his  duty  to  his  flag  and  to  his 
country.  He  was  killed  in  the  advance,  while  gallantly  cheering  the  men 
forward  to  victory. 

"The  men  remained  on  the  line  all  that  night.  The  next  day,  about  4 
P.  M.,  we  moved  out  on  the  road  to  Gordonsville,  this  brigade  being  in  the 
advance.  We  had  marched  but  a  few  miles  when  we  found  the  enemy  in 
very  strong  position.  I  immediately  dismounted  the  6th  and  7th  Michigan, 
sending  the  6th  in  on  the  left  of  the  railroad,  the  7th  on  the  right,  holding 
the  1st  and  5th  in  reserve.  Soon  these  regiments  became  hotly  engaged. 
A  portion  of  the  reserve  brigade  was  then  sent  to  connect  with  the  right  of 
my  line.  I  also  ordered  the  1st  and  5th  to  move  out  and  reinforce  the  6th 
and  7th.  At  this  time  the  engagement  became  general.  We  had  been 
fighting  in  this  manner  for  some  time,  gaining  no  advantage,  when  I  re 
ceived  orders  from  the  General  commanding  the  division  to  advance  my 
line,  and,  if  possible,  dislodge  the  enemy ;  but  the  position  proving  too 
formidable,  I  deemed  it  best  to  withdraw  my  command  to  the  position  pre 
viously  held  at  the  forks  of  the  road.  We  held  this  position  until  mid 
night,  when  we  withdrew.  Our  loss  of  officers  in  this  engagement  was  very 
heavy.  Captain  Carr,  Lieutenants  Pulver  and  Warren,  killed  ;  Captain 
Duggan  and  Lieutenant  Bullock,  wounded — all  of  the  1st  Michigan. 
Captains  Hastings  and  Dodge,  of  the  5th  Michigan,  wounded ;  also,  Captain 
Lovell  and  Lieutenant  Ranouse,  of  the  6th  Michigan,  wounded.  We 
marched  all  night,  and  in  the  morning  recrossed  the  north  branch  of  the 
North  Anna,  near  which  we  encamped.  On  the  14th  encamped  at  Shady 
Grove  Church ;  15th,  encamped  near  Guinea  Station;  16th,  eight  miles 
beyond  Newtown;  17th,  near  Walkerton;  18th,  near  King  and  Queen 
Court-house;  19th,  moved  to  Dunkirk;  20th,  crossed  the  Mattapony 
river,  and  that  night  encamped  near  the  Pamunkey ;  21st,  crossed  the 
Pamunkey  near  White  House ;  22d,  crossed  the  Chickahominy  at  Jones1 
Bridge,  and  encamped  near  the  river ;  from  this  point  we  moved  on  the 
morning  of  the  24th  to  Charles  City  Court-house,  where  we  encamped  for 
the  night ;  25th,  moved  to  a  point  near  the  James  river ;  28th  of  June, 
crossed  the  James  river  ;  29th,  moved  to  Prince  George  Court-house  ;  30th, 
encamped  near  Reams'  Station.  During  these  operations  this  brigade  has 
captured  14  commissioned  officers,  318  enlisted  men,  two  pieces  of  artillery, 
with  limbers  filled  with  ammunition,  and  has  mortally  wounded  Major- 
General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  and  Brigadier-General  Gordon,  of  the  rebel  cav 
alry.  It  would  be  unjust  to  the  brave  officers  and  men  who  compose  my 
command,  did  I  close  this  report  without  uttering  one  word  in  recognition 
of  their  bravery,  daring,  and  endurance,  as  exhibited  during  the  late  cam 
paign.  Where  so  many  instances  of  individual  heroism  occurred,  it  is 
impossible  to  particularize.  The  desire  to  discharge  all  duties  in  a  faithful 
and  patriotic  manner  seemed  universal  throughout  the  command.  I  can 
only  return  my  thanks  to  the  regimental  commanders,  and  to  the  officers 
and  men  under  them,  for  the  promptness  and  energy  with  which  they  car 
ried  out  my  orders.  My  thanks  are  also  due  to  Captain  Penningtou  and 
Lieutenants  Woodruff  and  Egan,  for  the  skillful  and  dashing  manner  in 
which  their  guns  were  handled.  Words  cannot  express  my  gratitude  to 
the  members  of  my  staif,  who,  on  all  occasions,  rendered  me  the  most 
hearty  support,  and  to  whose  able  assistance  I  was  frequently  indebted  for 
the  success  of  our  arms.  Captain  Charles  Walker,  who  served  as  volunteer 
aid  on  my  staff  throughout  the  entire  campaign,  participating  in  every 


256 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 


engagement  with  great  credit  and  distinction  to  himself,  is  deserving  of  the 
highest  praise  for  his  courageous  and  patriotic  example.     Below  I  append 
a  recapitulation  of  our  losses  during  the  whole  campaign : 
"My  staff  officers,  3  wounded  and  2  missing." 


Killed. 

Wounded. 

Missing. 

Total. 

1st  Michigan  c 

fficers 

3 

5 

1 

9 

Enlisted  men.. 

37 

133 

64 

234 

5th  Michigan, 

8 

1 

9 

Enlisted  men  . 

12 

52 

135 

199 

6th  Michigan, 
Enlisted  men.. 

officers  

1 

28 

2 

58 

1 
63 

4 

149 

7th  Michigan, 
Enlisted  men.. 

officers  

1 
12 

1 

98 

1 
13 

3 
123 

Total... 

733 

On  the  31st  of  July  the  brigade  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  Washington, 
and  thence  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  wrhere  the  regiments  engaged  the 
enemy  at  the  following  points:  Winchester,  August  11;  Front  Royal, 
August  16 ;  Leetown,  August  25 ;  Shepherdstown,  August  25 ;  Smithfield, 
August  29  ;  Berryville,  September  3  ;  Summit,  September  4. 

Extract  from  the  report  of  Col.  R.  A.  Alger,  commanding  5th  regiment : 
*  "  Moved  to  Yellow  Tavern,  on  Brook  Turnpike,  where  we 
met  Stuart's  cavalry  in  force,  May  10th  and  llth,  1864.  The  regiment  was 
dismounted  here  and  ordered  to  the  left  of  the  road,  to  drive  the  enemy  from  a 
piece  of  woods  which  they  occupied  on  the  opposite  side  of  a  large  open  field. 
Charging  across  the  field  under  a  heavy  fire,  the  enemy  was  driven  from 
his  position  across  a  ravine.  Reforming  the  line,  an  order  was  received 
from  the  general  commanding  to  charge  the  enemy  in  our  front  and  right, 
as  he  was  going  to  charge  a  battery  on  the  right  of  the  road.  This  order 
executed,  and  arriving  at  a  point  commanding  a  hill  in  rear  of  a  rebel  bat 
tery,  an  officer,  accompanied  by  a  large  staff  and  escort  and  carrying  a 
large  flag,  was  seen  coming  on  to  the  hill  from  the  rear.  This  officer  was 
shot  by  Private  John  A.  Huff,  company  E,  5th  Michigan  cavalry,  formerly 
of  Berdan's  sharpshooters.  He  was  immediately  carried  to  the  rear  by  his 
staff.  About  thirty  minutes  later  the  hill  was  gained,  and  a  woman  and 
negro  stated  that  General  Stuart  had  been  shot  on  the  hill  above-mentioned, 
and  first  brought  to  her  house  and  afterwards  carried  away  in  an  ambu 
lance.  Rebel  accounts  agree  with  the  statement  of  this  woman,  also  what 
was  seen  by  us.  In  this  engagement  the  brave  Capt.  Benj.  F.  Axtell  was 
mortally  wounded  and  left  at  a  citizen's  house  on  the  battle-field."  *  *  * 

Capt.  Benj.  F.  Axtell  \Yas  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Yellow  Tavern 
May  11,  1864.  Died  of  his  wounds  in  Libby  Prison. 

Extract  from  the  report  of  Colonel  James  H.  Kidd,  commanding  6th  re 
giment  : 

"May  12th,  1864,  we  reached  Meadow's  Bridge,  on  the  Chickahominy ; 
found  the  bridge  gone  and  the  crossing  disputed  by  the  enemy's  dis 
mounted  men  and  infantry,  with  strong  breastworks  and  artillery.  From 
the  swampy  nature  of  the  ground  it  was  impossible  to  bring  artillery  to 
bear  upon  them.  *  The  stream  must  be  crossed  at  all  hazards '  was  ordered, 
and  the  5th  and  6th  Michigan  were  assigned  the  duty.  Dismounting,  the 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  257 

two  regiments  crossed  on  the  ties  of  a  railroad  bridge,  one  man  at  a  time, 
in  the  face  of  a  galling  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  succeeded  in  gaining 
a  foothold  on  the  opposite  bank,  and  subsequently  charging  the  enemy, 
driving  him  in  confusion,  killing  and  capturing  a  large  number.  This  is 
one  of  the  most  desperate  fights  in  which  the  regiment  was  ever  engaged, 
and  attended  with  but  few  casualties.  Lieut.  Thomas  A.  Eddie,  one  of  our 
bravest  and  most  efficient  officers,  was  instantly  killed  by  a  shot  through 
the  head." 

Extract  from  the  report  of  Colonel  R.  A.  Alger,  commanding  the  5th 
Michigan : 

*  "On  the  28th  of  May,  1864,  we  were  ordered  with  the  brigade 
to  support  Gen.  Gregg's  division,  which  had  already  become  engaged  with 
the  enemy  near  Hawes'  Shop.  The  brigade  dismounted,  formed  in  line,  and 
moving  forward  became  hotly  engaged  immediately.  The  ground  over 
which  this  regiment  passed  was  covered  with  pine  shrubs,  affording  no  shel 
ter  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  who  was  strongly  posted  in  heavy  timber,  on 
high  ground,  and  behind  formidable  breastworks  of  logs.  Charging  into 
the  woods,  the  enemy,  after  an  obstinate  resistance,  fighting  our  men  hand 
to  hand,  was  driven  with  great  loss,  leaving  the  ground  strewn  with  his  dead 
and  wounded.  Of  eleven  officers  and  one  hundred  and  forty  men  of  this 
regiment  engaged,  five  officers  and  fifty  men  were  killed  or  wounded.  Capt. 
David  Oliphant,  a  gallant  officer,  was  mortally  wounded  while  cheering  on 
his  men  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight." 

Captain  Oliphant  died  of  his  wounds  on  June  4th  following. 

On  the  "Sheridan  raid,"  commencing  May  10th,  1864,  the  battle  of 
"  Hawes'  Shop  "  was  fought  on  the  28th  of  the  same  month.  In  that  severe 
engagement  the  Michigan  cavalry  brigade  took  a  most  prominent  part. 
Colonel  James  H.  Kidd,  then  in  command  of  the  6th  Michigan  cavalry,  in 
a  report  says  of  the  part  taken  by  his  regiment  and  the  brigade  on  that 
occasion : 

"  On  the  28th  May  fought  the  battle  of  '  Hawes'  Shop.'  Gregg's  men 
were  falling  back.  Gen.  Custer  was  ordered  to  support  him.  The  brigade 
was  dismounted.  The  6th  had  the  right  of  the  road,  its  left  resting  thereon  ; 
the  enemy  was  in  the  woods  ;  we  formed  in  the  open  fields.  Gen.  Custer 
ordered  three  cheers  and  a  charge ;  the  cheers  were  given  and  the  order  to 
charge  obeyed.  In  a  minute  the  fight  was  hand  to  hand.  The  rebels  fought 
with  desperation,  but  were  routed.  They  left  their  dead  and  wounded  in  our 
hands  and  many  prisoners.  In  ten  minutes,  out  of  140  men  I  had  engaged 
33  were  killed  or  wounded ;  12  were  killed  instantly,  4  died  before  morn 
ing.  The  ground  where  the  regiment  fought  was  covered  with  rebel  dead 
and  wounded.  The  trees  were  riddled.  Infantry  officers  who  saw  the  fight 
spoke  of  it  as  one  of  the  most  desperate  they  ever  witnessed.  It  is  not  boast 
ing  to  say  that  the  gallantry  displayed  by  the  men  of  the  Michigan  brigade 
in  this  fight  was  extraordinary,  unexampled." 

General  Sheridan,  referring  to  the  action  at  Trevillian  Station,  June  llth 
and  12th,  1864,  says: 

"The  cavalry  engagement  of  the  12th  was  by  far  the  most  brilliant  one 
of  the  present  campaign.  The  enemy's  loss  was  very  heavy.  My  loss  in 
captured  will  not  exceed  160.  They  were  principally  from  the  5th  Michi 
gan  cavalry.  This  regiment  gallantly  charged  down  the  Gordonsville  road, 
capturing  1,500  horses  and  about  800  men,  but  were  finally  surrounded  and 
had  to  give  them  up." 

Extract  from  a  report  of  Colonel  James  H.  Kidd,  6th  Michigan : 

"On  the  morning  of  the  llth  of  August,  1864,  we  marched  at  daylight, 
Q 


258  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

and  took  up  position  beyond  Opequan  creek,  toward  Winchester.  A  sec 
tion  of  Ransom's  battery  was  charged  upon  by  the  enemy.  Capt.  Mather, 
with  a  battalion  of  the  6th  Michigan,  happening  to  be  at  hand,  repulsed  the 
charge  and  saved  the  battery,  at  the  sacrifice,  however,  of  his  own  life.  He 
was  instantly  killed  while  urging  his  men  forward." 

In  a  report  of  Major  George  G.  Briggs,  7th  cavalry,  mention  is  made  of 
the  action  at  Front  Royal,  or  "  Crooked  Run,"  August  16th,  1864,  as  fol 
lows  : 

*  *  *  "  On  the  16th  August  the  regiment  took  an  active  part  in  the 
action  at  Front  Royal,  where  we  charged  a  whole  brigade  of  rebel  cavalry, 
completely  routing  them,  capturing  100  prisoners,  a  large  number  of  horses 
and  arms.  Lieut.  Lucius  Carver  was  killed  in  this  charge." 

Extract  from  report  of  Col.  R.  A.  Alger,  commanding  5th  Michigan : 

"Early  in  the  afternoon  of  August  16,  1864,  the  enemy  attacked  the 
pickets  in  our  front,  near  Front  Royal.  The  regiment  was  immediately 
saddled  and  moved  out,  afterwards  dismounted  and  advanced  over  the 
brow  of  a  hill.  Here  the  enemy  wras  found  just  forming  in  line  preparatory 
to  a  charge.  The  regiment  charged  and  drove  the  enemy  into  the  river, 
capturing  sixty-five  prisoners,  and  killing  and  wounding  a  large  number. 
In  this  engagement  Lieutenant  E.  G.  Granger,  who  was  serving  on  the  staff 
of  General  Custer,  was  killed."  *  *  . 

Extract  from  a  report  of  Colonel  Peter  Stagg,  commanding  1st  Michigan, 
covering  the  action  at  Shepherdstown,  Va.,  August  25,  1864 : 

"Arriving  near  Kearneysville,  August  25, 1864,  we  came  upon 
the  enemy's  cavalry  and  drove  him  about  a  mile.  Again  moving  forward, 
we  discovered  long  columns  of  rebel  infantry  marching  up  on  our  flanks, 
when  we  were  ordered  back.  At  Shepherdstown  we  halted  for  a  short  time, 
and  the  enemy's  cavalry  soon  appeared  in  our  front  and  flank.  This  force 
we  charged  with  the  brigade  and  drove  back  to  their  supports,  but  in  doing 
so  became  cut  off  from  our  main  force  and  surrounded  by  rebel  infantry. 
The  brigade,  after  desperate  fighting,  almost  hand  to  hand,  succeeded  in 
crossing  the  Potomac  near  Sharpsburg,  Md.  Captain  Fred.  A.  Buhl  was 
mortally  wounded  while  bravely  doing  his  duty." 

Captain  Buhl  died  of  his  wounds  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  15th  September  fol 
lowing. 

Of  the  engagement  with  the  enemy  near  Winchester,  on  the  19th  of 
September,  1864,  General  Custer, in  his  report  of  28th  of  that  month,  says: 

"I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  part  taken  by 
my  brigade  in  the  engagement  of  the  18th  instant,  near  Winchester,  Va. 

"In  compliance  with  instructions  from  division  headquarters,  my  com 
mand  was  in  readiness  to  movfi  from  its  encampment  near  Summit  Point 
at  2  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  19th.  It  being  the  intention  to  reach 
the  Opequan,  some  five  miles  distant,  before  daylight,  the  march  was  be 
gun  soon  after  2  A.  M.,  and  conducted  by  the  most  direct  route  across  the 
country,  independent  of  roads.  My  brigade  moved  in  advance  of  the 
division,  and  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  Opequan  before  daylight,  and 
unobserved  by  the  enemy,  whose  pickets  were  posted  along  the  opposite 
bank.  Massing  my  command  in  rear  of  a  belt  of  woods  and  opposite  a 
ford,  situated  about  three  miles  from  the  point  at  which  the  railroad 
crosses  the  stream,  I  waited  the  arrival  of  the  division  commander  and 
the  remainder  of  the  division.  At  daylight  I  received  orders  to  move  to  a 
ford  one  mile  and  a  half  up  the  stream,  and  there  attempt  a  crossing.  This 
movement  was  also  made  beyond  the  view  of  the  enemy,  and  my  command 
was  massed  opposite  the  point  designated,  in  rear  of  a  range  of  hills  over- 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  259 

looking  the  Opequan.  Owing  to  a  reconnoissance  made  at  this  point  by 
our  forces  a  few  days  previous,  the  enemy  were  found  on  the  alert,  thereby 
destroying  all  hopes  of  securing  possession  of  the  ford  by  a  surprise.  Two 
regiments,  the  25th  New  York  and  7th  Michigan,  both  under  command  of 
that  reliable  soldier,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brewer,  of  the  7th  Michigan,  were 
selected  to  charge  the  ford  and  obtain  possession  of  the  rifle-pits  upon  the 
opposite  bank.  By  request  of  the  senior  officer  of  the  25th  New  York 
cavalry,  that  regiment  was  placed  in  advance,  and  both  regiments  moved, 
tinder  cover  of  a  hill,  as  near  to  the  ford  as  possible  without  being  exposed 
to  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  At  the  same  time,  the  6th  Michigan  cavalry, 
Colonel  Kidd  commanding,  advanced,  dismounted,  to  the  crest  overlooking 
the  ford,  and  engaged  the  enemy  on  the  opposite  bank.  Everything  prom 
ised  success,  and  the  order  was  given  for  the  column  of  Colonel  Brewer  to 
charge. 

"Accordingly,  both  regiments  moved  rapidly  towards  the  ford.  The 
advance  of  the  25th  New  York  reached  the  water,  when  the  enemy,  from  a 
well-covered  rifle-pit  opposite  the  crossing,  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  our 
advance,  and  succeeded  in  repulsing  the  head  of  the  column,  whose  conduct 
induced  this  entire  portion  of  the  command  to  give  way  in  considerable 
confusion.  No  responsibility  for  this  repulse  could  be  attached  to  Lieut 
enant-Colonel  Brewer,  who  had  left  nothing  undone  to  insure  success. 
Giving  him  orders  to  reform  his  command  under  the  cover  of  the  ridge  of 
hills  before  mentioned,  and  directing  Colonel  Kidd  to  engage  the  attention 
of  the  enemy  as  closely  as  possible,  while  such  a  disposition  of  sharp 
shooters  was'  made  as  to  quiet  that  portion  of  the  enemy  lodged  in  the  rifle- 
pits  covering  the  ford.  The  1st  Michigan  cavalry,  Colonel  Stagg  com 
manding,  which  had  been  held  in  reserve,  was  ordered  to  accomplish  what 
two  regiments  had  unsuccessfully  attempted.  No  time  was  lost,  but  aided 
by  the  experience  of  the  command  which  preceded  it,  the  1st  cavalry  se 
cured  a  good  position  near  the  ford. 

"  Colonel  Stagg,  detaching  two  squadrons  as  an  advance  guard,  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Maxwell,  one  of  the  most  dashing  and  intrepid  officers 
of  the  service,  ordered  the  charge,  and  under  cover  of  the  heavy  fire  poured 
in  by  the  6th  Michigan,  gained  a  footing  upon  the  opposite  bank,  capturing 
the  rifle-pits  and  a  considerable  number  of  prisoners.  The  enemy  retired 
about  one  mile  from  the  ford  in.  the  direction,  of  Winchester,  and  took  a 
position  behind  a  heavy  line  of  earthworks,  protected  in  addition  by  a 
formidable  chevaux  defrise.  My  entire  command  was  moved  to  the  south 
bank  of  the  stream,  and  placed  in  position  along  the  ridge  just  vacated  by 
the  enemy.  About  this  time,  a  battery  of  horse  artillery,  under  command 
of  Lieutenant  Taylor,  reported  to  me,  and  was  immediately  ordered  into 
position  within  range  of  the  enemy's  works.  Prisoners  captured  at  the 
ford  represented  themselves  as  belonging  to  Breckinridge's  Corps,  and 
stated  that  their  corps,  with  Breckinridge  in  command,  was  posted  behind 
the  works  confronting  us.  Deeming  this  information  reliable,  as  the  results 
of  the  day  proved  it  to  be,  I  contented  myself  with  annoying  the  enemy 
with  artillery  and  skirmishers,  until  the  other  brigade  of  the  division, 
having  effected  a  crossing  at  a  ford  lower  down,  established  connection 
with  my  left.  Acting  in  conjunction  with  a  portion  of  Colonel  Lowell's 
brigade,  an  advance  of  the  1st  and  7th  Michigan  and  25th  New  York  was 
ordered  to  test  the  numbers  and  strength  of  the  enemy.  This  movement 
called  forth  from  the  enemy  a  heavy  fire  from  his  batteries.  It  failed, 
however,  to  inflict  serious  damage.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Maxwell,  who 
headed  the  charging  column,  as  was  his  custom,  succeeded  in  piercing  the 


260  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

enemy's  line  of  infantry  and  reaching  to  within  a  few  feet  of  their  artillery. 
Overwhelming  numbers  alone  forced  him  to  relinquish  the  intent  of  their 
capture,  and  he  retired,  after  inflicting  a  severe  loss  upon  the  enemy.  This 
advance,  while  clearly  developing  the  position  and  strength  of  the  enemy, 
was  not  without  loss  on  our  part. 

"Among  those  whose  gallantry  on  this  occasion  was  conspicuous  was 
Lieut,  Jackson,  of  the  1st  Michigan  cavalry,  who,  while  among  the  foremost 
in  the  charge,  received  a  wound  which  carried  away  his  arm  and  afterwards 
proved  mortal.  He  was  a  young  officer  of  great  promise,  and  one  whose 
loss  was  severely  felt.  At  this  time  the  engagement  along  the  centre  and 
left  of  our  line  was  being  contested  with  the  utmost  energy  upon  both  sides, 
as  could  be  determined  by  the  heavy  firing  both  of  artillery  and  small  arms. 
While  it  was  known  to  be  impossible  to  carry  the  position  in  my  front  with 
the  force  at  my  disposal,  it  was  deemed  important  to  detain  as  large  a  force 
of  the  enemy  in  our  front  as  possible,  and  thus  prevent  reinforcements  of 
other  parts  of  their  line.  With  this  object  in  view,  as  great  a  display  of  our 
forces  was  kept  up  as  the  circumstances  would  allow.  At  the  same  time 
skirmishing  was  continued  with  little  or  no  loss  to  either  side.  From  the 
configuration  of  the  ground  the  enemy  was  enabled  to  move  or  mass  troops 
in  rear  of  his  position  unseen  by  my  command.  Either  divining  our  inten 
tions  of  delaying  him,  or  receiving  orders  to  this  effect,  he  abandoned  the 
position  in  our  front  and  withdrew  towards  our  left.  In  the  absence-  of  in 
structions  I  ordered  a  general  advance,  intending,  if  not  opposed,  to  move 
beyond  the  enemy's  left  flank  and  strike  him  in  reverse.  I  directed  my 
advance  towards  Stevenson's  Depot,  and  met  with  no  enemy  until  within 
two  miles  of  that  point,  when  I  encountered  Lomax's  division  of  cavalry, 
which  at  that  time  was  engaged  with  Averill's  division,  advancing  on  my 
right  on  the  Martinsburg  pike.  Our  appearance  was  unexpected,  and  pro 
duced  such  confusion  upon  the  part  of  the  enemy  that  though  charged  re 
peatedly  by  inferior  numbers  they  at  no  time  waited  for  us  to  approach 
within  pistol  range,  but  broke  and  fled.  Soon  after  a  junction  was  formed 
with  General  Averill  on  my  right,  which,  with  the  connection  on  my  left, 
made  our  line  unbroken.  At  this  time  five  brigades  of  cavalry  were  moving 
on  parallel  lines.  Most,  if  not  all,  of  the  brigades  moved  by  brigade  front, 
regiments  being  in  parallel  columns  of  squadrons.  One  continuous  and 
heavy  line  of  skirmishers  covered  the  advance,  using  only  the  carbine,  while 
the  line  of  brigades,  as  they  advanced  across  the  open  country,  the  bands 
playing  the  national  airs,  presented,  in  the  sunlight,  one  moving  mass  of 
glistening  sabres.  This,  combined  with  the  various  and  bright-colored  ban 
ners  and  battle-flags,  intermingled  here  and  there  with  the  plain  blue  uni 
forms  of  the  troops,  furnished  one  of  the  most  inspiring  as  well  as  imposing 
scenes  of  martial  grandeur  ever  witnessed  upon  a  battle-field.  No  encour 
agement  was  required  to  inspirit  either  men  or  horses.  On  the  contrary,  it 
was  necessary  to  check  the  ardor  of  both  until  the  time  for  action  should 
arrive.  The  enemy  had  effected  a  junction  of  his  entire  cavalry  force,  com 
posed  of  the  divisions  of  Lomax  and  Fitz  Hugh  Lee.  They  were  formed 
across  the  Martinsburg  and  Winchester  pike,  about  three  miles  from  the 
latter  place.  Concealed  by  an  open  pine  forest,  they  awaited  our  approach. 
No  obstacles  to  the  successful  maneuvering  of  large  bodies  of  cavalry  were 
encountered.  Even  the  forests  were  so  open  as  to  offer  little  or  no  hindrance 
to  a  charging  column.  Upon  our  left,  and  in  plain  view,  could  be  seen  the 
struggle  now  raging  between  the  infantry  lines  of  each  army,  while  at  va 
rious  points  the  small  columns  of  light-colored  smoke  showed  that  the  artil 
lery  of  neither  side  was  idle.  At  that  moment  it  seemed  as  if  no  perceptible 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  261 

advantage  could  be  claimed  by  either,  but  the  fortunes  of  the  day  might  be 
decided  by  one  of  those  incidents  or  accidents  of  the  battle-field  which,  though 
insignificant  in  themselves,  often  go  far  towards  deciding  the  fate  of  nations. 
Such  must  have  been  the  impression  of  the  officers  and  men  composing  the  five 
brigades  now  advancing  to  the  attack.  The  enemy  wisely  chose  not  to  re 
ceive  our  attack  at  a  halt,  but  advanced  from  the  woods  and  charged  our 
line  of  skirmishers.  The  cavalry  were  here  so  closely  connected  that  a  sepa 
rate  account  of  the  operations  of  a  single  brigade  or  regiment  is  almost  im 
possible.  Our  skirmishers  were  forced  back,  and  a  portion  of  my  brigade 
was  pushed  forward  to  their  support.  The  enemy  relied  wholly  upon  the 
carbine  and  pistol ;  my  men  preferred  the  sabre.  A  short  but  closely  con 
tested  struggle  ensued,  which  resulted  in  the  repulse  of  the  enemy.  Many 
prisoners  were  taken  and  quite  a  number  of  both  sides  left  on  the  field. 
Driving  the  enemy  through  the  woods,  in  his  rear  the  pursuit  was  taken  up 
with  vigor.  The  enemy  dividing  his  column,  from  necessity  our  forces  did 
likewise.  The  division  of  Gen.  Averill  moved  on  the  right  of  the  pike,  and 
gave  its  attention  to  a  small  force  of  the  enemy  which  was  directing  its  re 
treat  toAvards  the  commanding  heights  west  of  the  town. 

"  My  command,  by  agreement  with  General  Averill,  took  charge  of  all 
forces  of  the  enemy  on  the  pike,  and  those  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
ground  to  its  left.  Other  portions  of  the  1st  division  made  a  detour  still 
farther  to  my  left,  so  that  that  which  had  lately  been  one  unbroken  line  was 
now  formed  into  several  columns  of  pursuit,  each  with  a  special  and  select 
object  in  view.  Within  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  point  where  the 
enemy  had  made  his  last  stand,  he  rallied  a  portion  of  his  force.  His  line 
was  formed  beyond  a  small  ditch,  which  he  no  doubt  supposed  would  break, 
if  not  wholly  oppose,  an  attacking  column.  Under  most  circumstances  such 
might  have  been  the  case,  but  with  men  inspired  with  a  foretaste  of  victory, 
greater  obstacles  must  be  interposed.  Without  designating  any  particular 
regiments,  the  charge  was  sounded,  and  portions  of  all  the  regiments  com 
posing  my  brigade  joined  in  the  attack.  The  volleys  delivered  by  the  en 
emy  were  not  enough  to  check  the  attacking  column,  and  again  was  the 
enemy  driven  before  us,  this  time  seeking  gaiety  in  rear  of  his  line  of  in 
fantry.  Here  he  reformed  for  his  last  attempt  to  check  our  advance.  The 
batteries  of  the  enemy  were  now  enabled  to  reach  us,  an  advantage  they 
were  not  slow  to  improve.  At  this  time  a  battery  of  the  enemy,  with  appa 
rently  little  support,  was  being  withdrawn.  My  command,  owing  to  the 
repeated  charges,  had  become  badly  broken,  rendering  it  impossible  for  me 
to  avail  myself  of  the  services  of  a  single  organized  regiment.  With  de 
tachments  of  each  regiment,  a  charge  was  ordered  upon  the  battery,  which, 
but  for  the  extreme  smallness  of  our  numbers,  would  have  proved  success 
ful.  Lieutenant  Louensbery,  5th  Michigan  cavalry,  with  great  daring, 
advanced  with  a  handful  of  men  to  within  a  few  paces  of  the  battery,  and 
was  (>nly  prevented  from  capturing  it  by  an  infantry  support,  hitherto  con 
cealed,  and  outnumbering  him.  Sergeant  Barber,  5th  Michigan  cavalry, 
clerk  at  headquarters,  distinguished  himself  in  this  charge  as  my  color- 
bearer.  He  carried  the  colors  in  advance  of  the  charging  column,  and  was 
conspicuous  throughout  the  engagement  until  severely  wounded  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  day.  It  being  necessary  to  reform  my  regiments  before  attempt 
ing  a  further  advance,  advantage  was  taken  of  a  slight  ridge  of  ground 
within  one  thousand  yards  of  the  enemy's  line  of  battle.  Behind  this  ridge, 
and  protected  from  the  enemy's  fire,  I  formed  as  many  of  my  men  as  could 
be  hastily  collected.  Two  guns,  which  had  been  annoying  us  on  our  right, 
were  now  charged  and  taken  by  the  1st  and  5th  regular  cavalry.  This 


262  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

gave  us  possession  of  a  portion  of  the  main  line  of  the  enemy's  fortifications. 
At  the  same  time  our  infantry  on  the  centre  and  left  had,  after  our  successes 
on  the  right,  been  enabled  to  drive  the  enemy,  and  were  now  forcing  him 
•towards  the  town.  Still  determined  to  contest  our  further  advance,  the 
enemy  now  contracted  his  lines.  This  gave  me  an  opportunity  to  move  my 
brigade  to  a  small  crest,  within  five  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  position. 
This  movement  was  entirely  unobserved  by  him,  his  attention  being  drawn 
towards  the  heavy  lines  of  our  infantry,  now  advancing  in  open  view  far  to 
our  left.  At.  this  moment  I  received  an  order  from  the  division  commander 
to  charge  the  enemy  with  my  entire  brigade.  Having  personally  examined 
the  situation,  and  knowing  that  a  heavy  force  of  the  enemy  was  lying  down 
behind  these  works,  facts  of  which  I  knew  the  division  commander  was 
ignorant,  I  respectfully  requested  that  I  might  be  allowed  to  select  my  own 
time  for  making  the  charge.  My  reasons  for  this  course  were,  that  I  was 
convinced  the  advance  of  our  infantry  on  the  centre  and  left  would  compel 
the  force  in  my  front  to  shift  its  position  to  the  rear,  and  the  most  favorable 
moment  to  strike  it  would  be  after  this  movement  had  commenced,  not  while 
they  were  awaiting  us  in  rear  of  their  works.  My  opinions  were  verified. 
Watching  the  enemy  until  his  force  had  arisen  from  behind  their  works  and 
commenced  their  retrograde  movement,  I  gave  the  command  to  charge. 
The  order  was  obeyed  with  zeal  and  alacrity  upon  the  part  of  all.  The  1st, 
5th,  6th,  and  7th  Michigan,  with  a  portion  of  the  25th  New  York,  advanced 
in  one  line,  most  of  the  command  using  the  sabre  alone.  Officers  and  men 
seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  as  to  who  should  lead.  Among  those  in  ad 
vance,  my  personal  attention  was  attracted  to  Colonel  Stagg,  commanding 
1st  Michigan,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brewer,  commanding  7th  Michigan ;  also 
Captain  Warner,  of  the  same  regiment ;  to  Colonel  Kidd,  commanding  6th 
Michigan  cavalry,  and  to  Colonel  Hastings,  commanding  5th  Michigan 
cavalry.  Each  of  these  officers  led  his  regiment  with  most  commendable 
valor.  The  enemy,  upon  our  approach,  turned  and  delivered  a  well-directed 
volley  of  musketry,  but  before  a  second  discharge  could  be  given,  my  com 
mand  was  in  their  midst,  sabering  right  and  left,  and  capturing  prisoners 
more  rapidly  than  they  could  be  disposed  of.  Further  resistance  upon  the 
part  of  those  immediately  opposed  to  us  was  suspended.  A  few  batteries 
posted  on  the  heights  near  the  town  continued  to  fire  into  our  midst,  fortu 
nately,  killing  more  of  their  own  men  than  of  ours.  Their  fire  was  silenced, 
however,  as  we  advanced  towards  them.  Nothing  more  remained  but  to 
collect  the  prisoners  and  other  trophies  of  the  victory.  No  further  resist 
ance  was  offered  ;  the  charge  just  made  had  decided  the  day,  and  the  entire 
body  of  the  enemy,  not  killed  or  captured,  was  in  full  retreat  up  the  valley. 
Many  of  the  prisoners  cut  off  by  my  command  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
infantry,  whose  advance  soon  reached  the  ground.  My  command,  how 
ever,  which  entered  the  last  charge  about  five  hundred  strong,  including 
but  thirty-six  officers,  captured  over  seven  hundred  prisoners,  including 
fifty-two  officers ;  also  seven  battle-flags,  two  caissons,  and  a  large  number 
of  small  arms.  It  is  confidently  believed,  that,  considering  the  relative 
numbers  engaged,  and  the  comparative  advantages  held  on  each  side,  the 
charge  just  described  stands  unequaled,  valued  according  to  its  daring  and 
success,  in  the  history  of  this  war.  Night  put  an  end  to  the  pursuit,  and 
this  brigade  bivouacked  on  the  left  of  the  valley  pike,  three  miles  from  the 
battle-field.  Our  loss  was  by  no  means  trifling.  A  numerical  list  of  casu 
alties  has  already  been  forwarded.  Among  the  gallant  dead  who  fell  on 
that  day  is  Captain  North,  of  the  5th  Michigan  cavalry,  whose  bravery  has 
rendered  him  conspicuous  on  scores  of  battle-fields.  It  is  with  the  deepest 


THE  CAVALRY  BRIGADE.  263 

regret  that  I  record  the  fall  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brewer,  of  the  7th  Mich 
igan  cavalry,  who  fell  at  the  moment  of  victory  while  leading  his  regiment 
in  the  final  charge.  I  believe  I  am  correct  in  stating  that  he  fell  farthest 
in  advance  of  those  who  on  that  day  surrendered  .their  lives  in  their  coun 
try's  cause.  Possessed  of  ability  qualifying  him  for  much  higher  positions 
than  those  he  filled,  he  was  invariably  selected  to  command  expeditions 
involving  danger,  and  requiring  experience,  daring,  and  sagacity,  and  inva 
riably  did  he  perform  the  duty  assigned  to  him  with  credit  to  himself  and 
to  the  satisfaction  of  his  commanding  officers.  Known  and  respected  by 
all  his  brother  officers,  his  memory  will  always  be  cherished  by  every  mem 
ber  of  this  command ;  and  of  him  all  will  say  he  was  a  soldier  sans  peur  et 
sans  reproche.  Instances  of  personal  daring  and  gallantry  during  the  en 
gagement  were  numerous,  and  deserving  of  particular  mention,  but  it  is 
impracticable  to  include  this  list  in  a  report  of  this  character.  A  few  have 
been  referred  to,  having  impressed  themselves  upon  my  personal  notice  at 
the  time.  I  will  only  add  in  this  connection  that  both  officers  and  men  did 
their  duty,  and  not  a  single  case  of  misbehavior  occurred  throughout  the 
entire  engagement.  The  assistance  derived  from  the  zealous  and  persever 
ing  efforts  of  the  members  of  my  staff  deserves  to  be  recorded.  My  orders 
were  transmitted  with  accuracy  and  celerity,  frequently  delivered  under  a 
heavy  fire.  Of  the  numerous  charges  made  by  my  command,  there  were 
none  that  were  not  participated  in  by  one  or  more  of  my  staff.  They  were 
particularly  energetic  in  rallying  and  reforming  regiments  broken  or  re 
pulsed  in  the  charge. 

"The  following-named  staff  officers  particularly  distinguished  themselves: 
Major  G.  A.  Drew,  6th  Michigan  cavalry,  A.  I.  G. ;  Captain  L.  H.  Barn- 
hart,  6th  Michigan  cavalry,  A.  A.  A.  G. ;  Lieutenant  E.  F.  Norvell,  1st 
Michigan  cavalry,  A.  D.  C. ;  Captain  E.  F.  Decker,  1st  Michigan  cavalry, 
A.  A.  D.  C. ;  Lieutenant  G.  S.  White,  5th  Michigan  cavalry,  A.  A.  D.  C. 

"Surgeon  Wooster,  1st  Michigan  cavalry,  was  extremely  attentive  to  the 
wants  of  the  wounded,  and  discharged  his  duties  with  marked  success." 

Three  of  the  battle-flags  taken  in  the  engagement  of  September  19th,  at 
Opequan,  near  Winchester,  were  captured  by  men  of  the  Michigan  regi 
ments  ;  two  of  them  by  members  of  the  5th  cavalry,  Sergeant  Henry  M. 
Fox,  of  company  M,  (commissioned  afterwards  as  2d  lieutenant,)  who  en 
listed  at  Coldwater,  August  12,  1862;  Corporal  Gabriel  Cole,  of  company 
I,  who  enlisted  at  Allegan,  August  19,  1862 ;  and  Sergeant  John  Winter, 
company  and  place  of  enlistment  unknown.  One  of  them  was  taken  by 
Private  Ulrick  L.  Crocker,  of  company  M,  6th  cavalry,  who  enlisted  at  Ver- 
genes,  Kent  county,  September  29,  1862. 

These  men  are  all  reported  in  the  Official  Army  Register  of  the  volunteer 
force,  as  having  been  awarded  medals  of  honor  by  the  Secretary  of  War ; 
and  it  is  officially  reported  that  they  were  given  as  rewards  for  acts  of 
bravery  in  the  capture  of  the  flags  referred  to. 

Lieutenant  Albert  F.  Jackson,  1st  cavalry,  wounded  at  Winchester  Sep 
tember  19,  1864,  died  of  his  wounds  on  November  12th  following. 

At  Winchester  the  1st  cavalry  had  seven  killed,  twenty-five  wounded,  and 
one  missing.  The  7th  cavalry  lost  four  killed  and  nineteen  wounded. 
Losses  of  5th  and  6th  not  reported,  but  are  supposed  to  be  equally  heavy. 

After  the  important  engagement  at  Winchester  the  regiments  were  en 
gaged  at  Luray,  September  24th ;  at  Port  Republic,  September  26th,  27th, 
and  28th ;  at  Mount  Crawford,  October  2d  ;  at  Woodstock,  October  19th  ; 
at  Cedar  Creek,  October  19th  ;  at  Newton,  November  12th,  and  at  Madison 
Court-house  on  December  24th. 


264  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

On  the  27th  of  February,  1865,  the  brigade  formed  part  of  the  force 
with  which  General  Sheridan  made  his  movement  against  General  Early 's 
army,  and  on  the  rebel  communications  in  the  direction  of  Gordonsville 
and  Richmond,  and  at  that  date  moved  with  the  cavalry  corps  towards 
Staunton,  and  on  the  8th  of  March  participated  in  an  engagement  with  a 
part  of  the  rebel  cavalry,  under  General  Rosser,  near  Louisa  Court-house, 
and  assisted  in  routing  it  and  capturing  the  town,  in  which  a  large  amount 
of  property  was  destroyed,  including  the  railroad  depot,  with  rolling  stock 
and  telegraph  office.  It  also  participated  in  taking  up  the  track  and  de 
stroying  the  railroad  property  on  the  line  of  the  Lynchburg  and  Gordons 
ville  railroad,  and  in  the  destruction  of  the  locks,  aqueducts,  and  mills  on 
the  line  of  the  James  river  canal.  The  command  having  reached  White 
House  Landing,  March  19th,  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  final  battles  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  soon  after,  with  the  cavalry  corps,  took  posi 
tion  on  the  left  of  the  line  of  that  army,  and  on  the  30th  the  regiment  became 
engaged  with  the  rebel  cavalry  and  assisted  in  driving  them  within  their 
works  at  Five  Forks.  It  was  also  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  the  same 
point  on  the  31st  and  on  April  1st ;  and  on  the  2d  at  the  South  Side  rail 
road  ;  and  on  the  4th  at  Duck  Pond  Mills  ;  on  the  6th  at  the  battle  of  the 
Ridges,  or  Sailor's  Creek,  and  on  the  8th  and  9th  at  Appomattox  Court 
house. 

Colonel  James  H.  Kidd,  6th  Michigan,  commanding  brigade,  in  his  re 
port  of  the  engagement  at  Cedar  Creek,  October  19,  1864,  says  : 

*  *     *     n  rpne  picket  jme  Of  ^e  7th  Michigan  cavalry  having  been 
driven  in  early  in  the  morning,  the  entire  brigade  moved  out  to  its  support. 
Found  the  enemy  strongly  posted,  with  artillery  in  position.     We  were 
ordered  back,  and  took  possession  on  the  right,  and  aftenvards  on  the  ex 
treme  left  of  the  army,  repulsing  several  charges,  and  driving  the  enemy 
until  overcome   by  superior  numbers.     That  the  Michigan  brigade   was 
engaged  the  casualties  bear  witness.     One  stand  of  colors  and  many  prison 
ers    were   captured.      Darkness    intervened   to   prevent   perfect    success. 
Kershaw's  division,  which  confronted  us,  was  utterly  broken  and  scattered. 
All  the  regiments  of  this  brigade  deserve  special  mention.     They  never  be 
haved  with  more  consummate  gallantry.     I  regret  to  report  the  loss  of 
Captain  Shier,  1st  Michigan  cavalry,  who  was  mortally  wounded  while 
leading  a  charge.     A  gallant  officer,  a  polished   scholar,  an  accomplished 
gentleman,  his  loss  is  keenly  felt  by  all  who  knew  him." 

Captain  Shier  died  of  his  wounds,  October  31st  following. 
In  the  report  of  Colonel  Stagg,  1st  cavalry,  commanding  brigade,  the 
following  reference  is  made  to  the  battle  of  Five  Forks,  April  1,  1865 : 

*  *     *     "The   next   morning   we   moved   forward,  passing   over   the 
ground  from  which  we  had  been  driven  the  day  before.     Our  brigade 
being  in  advance,  we  soon  came  upon  the  enemy,  strongly  posted  behind  a 
large  swamp,  through  which  it  was  impossible  to  penetrate.     Moving  to 
the  right,  the  enemy's  cavalry  appeared  in  our  front  and  was  driven  to  his 
main  line  of  works,  occupied  by  Kershaw's  division.     In  the  afternoon  the 
regiment  participated  in  the   final   charge   and   capture  of  these   works, 
taking  many  prisoners  and  pursuing  the  flying  enemy  until  long  after  dark. 
In  this  engagement  Lieutenant  Orwin  M.  Bartlett  was  killed  ;  also,  Lieu 
tenant  George  C.  Whitney." 

Colonel  Kidd,  6th  Michigan,  says  of  his  regiment,  in  an  engagement  near 
Five  Forks  :  "On  the  4th  of  April  the  regiment  charged  the  enemy's  line  of 
battle,  near  Beaver  Mills,  Va.,  losing  in  the  charge  Lieut.  S.  H.  Finney,  a 
gallant  officer." 


THE  SECOND  CAVALRY.  265 

NOTE. — "On  the  morning  of  the  30th  of  March,  1865,  the  7th  regiment  of  Michigan 
cavalry  is  found  with  the  gallant  Phil.  Sheridan  on  the  right  flank  of  the  rebel  army 
near  Five  Forks,  Va.  For  thirty  days  previous  the  regiment  bad,  with  the  balance  of 
Sheridan's  cavalry,  been  constantly  on  the  march,  being  of  the  command  with  which 
he  moved  from  the  Shenandoah  Valley  on  the  27th  of  February,  and  undertook  his 
celebrated  raid  to  the  James  river,  and  which  was  attended  with  such  important  and 
brilliant  results.  Little  time  had  been  allowed  for  recuperating  from  the  effects  attend 
ing  a  service  so  arduous  as  that  through  which  they  had  just  passed,  when,  on  the 
morning  of  March  30th,  the  7th  Michigan  numbering  less  than  three  hundred  men,  and 
after  marching  all  night  in  rain  and  over  heavy  roads,  Colonel  Geo.  G.  Briggs,  then 
commanding  the  regiment,  received  orders  to  move  with  promptness  to  the  support  of 
the  6th  Pennsylvania  cavalry  and  the  2d  U.  S.  cavalry  regulars,  holding  a  position  on 
the  extreme  right  of  the  Union  lines,  and  which  was  being  strongly  pressed  by  a  strong 
force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry.  Upon  reaching  the  point  and  reporting  to  the  officer  in 
command,  the  regiment  was  immediately  placed  in  position  to  support  a  charge  which 
was  ordered  to  be  made  upon  the  enemy's  line  by  the  two  regiments  named,  and  which, 
although  made  with  spirit  and  in  splendid  style,  was  not  only  met  with  firmness  by  the 
enen  y,  but  they  were  forced  to  retire  in  some  confusion.  The  enemy  seeing  his  advan 
tage  immediately  charged  down  upon  the  retreating  force  confident  of  success.  The  7th 
regiment  being  formed  in  columns  of  squadrons,  sabres  drawn,  moved  gallantly  forward 
for  a  counter  charge.  The  task  before  it  was  a  difficult  one.  Steady  was  the  command 
as  they  rapidly  passed  forward  through  the  lines  of  retreating  men  to  meet  the  on-coming 
and  confident  foe.  A  moment,  and  the  charge  is  sounded,  and  with  shouts  of  'Sheridan' 
and  'Victory,'  they  dash  into  the  fire  of  death.  Not  a  man  faltered.  The  veterans  of 
'Gettysburg,'  the  'Wilderness,'  and  'Winchester,'  with  the  names  of  FIFTY  battles 
on  their  banners,  were  on  their  mission,  and  victory  or  death  must  follow.  A  mo 
ment,  and  the  shock  of  contending  arms  and  shouts  of  contestants  filled  the  air.  A 
moment,  and  the  rebel  line  wavered,  then  broke  and  fled  the  field  in  a  confused  rout, 
leaving  in  the  hands  of  the  7th  the  commanding  officer  of  their  brigade  and  a  large 
number  of  prisoners — the  remainder  fled  for  safety  behind  the  fortifications  of  the 
infantry,  three  miles  to  the  rear,  closely  followed  by  the  '  7th.'  For  the  part  the  regi 
ment  took  in  this  action,  it  received  the  compliments  of  the  commanding  General." 

The  Michigan  Cavalry  Brigade  had  fought  throughout  the  rebellion  and  was  in  at  its 
death,  being  gallantly  engaged  at  Sailor's  Creek  April  6th,  1865,  the  last  great  day's 
fighting  of  ihe  war.  Mr.  Greeley  says  of  that  day  :  "  Crook  now  holding  Sheridan's 
left  (facing  eastward)  advanced  to  Deatonsville,  where  Lee's  whole  army  was  moving 
rapidly  westward.  He  immediately  charged,  as  directed  by  Sheridan  ;  well  knowing 
the  inferiority  of  his  force,  but  determined  to  detain  the  enemy,  at  whatever  cost,  until 
supports  on  our  side  could  arrive.  The  result  justified  the  daring,  Crook  was  repulsed; 
but  meantime  Custer,  with  his  division  of  horse,  struck  again  farther  on,  gaining  the 
road  to  Sailor's  Creek,  a  petty  tributary  of  Appomattox,  where  Crook  and  Devin,  com 
ing  promptly  to  his  support,  he  pierced  the  rebel  line  of  march,  destroying  400  wagons 
and  taking  16  guns  with  many  prisoners.  Swell's  corps  following  the  train,  was  thus 
cut  off  from  Lee.  Its  advance  was  now  gallantly  charged  by  Colonel  Stagg's  Brigade, 
(Mich.;)  and  thus  time  was  gained  for  the  arrival  of  the  leading  division  of  the  6th 
corps  pursuing  the  Confederate  rear,  when  Ewell  recalled,  fighting  stoutly  till  Wharton's 
division  also  came  up,  and  a  part  of  our  infantry  advancing,  were  momentarily  repelled 
by  a  deadly  fire.  But  the  odds  were  too  great.  Swell's  veterans,  inclosed  between  our 
cavalry  and  the  6th  corps,  and  sternly  charged  by  the  latter,  without  a  chance  of  escape, 
threw  down  their  arms  and  surrendered.  Ewell  himself  and  four  other  Generals  were  . 
among  the  prisoners,  of  whom  over  6000  were  taken  this  day." 

THE  SECOND  CAVALRY. 

On  November  14,  1861,  the  2d  cavalry,  raised  by  Col.  F.  W.  Kellogg, 
moved  from  their  rendezvous  at  Grand  Rapids,  destined  for  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
and  on  their  arrival  there,  Captain  Gordon  Granger,  U.  S.  A.,  assumed 
command  as  colonel.  The  regiment  was  stationed  during  the  winter  at 
Benton  Barracks,  near  that  city.  Early  in  March,  1862,  it  left  that  point 
to  take  part  with  the  forces  of  General  Pope  in  the  operations  against  Island 
No.  10,  a  strongly  fortified  position  near  New  Madrid.  The  2d  first  encoun 
tered  the  enemy  near  Point  Pleasant,  Mo.,  March  9th,  and  was  soon  after- 

Q* 


266  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  CURING  THE  REBELLION. 

wards  engaged  in  the  siege  of  the  island,  which  continued  from  March  14th 
until  April  7th,  when  it  was  surrendered.  After  the  reduction  of  that 
stronghold,  the  regiment  moved  with  General  Pope's  command,  and  joined 
the  army  under  General  Halleck  in  front  of  Corinth,  where  it  was  actively 
engaged  in  operating  on  the  flanks  of  the  rebel  army,  until  the  evacuation 
of  that  place  by  the  rebels. 

Colonel  Granger,  having  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general, 
March  26,  1862,  Captain  P.  H.  Sheridan,  of  the  regular  army,  was  commis 
sioned  by  Governor  Blair  as  colonel  of  the  regiment  on  the  25th  of  May 
following. 

Throughout  the  long  and  arduous  services  of  this  gallant  regiment  in  the 
field,  which  terminated  with  the  rebellion,  it  was  the  terror  of  rebels  when 
ever  it  came  in  contact  with  them.  Being  always  superbly  armed  and 
equipped,  and  the  men  being  brave,  and  all  of  them  most  excellent  shots, 
it  seldom  attacked  without  defeating  and  routing  them,  and  never  without 
severely  punishing  them,  even  when  compelled  to  retire  before  immense 
odds. 

Perhaps  none  of  its  many  engagements  will  awaken  in  the  minds  of  the 
members  of  the  regiment  more  vivid  recollections  than  those  of  Boonville, 
July  1,  1862,  and  Dandridge,  December  24,  1863,  where  on  both  occasions 
it  most  signally  distinguished  itself. 

During  the  last  week  of  June,  1862,  Colonel  Sheridan,  while  his  regiment 
was  stationed  at  Corinth,  was  ordered  with  his  brigade,  consisting  of  the 
2d  Michigan,  (his  own  regiment,)  the  2d  Iowa  cavalry,  Colonel  Hatch,  and 
two  pieces  of  artillery,  supported  by  two  companies  of  infantry,  to  relieve  a 
brigade  stationed  at  Boonville,  Miss.,  some  twenty  miles  south  of  Corinth 
on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  railroad,  being  at  that  time  the  extreme  outpost  of 
the  army  in  that  direction.  The  movement  was  duly  accomplished  so  far 
as  the  cavalry  were  concerned,  but  the  artillery  and  its  support  did  not 
arrive  at  their  destination  until  in  the  evening  of  the  1st  of  July.  The 
rebel  General  Chalmers,  then  in  that  vicinity,  gaining  information  from 
citizens  regarding  the  strength  of  the  command  at  Boonville,  and  expecting 
to  make  an  easy  conquest,  attacked  Sheridan's  pickets  at  8  A.  M.,  on  July 
1st,  with  (as  was  afterwards  ascertained)  7,000  mounted  men.  At  that 
hour  there  was  but  one  company  on  picket,  company  K,  2d  Michigan  cav 
alry,  commanded  by  Captain  A.  P.  Campbell.  Taking  advantage  of  the 
cover  of  the  woods,  he  checked  the  enemy  long  enough  to  receive  a  rein 
forcement  of  three  companies,  numbering  only  from  thirty  to  fifty  men  each. 
The  ground,  although  presenting  advantages  for  defence  in  woods  and  small 
hills,  yet  had  one  disadvantage,  in  having  numerous  roads  centering  on 
Boonville,  by  which  the  enemy  could  approach  in  almost  any  direction. 
The  2d  Michigan  cavalry  was  armed  at  that  time  with  Colt's  revolving  rifle 
and  pistol,  making  twelve  shots  to  a  man,  either  of  them  very  destructive 
at  from  twenty-five  to  eighty  rods.  The  men  of  the  regiment  had  been 
drilled  by  Colonels  Granger  and  Sheridan  to  fight  mounter!  and  dismounted, 
either  as  cavalry  or  sharp-shooters,  as  the  nature  of  the  engagement  might 
demand.  When,  therefore,  they  were  attacked  by  Chalmers,  and  his  fire 
returned  with  so  much  power  and  effect  from  troops  on  foot,  he  thought  he 
had  been  misinformed  as  to  the  strength  of  the  force  at  Boonville.  lie  ad 
vanced  with  double  lines  dismounted,  and  double  columns  on  either  flank, 
mounted,  with  lines  extended  far  enough  to  swing  round  on  either  flank, 
rendering  the  position  of  Captain  Campbell  in  great  danger  of  being  sur 
rounded  and  his  force  captured,  while  a  solid  column  charged  in  the  centre 
on  the  road.  Their  charge  was  met  gallantly,  by  comparatively  a  mere 


THE  SECOND  CAVALRY.  267 

handful  of  men,  with  such  effect  that  they  staggered  back,  and  many  fell 
almost  at  the  muzzle  of  the  rifles.  Taking  advantage  of  their  momentary 
wavering,  a  new  position  was  chosen  a  few  rods  to  the  rear,  and  Campbell 
was  again  in  readiness  to  meet  them.  Inch  by  inch  the  ground  was  con 
tested  by  the  desperate  fighting  of  the  2d  Michigan,  nobly  protected  on  the 
flank  by  the  2d  Iowa.  Every  man  seemed  to  know  his  strength,  and  to 
take  pride  in  using  it  to  the  fullest  extent.  When  a  charge  was  made  by 
the  enemy,  instead  of  taking  to  their  horses,  which  were  kept  under  cover  a 
few  rods  in  the  rear,  they  emptied  their  rifles  of  six  shots  at  long  range,  then 
drew  their  revolvers,  and  before  they  had  given  them  six  more,  the  enemy 
never  failed  to  turn  to  the  rear  in  confusion. 

This  continued  until  about  2  P.  M.,  the  command  having  fallen  back 
about  a  mile  and  a  half,  and  to  within  half  a  mile  of  the  camp,  when  Col. 
Sheridan,  finding  the  enemy  most  determined,  and  affairs  becoming  critical, 
viewing  at  a  glance  the  situation,  ordered  one  battalion  by  a  circuitous 
route  to  charge  the  enemy  in  the  rear — 200  men  to  charge  7,000  ! — yet  they 
did  it  gallantly.  At  the  same  time,  a  supply  train  arriving  from  Corinth, 
Sheridan  ordered  the  engineer  to  give  a  lively  and  cheering  blast  with  his 
wrhistle,  and  the  reserve  to  yell  with  a  will,  thus  leading  the  enemy  to  be 
lieve  that  reinforcements  were  arriving,  he  withdrew  his  force  to  Tupelo, 
and  left  Sheridan  and  his  handful  of  brave  men  masters  of  the  field. 

Next  day  125  of  the  enemy's  killed  were  buried,  and  numbers  of  his 
wounded  were  left  at  houses  in  the  neighborhood,  and  he  carried  off  full 
loads  of  wounded  in  his  ambulances.  The  2d  Michigan  lost  forty-one  in 
killed  and  wounded. 

After  the  affair  at  Boonville  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  skirmishes  with 
the  enemy  at  various  points  in  Mississippi,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee  in  1862. 

Colonel  Sheridan  having  been  commissioned  as  brigadier-general  of  vol 
unteers  July  1st,  he  was  succeeded  in  command  of  the  regiment  by  Lieut. 
Colonel  Archibald  Campbell,  who  was  promoted  to  the  colonelcy.  During 
February  and  March,  1863,  it  was  stationed  at  Murfreesboro'  and  Frank 
lin.  It  made  many  important  reconnoissances  on  the  roads  leading  out  of 
these  places,  and  had  numerous  skirmishes  with  the  rebels.  In  February  it 
was  engaged  on  the  18th  near  Milton,  on  the  19th  at  Cainsville,  and  on  the 
27th  near  Spring  Hill.  On  the  4th  and  5th  of  March  it  had  a  severe  skir 
mish  with  the  enemy  under  Generals  Van  Dorn  and  Forrest  on  the  Colum 
bia  Pike,  the  regiment  losing  one  killed,  four  wounded,  and  one  captured. 
From  the  8th  to  the  12th  it  participated  in  an  important  reconnoissance, 
during  which  the  enemy  were  driven  across  Duck  river.  March  25th  it  had 
a  sharp  encounter  with  a  large  force  of  rebels  under  Stearns  and  Forrest, 
killing  and  wounding  a  large  number  of  the  enemy,  and  capturing  fifty-two 
prisoners  and  a  number  of  wagons  loaded  with  arms,  ammunition,  and 
baggage,  with  a  loss  to  the  regiment  of  one  died  of  wounds,  six  wounded, 
and  two  missing.  On  the  4th  of  June,  while  returning  to  Franklin  from 
Triune,  it  had  a  brisk  skirmish,  with  a  loss  of  two  killed  and  three  wounded. 
Marching  to  Triune  on  the  6th,  it  remained  at  that  point  until  the  advance 
of  the  army  from  Murfreesboro',  when  it  moved  forward  with  the  cavalry 
division  to  which  it  was  attached.  On  the  23d  it  was  engaged  at  Rover. 
On  the  24th  it  drove  the  enemy  through  Middletown,  and  on  the  27th 
charged  the  rebels  into  Shelbyville.  On  the  2d  of  July  it  aided  in  driving 
the  enemy  from  Elk  River  Ford,  and  on  the  3d  from  Cowan.  In  the  early 
part  of  September  the  regiment  was  actively  engaged  in  scouting  among  the 
mountains  near  Chattanooga  and  in  northern  Georgia.  On  the  18th,  19th, 
and  20th  it  was  in  the  great  battle  of  Chicamauga.  Leaving  Rankin's 


268  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Ferry,  on  the  Tennessee,  October  3d,  the  regiment  participated  in  the  chase 
after  the  rebel  cavalry  under  General  Wheeler,  who  were  then  engaged  in 
making  a  raid  on  the  communications  of  the  army.  During  the  pursuit  of 
Wheeler  the  regiment  crossed  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  marching  on  the 
3d,  4th,  and  5th  of  October  one  hundred  and  three  miles,  and  on  the  6th, 
7th,  and  8th  eighty-two  miles,  the  greater  portion  of  the  distance  over  rough 
and  mountainous  roads.  October  31st  the  regiment  was  encamped  at  Win 
chester,  East  Tennessee. 

Capt.  James  Hawley,  of  this  regiment,  wras  killed  in  action  at  Chicamauga 
September  20th,  while  serving  on  Gen.  Stanley's  staff. 

Near  Dandridge,  East  Tennessee,  December  24,  1863,  Col.  A.  B.  Camp 
bell,  in  command  of  a  brigade  of  cavalry,  composed  of  the  2d  Michigan, 
9th  Pennsylvania,  and  1st  Tennessee,  attacked  and  drove  a  portion  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry  through  that  place,  and  then  halted  north  of  the  town 
with  no  enemy  in  sight.  At  2  P.  M.,  same  day,  the  rebels,  under  cover  of 
the  hills  and  by  a  curve  in  the  road,  rapidly  pushed  in,  in  rear  of  the  com 
mand  with  two  brigades  of  cavalry,  cutting  Colonel  Campbell  off  from  his 
only  source  of  retreat.  The  enemy,  at  the  first  dash,  captured  two  pieces 
of  artillery,  but  they  were  immediately  recaptured  and  pushed  to  the  rear. 
Colonel  Campbell  at  once  determined  to  cut  his  wray  out  by  the  left  flank, 
which,  by  a  bold  and  gallant  dash,  was  accomplished.  The  command  then 
fell  steadily  back  before  this  superior  force,  fighting  desperately  on  foot,  and 
so  closely  followed  by  the  enemy  that  for  four  hours  it  was  found  impossible 
to  bring  the  artillery  into  position.  Just  at  dark  the  guns  were  brought  to 
bear  and  opened  with  much  vigor,  checking  the  enemy,  thereby  giving  the 
brigade  an  opportunity  to  form  in  good  shape,  when  it  mounted  and  unpur- 
eued  thereafter  by  the  enemy  reached  its  camp  at  New  Market,  with  a  loss 
of  twenty  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

This  stubborn  and  close  fighting  exhibits  the  strength  of  men  when  drilled 
to  rely  upon  themselves  and  their  superior  arms  instead  of  being  entirely 
dependent  upon  officers,  who  may  not  always  be  able  to  communicate  orders 
to  every  part  of  the  field  in  a  running  fight.  In  this  affair  all  knew  the 
dangers  incidental  to  a  retreat  before  a  superior  force,  and  fought  steadily 
and  with  true  courage.  Mounted  men  with  sabres  could  do  nothing  dis 
mounted  at  such  a  time,  and  of  course  were  compelled  to  keep  out  of  the 
way;  so  that  during  the  hottest  of  the  fight  only  a  portion  of  the  2d  Michi 
gan  cavalry  were  engaged  out  of  the  whole  brigade,  and  not  to  exceed  four 
hundred  men.  The  engagement  will  be  recognized  by  all  Avho  were  in  the 
regiment  at  that  time  as  one  of  the  hardest  fights  in  which  it  had  partici 
pated  and  one  calculated  to  excite  panic  and  disaster. 

Pressed  strongly  by  an  overwhelming  force  through  broken  woods  in  a 
strange  country,  hardly  knowing  which  direction  to  take,  many  of  the  offi 
cers  and  men  not  having  received  a  command  from  headquarters  during  the 
entire  fight,  yet  preserving  almost  a  perfect  line,  together  with  the  persistent 
fighting  throughout  the  affair,  reflects  credit  upon  every  man  engaged. 

On  the  25th  the  regiment  encamped  at  Mossy  Creek.  It  remained  at 
and  near  this  place  until  the  14th  of  January,  1864,  having  on  the  29th 
of  December  a  skirmish  with  the  rebels,  in  which  its  casualties  were  1 
killed,  1  wounded,  and  2  taken  prisoners.  On  the  14th  of  January  the 
regiment  marched  to  Dandridge,  and  on  the  17th  skirmished  with  the 
enemy,  who  were  advancing  on  Knoxville,  under  General  Longstreet.  On 
the  19th  the  regiment  fell  back  to  Knoxville,  and  again  crossing  the  Hol- 
ston  river,  it  bivouacked  on  the  23d  on  Flat  creek,  and  on  the  26th  on 
Pigeon  river.  Marching  at  midnight  on  the  26th,  it  participated  in  an 


THE  SECOND  CAVALRY.  269 

attack  the  next  clay  on  a  brigade  of  rebel  cavalry,  from  whom  it  captured 
3  pieces  of  artillery  and  75  prisoners,  the  loss  of  the  regiment  being  11 
wounded  and  2  missing. 

Following  the  2d  through  its  services  that  followed,  it  is  found  engaging 
the  enemy  at  numerous  points  in  1864.  At  Dug  Gap,  Ga.,  May  18th  and 
14th  ;  at  Ettoway  river  on  the  26th,  27th,  and  28th,  losing  at  these  points 
16  in  killed  and  wounded.  On  the  7th  of  October  following,  the  regiment, 
in  command  of  Colonel  Thomas  Johnson,  engaged  the  enemy  on  Cypress 
river,  with  a  loss  of  6  in  killed  and  wounded.  Among  the  killed  was 
Lieutenant  Russell  T.  Darrow.  November  1st  it  marched  from  Blue 
Waters  towards  Shoal  creek,  Alabama,  and  was  attacked  by  the  enemy  at 
that  point  on  the  5th,  and,  after  a  gallant  defence,  was  forced  back  to  Four 
Mile  creek,  sustaining  a  heavy  loss.  From  the  9th  to  the  14th  it  was  in 
camp,  doing  ordinary  scouting  and  picket  duty.  On  the  15th  it  broke 
camp  and  made  a  reconnoissance  to  the  right  of  its  position,  and  encamped 
at  Taylor's  Springs,  and  remained  there  until  the  20th,  when  it  marched  to 
Lexington,  Tenn.,  and  on  the  21st  to  Lawrenceburg,  where  it  was  attacked 
by  the  enemy  on  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  and  fell  back  towards  Camp- 
bellsville  and  near  Columbia,  skirmishing  at  both  these  points.  The  25th 
it  crossed  Duck  river,  and  the  28th  was  in  line  of  battle  near  the  Lewis- 
burg  pike.  On  the  29th  it  retired  to  Spring  Hill,  and  was  engaged  in 
skirmishing  during  the  day  at  that  place  and  atBethesda  Church.  On  the 
30th  it  was  engaged  at  Franklin,  fighting  all  day,  sustaining  a  loss  of  1 
killed,  17  wounded,  and  3  missing.  The  regiment  marched  from  near 
Franklin,  December  1st,  to  within  a  few  miles  of  Nashville,  and  was  in 
line  of  battle  during  the  night.  On  the  2d  passed  through  that  city, 
crossing  the  Cumberland  river,  went  into  camp  at  Edgefield,  and  remained 
there  until  the  12th,  when  it  recrossed  the  Cumberland,  passing  through 
Nashville,  and  encamped  on  the  Charlotte  pike.  On  the  15th  it  advanced 
about  two  miles,  dismounted  and  skirmished  during  that  day  and  next ;  at 
sunset  mounted  and  proceeded  in  the  direction  of  the  Harpeth  river, 
swimming  that  stream,  and  thence  marching  to  Spring  Hill.  Crossing 
Duck  river  on  the  23d,  and  passing  through  Columbia  on  the  24th,  it  met 
the  enemy  at  Richland  creek,  and  fought  him  all  day,  charging  and 
driving  him  sixteen  miles,  losing  1  killed  and  6  wounded ;  skirmishing  at 
Pulaski  on  the  25th,  and  at  Sugar  creek  on  the  26th,  passing  Taylor's 
Springs  on  the  28th,  reaching  Waterloo  on  the  31st. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  1865,  it  broke  camp,  crossing  the  Tennessee 
river,  and  passing  through  Eastport,  luka,  and  Burnsville,  Miss.,  taking 
six  prisoners ;  thence  proceeded  to  Corinth  and  Farmington  on  the  19th, 
and  returning  via  luka,  taking  five  prisoners,  and  thence,  via  Eastport, 
crossing  the  Tennessee  river,  reached  Waterloo  on  21st,  and  remained  there 
until  March  the  llth,  when,  breaking  camp,  it  recrossed  the  Tennessee 
river,  marched  to  Chickasaw,  Ala.,  and  was  there  in  camp  until  the  22d, 
when  it  again  broke  camp,  passing  through  Frankfort  and  Russellville  on 
the  24th,  crossed  Big  Ford  creek  on  the  25th,  reaching  Eldridge  on  the 
26th,  passed  Jasper  and  crossed  the  Mulberry  river  on  the  28th,  and  Black 
Warrior  river  on  the  29th,  and  the  30th  reached  Elytown.  Crossed  Black 
Warrior  again  on  April  1st,  at  Johnston's  Ferry,  swimming  the  horses. 
Skirmished  with  the  enemy  on  the  2d  at  Trion,  and  on  the  3d  arrived  at 
Tuscaloosa,  surprising  and  taking  prisoners  the  pickets,  capturing  the  city, 
three  cannon,  and  taking  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  After  destroying  a 
large  number  of  buildings  containing  rebel  stores,  and  burning  the  bridge, 
the  regiment  marched  to  Bridgeville,  where  it  was  attacked  on  the  6th, 


270  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

and,  after  a  brisk  engagement,  with  a  loss  of  three  wounded,  repulsed  the 
enemy.  Continuing  the  march  towards  Northport,  passed  it  and  Wind- 
ham's  Springs.  On  the  loth  crossed  Wolf  creek  ;  on  the  14th,  Lost  creek 
and  Black  AVater ;  on  the  19th,  Black  Warrior  and  the  Coosa,  at  Luff's 
Ferry ;  on  the  22d,  reaching  Talladaga.  Skirmished  with  General  Hill's 
brigade  on  the  23d,  losing  two  killed  and  taking  one  piece  of  artillery. 

THE  THIRD  CAVALRY. 

The  3d  cavalry,  also  raised  under  the  direction  of  Col.  Kellogg,  soon  fol 
lowed  to  the  field  the  2d  cavalry.  Moving  from  Grand  Rapids  in  command 
of  Lieut.  Col.  R.  H.  G.  Minty  November  28,  1861,  for  Benton  Barracks, 
Missouri,  where  Col.  J.  K.  Mizner  assumed  command  of  the  regiment.  Its 
h'rst  engagement  with  the  rebels  was  at  New  Madrid,  Missouri,  March  13th, 
1862,  where  it  commenced  a  most  creditable  career,  giving  traitors  a  lively 
idea  what  Michigan  cavalry  were  and  what  they  might  expect  in  the  future, 
and  this  the  regiment  made  them  understand  and  realize  to  the  fullest  ex 
tent  during  the  entire  war.  The  3d,  after  the  surrender  of  Island  No.  10 
to  the  Union  forces  under  General  Pope,  joined  the  army  in  front  of  Corinth, 
and  served  there  until  its  evacuation  by  the  rebels.  The  regiment  then  en 
tered  on  the  campaign  of  General  Grant  in  Mississippi  and  served  under 
General  Rosecrans,  encountering  the  enemy  with  much  success  in  numerous 
engagements  and  skirmishes.  At  luka  on  September  19th,  1862,  while  in 
command  of  Captain  L.  G.  Wilcox,  Col.  Mizner,  being  chief  of  cavalry,  it 
became  conspicuously  distinguished  ;  having  the  advance  of  the  forces  un 
der  General  Hamilton,  moving  eastward  on  the  Tuscumbia  road,  it  engaged 
the  enemy  in  a  most  vigorous  and  dashing  manner.  Capt.  Wilcox,  in  his 
report  of  the  affair,  says : 

*  *  *  "  At  a  late  hour  on  the  18th  instant,  while  encamped  at  Da 
venport's  Mills,  near  Jacinto,  I  directed  company  A,  Captain  Dyckman,  to 
examine  the  luka  road,  running  northeast  from  the  Mills  and  midway  be 
tween  the  Tuscumbia  and  Burnsville  roads,  in  order  to  determine  the  prac 
ticability  of  moving  wagon  or  artillery  trains  on  the  road,  and  whether  any 
portion  of  the  road  was  occupied  by  the  enemy. 

"  The  reconnoissauce  was  properly  and  promptly  made,  and  the  road  found 
to  be  impracticable  for  moving  trains,  but  passable  for  infantry  and  cavalry. 
The  road  was  occupied  by  pickets,  who  fired  upon  the  reconnoitering  party. 

"  At  4  o'clock  on  the  following  morning,  pursuant  to  instructions  from 
Col.  Mizner,  I  took  eight  companies  of  my  command,  leaving  four  in  camp, 
and  proceeded  in  light  marching  order  along  the  Tuscumbia  road  east  to 
its  intersection  with  the  Russellville  road,  about  six  miles  east  of  Jacinto, 
where  my  command  took  the  advance  of  General  Hamilton's  division  and 
moved  in  the  direction  of  Barnett's  Corners.  I  had  moved  about  two  miles 
further  when  I  found  indications  of  the  presence  of  rebel  cavalry ;  the  indi 
cations  were  more  marked  as  we  proceeded,  and  as  we  arrived  at  the  brow 
of  the  hill,  about  one  half  mile  west  of  Barnett's,  a  volley  was  fired  into  the 
head  of  the  column.  The  rebel  force  seemed  well  supported,  and  I  imme 
diately  dismounted  twenty  men  and  sent  them,  in  command  of  Capt.  Lati- 
mer,  into  the  woods  to  the  right.  Twenty  more  were  sent  into  a  corn-field 
to  the  left  in  command  of  Lieut.  Mix,  and  companies  A  and  F,  under  Capt. 
Dyckman,  were  sent  forward  on  the  road.  After  a  sharp  skirmish  of  about 
fifteen  minutes  the  rebels  were  driven  from  the  woods,  leaving  one  man 
killed  and  one  horse  ;  also,  one  man,  horse,  and  equipments  were  taken  by 
Capt.  Latimer.  From  this  point  (Barnett's)  a  running  fight  was  kept  up, 


THE  THIRD  CAVALRY.  271 

the  rebels  falling  back  to  a  branch  of  the  Cripple  Deer  creek,  distant  about 
four  miles.  On  arriving  at  the  branch  we  found  that  the  rebel  cavalry  had 
rallied  at  a  house  situated  on  an  elevation  four  hundred  yards  distant  and 
commanding  the  road.  The  advance,  under  Sergeant  H.  D.  Cutting,  com 
pany  K,  charged  up  the  road  at  full  gallop  and  drove  them  from  their  po 
sition  into  the  woods ;  but  the  enemy  rallied,  two  squadrons  strong,  and 
forced  the  advance  to  retire.  Sergeant  Cutting's  horse  was  shot,  which  was 
the  only  casualty  occurring  to  my  command  in  this  instance.  A  number 
of  shots  were  fired  into  the  head  of  the  column,  killing  a  lieutenant  on  Gen. 
Hamilton's  staff.  I  at  once  wheeled  the  cavalry  into  line  on  the  road  side 
and  uncovered  a  column  of  infantry,  which  moved  to  the  front  and  deployed 
on  either  side  of  the  road,  and  drove  the  enemy  from  the  cover  of  some 
buildings  behind  which  they  were  sheltered. 

"  A  column  of  infantry  then  moved  in  advance,  and  position  having  been 
taken  at  a  point  about  one  and  a  half  mile  from  luka,  pursuant  to  orders 
received  from  Col.  Mizner,  I  immediately  moved  with  four  companies,  viz : 
Company  K,  Capt.  Newell ;  company  E,  Capt.  Latimer ;  company  F,  Capt. 
Kiese ;  and  company  A,  Capt.  Dyckman,  to  the  front,  and  moved  out  to 
the  right  of  Constable's  Ohio  battery ;  Lieut.  Adams  commanding  the  ad 
vance  guard. 

"  After  proceeding  about  one  half  mile,  Lieut.  Adams,  perceiving  a  body 
of  cavalry  on  a  hill  directly  east  of  the  battle-field,  attacked  and  drove  them 
away  with  considerable  loss.  I  then  formed  my  men  behind  the  brow  of 
the  hill,  dismounted  a  portion,  and  poured  an  irregular  fire  into  the  enemy's 
left  flank  and  upon  those  who  showed  themselves  in  our  front  with  consider 
able  effect,  twenty-two  dead  having  been  afterwards  found,  who  must  have 
fallen  by  our  hands.  During  the  time  that  we  were  in  this  position  the  en 
emy  occasionally  gave  us  a  heavy  volume,  but  the  nature  of  the  ground  was 
such  that  no  casualties  had  occurred  until  near  sundown,  when  the  enemy 
seemed  to  manifest  a  disposition  to  gain  our  position.  I  immediately  dis 
mounted  all  the  men  that  .could  be  spared,  sending  the  horses  into  the  woods 
in  our  rear,  and  opened  a  destructive  fire  upon  them.  They  immediately 
fell  back,  and  made  no  further  attempt  to  advance  upon  us.  We  tool^  a 
first  lieutenant,  bearing  the  stand  of  colors  belonging  to  the  3d  Louisiana 
infantry.  Capt.  Latimer  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  also  two  privates 
slightly.  Six  horses  were  lost.  After  dark  I  moved  my  command  to  the 
left  of  the  road,  in  rear  of  the  infantry,  where  I  was  joined  by  the  other 
four  companies  of  my  command,  which  had  been  employed  in  reconnoiter- 
ing  on  either  flank  during  the  afternoon." 

General  Rosecrans,  ever  ready  to  acknowledge  the  merits  of  the  soldier 
as  well  as  the  officer,  says  in  his  report  of  this  important  battle : 

"  During  the  action,  five  privates  of  the  3d  Michigan  cavalry,  beyond  our 
extreme  right,  opened  fire,  captured  a  rebel  stand  of  colors,  a  captain  and 
lieutenant,  sent  in  the  colors  that  night,  alone  held  their  prisoners  during 
the  night,  and  brought  them  in  next  morning." 

The  battle  of  luka  was  sanguine,  the  firing  heavy  and  rapid,  and  the 
ground  was  being  hotly  contested,  when,  night  coming  on,  became  masters 
of  the  field,  and  closed  the  scene  of  carnage.  Morning  revealed  the  fact 
that  during  the  darkness  of  the  night  the  enemy  had  left  the  field  and  was 
rapidly  moving  southward,  while  the  Union  troops  made  a  vigorous  pursuit 
for  many  miles,  becoming  several  times  hotly  engaged,  and  causing  him  re 
peatedly  to  form  line  of  battle  to  check  the  Union  advance. 

The  3d  was  actively  occupied  with  the  enemy  after  the  affair  of  luka. 
Being  in  engagements  at  Corinth  October  3d  and  4th  ;  at  Hatchie  October 


272  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

6th;  Huclsonville  November  14th;  Holly  Springs  November  19th ;  Lurn- 
kin's  Mills  November  30th ;  Oxford  December  2d ;  Coffeeville  December 
5th ;  Brownsville  January  14th,  1863 ;  Clifton  February  20th  ;  Panola  July 
20th;  Grenada  August  14th;  Byhalia  October  12th;  and  Wyatt's  Ford. 
Tallahatchie  river,  October  13th.  In  addition  to  these  principal  engage 
ments,  the  regiment  has  participated  in  a  large  number  of  skirmishes  of 
minor  importance.  In  the  affair  at  Grenada  the  3d  was  in  the  advance. 
It  gained  possession  of  the  town  after  a  sharp  engagement,  and  immediately 
commenced  the  destruction  of  the  enemy's  machinery  and  rolling  stock  ac 
cumulated  at  this  point.  Over  sixty  locomotives  and  more  than  four  hun 
dred  cars  were  destroyed.  At  Byhalia  and  Wyatt's  Ford  the  regiment  was 
warmly  engaged.  In  these  actions  the  enemy  were  completely  routed  with 
large  loss.  The  3d  cavalry  aided  largely  in  driving  the  notorious  rebels, 
Bichardson,  Dawson,  and  Cushman,  from  West  Tennessee,  together  with 
numerous  bands  of  guerrillas  that  infested  that  section,  and  who  were  de 
stroyed  or  dispersed  by  it. 

During  November  and  December,  1863,  this  regiment  was  almost  con 
stantly  engaged  in  scouting  and  in  various  expeditions  through  Northern 
Mississippi  and  Western  Tennessee,  visiting  most  of  the  important  places  in 
that  section.  It  had  frequent  encounters  with  the  enemy's  forces  under 
Generals  Forrest  and  Chalmers.  Engagements  and  skirmishes  in  which  the 
regiment  participated  occurred  at  Ripley,  Mississippi,  November  29th  ;  Ori 
zaba,  Mississippi,  November  30th ;  Ellistown,  Mississippi,  December  3d ; 
Purely,  Tennessee,  December  22d ;  and  Jack's  Creek,  Tennessee,  December 
24th. 

During  the  months  of  November,  1864,  and  February,  1865,  this  regi 
ment  constituted  the  garrison  of  the  post  at  Brownsville  Station,  on  the 
Memphis  and  Little  Hock  railroad,  and  was  also  occupied  in  scouting 
along  the  line  of  that  road,  making  several  expeditions  as  far  south  as 
Arkansas  Post,  on  the  Arkansas  river,  collecting  large  droves  of  cattle, 
and  thereby  furnishing  nearly  all  the  beef  required  for  the  supply  of  the 
entire  army  then  serving  in  the  Department  of  Arkansas.  At  Brownsville 
Station  the  regiment  erected  a  complete  set  of  winter  quarters  and  stables, 
so  neatly  and  tastefully  arranged  as  to  present  the  appearance  of  an  im 
portant  town,  which  attracted  so  much  attention  as  to  result  in  a  change  of 
its  name  from  "Brownsville  Station"  to  "Michigan  City."  The  very 
active  duty  of  the  regiment  at  that  time  was  so  conducive  to  the  health  of 
the  men  that  1,008  were  daily  reported  present  for  duty,  and  less  than 
three  per  cent,  were  on  the  sick  list.  Early  in  February  the  regiment  was 
selected  to  constitute  part  of  a  division  then  being  organized  for  active  and 
important  service  in  early  spring,  and  was  assigned  to  the  1st  brigade,  1st 
division,  7th  army  corps,  and  moved  to  Brownsville.  On  the  14th  of 
March  the  brigade  was  transferred  from  the  Department  of  Arkansas  to 
the  Military  Division  of  West  Mississippi,  to  join  the  troops  under  Major- 
General  Canby,  designed  to  operate  against  Mobile,  and  the  regiment  pro 
ceeded  by  steamer  to  New  Orleans,  arriving  at  Carrolton,  La.,  March  23d, 
and  embarked  for  Mobile  early  in  April.  After  the  fall  of  Mobile,  it  was 
employed  on  outpost  duty  until  the  surrender  of  the  Confederate  forces 
east  of  the  Mississippi  river,  when  the  regiment  was  selected  as  the  escort 
of  Major-General  Canby  on  the  occasion  of  his  receiving  the  formal  sur 
render  of  the  rebel  General  Taylor  and  his  army.  It  left  Mobile  May  8, 
and  marched  across  the  country  to  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  reaching  there  on 
the  22d.  When  Major-General  Sheridan  assumed  the  command  of  the 
Military  Division  of  the  Southwest,  the  regiment  was  selected  and  ordered 


THE  FOURTH  CAVALRY.  273 

to  report  to  him  for  duty,  and  was  immediately  prepared  to  join  the  expe 
dition  to  Texas,  and  left  Baton  Rouge  for  Shreeveport,  June  10th,  and 
commenced  its  march  into  Texas  from  the  latter  place  July  10th,  travers 
ing  two-thirds  the  breadth  of  that  State,  arriving  on  the  2d  of  August  at 
San  Antonio.  At  that  point  the  regiment  was  stationed,  performing  garri 
son  duty  and  employed  in  the  necessary  scouting  for  the  protection  of  the 
frontier  as  far  as  the  Rio  Grande,  on  the  Mexican  border,  and  in  furnishing 
escorts  for  supply  trains.  The  regiment  comprised  a  part  of  the  1st  bri 
gade,  1st  cavalry  division,  Military  Division  of  the  Gulf,  and  had  its  head 
quarters  at  San  Antonio  until  February  15,  1866,  when  it  was  dismounted 
and  mustered  out  of  service. 

THE  FOURTH   CAVALRY. 

The  Western  rebel  troops  in  the  war  were  made  to  know  the  4th  Michi 
gan  cavalry,  and  undoubtedly  most  of  them  that  are  alive  now  have  not 
forgotten  them.  The  regiment  was  raised  and  organized  by  Col.  R.  H.  G. 
Minty,  previously  Lieutenant-Colonel  3d  Michigan  cavalry.  Under  his 
command  it  left  the  State  for  the  field  in  Kentucky,  September  26,  1862. 
It  fought  its  first  battle  at  Stanford,  in  that  State,  on  the  14th  of  October 
following,  and  was  thus  early  initiated  into  the  realities  of  the  great  re 
bellion. 

The  4th  was  in  the  advance  in  the  attack  on  Morgan  and  his  guerillas  at 
Stanford,  and  joined  in  pursuit  as  far  as  Crab  Orchard.  It  also  led  the 
attack  on  Lebanon,  Ky.,  November  9,  driving  in  Morgan's  pickets  at  a 
gallop,  and  entered  the  town,  543  strong,  two  miles  in  advance  of  the  in 
fantry,  driving  out  Morgan  with  759  men  and  two  pieces  of  artillery,  and 
capturing  a  large  amount  of  commissary  stores  and  clothing. 

It  was  engaged  at  Rural  Hill  on  the  15th,  Baird's  Mills  on  the  30th, 
Hollow  Gap,  December  4th,  and  at  Wilson's  Creek  on  the  llth. 

On  the  13th  of  December  the  4th  marched  from  Nashville,  where  it  had 
been  stationed  since  the  28th  of  November,  1862,  to  Franklin,  captured 
the  rebel  pickets,  drove  out  the  enemy,  1,300  strong,  killed,  wounded,  and 
captured  a  number  of  them,  with  their  colors,  and  destroyed  an  immense 
quantity  of  stores.  On  the  15th  a  detail  of  40  men  belonging  to  the  regi 
ment  were  captured  on  the  Murfreesboro  pike  while,  it  was  claimed,  they 
were  under  the  protection  of  a  flag  of  truce.  Breaking  camp  on  the  26th, 
the  regiment  moved  in  the  extreme  advance  of  the  army  from  Nashville, 
and  commenced  the  fighting  at  Lavergne.  December  31st  it  had  a  sharp 
skirmish  with  a  large  force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  which  it  repulsed  and 
drove  back,  the  4th  losing  3  killed  and  7  wounded.  The  4th  was  the  first 
regiment  to  enter  Murfreesboro,  January  5,  1863.  May  22d  following,  the 
regiment,  with  detachments  of  the  1st  and  2d  brigades  (the  4th  and  two 
companies  of  U.  S.  cavalry  being  in  the  advance,)  charged  into  the  camp 
of  the  1st  Alabama,  8th  Confederate,  and  2d  Georgia  cavalry,  and,  after 
a  severe  engagement,  routed  them,  taking  55  prisoners,  and  destroying 
their  camp  equipage,  stores,  etc.  The  colors  of  the  1st  Alabama  (since 
presented  to  the  State  of  Michigan)  were  captured  by  Sergeant-Major 
Clark  and  Privates  Wilcox  and  Parker,  of  the  4th  Michigan. 

During  its  whole  term  of  service  it  proved  a  most  reliable  and  gallant 
regiment,  deservedly  proud  of  its  fighting  reputation,  accomplishing  an  un 
common  amount  of  duty.  The  fighting  of  this  regiment  seems  to  have  been 
so  uniformly  brave  and  effective  that  the  colonel  has  found  some  difficulty 
in  selecting  the  engagements  in  which  he  considers  it  was  most  distinguished, 

R 


274  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

as  will  appear  from  a  special  report  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State, 
dated  January  4,  1867,  in  which  he  states : 

"  I  find  it  rather  a  difficult  matter  to  satisfactorily  give  you  the  informa 
tion  called  for  in  your  letter  of  the  20th  ultimo. 

"  The  4th  Michigan  cavalry  has  so  often  distinguished  itself,  both  by  the 
brilliancy  of  its  charges  and  the  stubbornness  of  its  fighting,  that  I  doubt 
if  you  will  find  two  men  agree  on  the  two  engagements  in  which  it  was  most 
distinguished. 

"Some  would  claim  Stone  River  where  it  charged  three  times,  each  time 
driving  a  brigade  of  rebel  cavalry  from  the  field  ;  others,  some  of  the  many 
'raids'  around  Murfreesboro',  where  the  sabre  charges  of  the  4th  Michi 
gan  and  7th  Pennsylvania  were  the  admiration  of  the  entire  Army  of  the 
Cumberland ;  others,  the  fight  with  Dibrell's  brigade  at  Sparta  and  Sper- 
ry's  Mill,  on  the  9th  and  17tli  of  August,  1863,  or  the  hard  day's  fighting 
at  Reed's  Bridge,  near  Chicamauga,  on  the  18th  of  September,  where  the 
4th  Michigan,  7th  Pennsylvania,  and  4th  regular  cavalry  (973  of  all  ranks) 
fought  the  entire  of  Hood's  corps  from  7  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  5 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  leaving  102  rebel  dead  within  one  hundred  yards 
of  the  eastern  end  of  the  bridge,  and  preventing  the  carrying  out  of  Bragg's 
order  of  battle  of  that  date,  the  first  part  of  which  reads : — '  1.  Johnson's 
column  (Hood's)  on  crossing  at  or  near  Reed's  Bridge  will  turn  to  the  left 
by  the  most  practicable  route,  and  sweep  up  the  Chicamauga  towards  Lee 
&  Gordon's  mills.' 

"Some  again  would  claim  Lovejoy's  Station,  Ga.,  on  the  20th  of  August, 
1864,  where  the  same  little  brigade,  then  numbering  under  800  men,  scat 
tered  Ross's  Texan  brigade,  sabering  over  500  of  them. 

"After  considering  the  subject  fully,  I  selected  Shelbyville,  Tenn.,  on  the 
27th  of  June,  1863,  and  Latimer's  Mill,  Ga.,  on  June  20,  1864.  At  both 
these  places  the  success  of  my  brigade  was  mainly  attributable  to  the  bril 
liancy  and  tenacity  of  the  fighting  of  the  4th  Michigan  cavalry,  then  under 
command  of  Major  F.  W.  Mix. 

"At  Shelbyville  I  found  myself  with  a  force  of  1500  men  in  front  of  for 
midable  breastworks,  with  an  abatis  of  over  one-fourth  of  a  mile  in  width 
in  front  of  them,  behind  which  Generals  Wheeler  and  Martin  had  an  op 
posing  force  of  4,000  men,  and  three  pieces  of  artillery.  I  detached  the 
4th  Michigan,  in  command  of  Major  Mix,  well  to  the  right,  with  orders  to 
force  their  way  through  the  abatis,  and  assault  the  works,  and  if  successful 
to  turn  to  the  right  and  sweep  up  the  entrenchments,  promising  that  so  soon 
as  I  heard  their  rifles  speaking,  I  would  make  the  direct  assault  on  the 
Murfreesboro'  and  Shelbyville  pike.  They  did  their  work  so  well  that  as  I 
entered  the  works  on  the  main  road  they  joined  me  from  the  right,  having 
carried  the  works  and  taken  prisoners  'from  six  different  regiments.  The 
fruits  of  that  day's  work  were  the  whole  of  the  enemy's  artillery  and  599 
prisoners,  while  over  200  dead  bodies  were  afterwards  taken  out  of  Duck 
creek,  into  which  I  had  driven  Wheeler  and  his  entire  command." 

The  loss  of  the  regiment  was  only  seven  wounded  and  nine  prisoners. 

The  important  part  taken  by  the  4th  cavalry  in  the  great  battle  of  Chica 
mauga,  while  in  command  of  Major  Mix,  warrants  it  in  being  placed  among 
the  many  engagements  in  which  that  regiment  distinguished  itself. 

In  Col.  Minty's  report  of  the  part  taken  by  his  command  from  the  13th 
to  the  24th  September,  1863,  including  the  battle  of  Chicamauga,  he 
says: 

"  September  13th. — With  the  4th  U.  S.  cavalry,  4th  Michigan  cavalry, 
7th  Pennsylvania  cavalry,  and  one  section  of  the  Chicago  Board  of  Trade 


TEE  FOURTH  CAVALRY.  275 

battery,  I  marched  from  Chattanooga,  and  reported  to  Major-Gen.  Critten- 
den,  commanding  21st  army  corps,  at  Gordon's  Mill. 

"  September  14th. — Under  orders  from  Major-Gen.  Crittenden,  I  crossed 
Missionary  Ridge  into  Lookout  Valley. 

"September  15th. — Marched  back  to  Gordon's  Mill,  where  Gen.  Critten 
den  ordered  me  to  proceed  to  Pea  Vine  Valley,  and  encamped  near  Leet's 
Cross-roads.  I  crossed  the  Chicamauga  at  Reed's  Bridge,  and  shortly  be 
fore  dark  encamped  on  Pea  Vine  creek,  near  Peeler's  Mill,  and  sent  out 
scouts  towards  Grayville,  Ringold,  Leet's,  and  Rock  Springs.  Same  night 
I  reported  to  Major-General  Crittenden  the  information  brought  by  these 
parties,  and  in  answer  received  a  letter  from  Capt.  Oldershaw,  A.  A.  G., 
21st  army  corps,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract :  '  The  major-general 
commanding  directs  me  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  this 
date,  informing  him  that  Forrest  is  at  Ringold,  Longstreet  at  Dalton,  Pe- 
gram  at  Leet's,  and  Buckner  at  Rock  Springs ;  all  this  would  indicate  in 
fantry,  which  the  major-general  cannot  believe.' 

"  September  16th. — Strong  scouting  parties  advanced  towards  me  from  Ring- 
old  and  Leet's ;  they  were  promptly  met,  driven,  and  followed.  At  the  same 
time  my  pickets  on  the  Lafayette  and  Harrison  road,  which  lies  between  Pea 
Vine  Ridge  and  the  Chicamauga,  were  attacked  from  towards  Lafayette, 
thus  threatening  my  communications  via  Reed's  Bridge.  I  immediately 
fell  back  to  that  road,  thus  securing  the  bridge,  but  at  the  same  time  I  kepi 
possession  of  the  roads  in  Pea  Vine  Valley  by  picketing  strongly.  My 
scouts  towards  Leet's  ran  into  the  rebel  infantry  and  lost  one  man  shot 
through  the  head.  This  was  promptly  reported  to  Major-General  Critten 
den,  whose  answer  was  the  same  as  yesterday,  viz :  '  Nothing  but  dismounted 
cavalry.' 

"September  17th. — Slight  skirmishing  between  my  scouts  and  those  of 
the  enemy.  The  scout  from  Grayville  reported  that  General  Steadman's 
brigade  of  the  reserve  corps  had  passed  through  that  place  on  a  reconnois- 
sance  towards  Ringold.  On  the  return  of  my  courier  from  Gordon's  Mill 
he  reported  Col.  Wilder's  brigade  of  mounted  infantry  was  encamped  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Chicamauga  creek,  at  Alexander's  Bridge,  about  two 
miles  above  me. 

"  September  18th.— At  6  A.  M.  I  sent  one  hundred  of  the  4th  IT.  S.  cav 
alry  towards  Leet's,  and  one  hundred  from  the  4th  Michigan  and  7th  Penn 
sylvania  towards  Ringold.  At  about  7  A.  M.  couriers  arrived  from  both 
scouts,  with  information  that  the  enemy  was  advancing  in  force.  I  imme 
diately  strengthened  my  pickets  on  the  .Lafayette  road,  and  moved  forward 
with  the  4th  Michigan  and  one  battalion  of  the  4th  regulars  and  the  section 
of  artillery  and  took  up  a  position  on  the  eastern  slope  of  Pea  Vine  Ridge, 
and  despatched  couriers  to  Major-General  Granger  at  Rossville,  Colonel 
Wilder  at  Alexander's  Bridge,  General  Wood  at  Gordon's  Mill,  and  Gen. 
Crittenden  at  Crawfish  Springs.  On  this  day  the  4th  Michigan  lost  eleven 
in  killed  and  wounded  and  three  as  prisoners.  The  enemy,  infantry  in 
force  with  about  200  cavalry,  advanced  steadily,  driving  my  skirmish  line 
back  to  my  position  on  the  side  of  the  ridge.  The  head  of  a  column  getting 
into  good  range  I  opened  on  them  with  the  artillery,  when  they  immediately 
deployed  and  advanced  a  strong  skirmish  line.  At  this  moment  I  observed 
a  heavy  column  of  dust  moving  from  the  direction  of  Graysville  towards 
Dyer's  Ford ;  I  sent  a  courier  to  Col.  Wilder  asking  him  to  send  a  force  to 
hold  the  ford  and  cover  my  left,  and  sent  my  train  across  the  creek.  As 
the  force  from  Grayville  advanced  I  fell  back  until  I  arrived  on  the  ground 
I  had  occupied  in  the  morning.  Here  Col.  Miller,  with  two  regiments  and 


276  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

two  mountain  howitzers,  reported  to  me  from  Col.  Wilder's  brigade.  I  di 
rected  Col.  Miller  to  take  possession  of  the  ford,  and  again  advanced  and 
drove  the  rebel  skirmish  line  over  the  ridge  and  back  on  their  line  of  battle 
in  the  valley,  where  a  force  was  in  position,  which  I  estimated  at  7,000  men. 
Thirteen  sets  of  regimental  colors  were  visible. 

"  The  rebel  line  advanced,  and  I  was  steadily  driven  back  across  the 
ridge.  My  only  means  of  crossing  the  creek  was  Reed's  Bridge,  a  narrow, 
frail  structure,  which  was  covered  with  loose  boards  and  fence  rails,  and  a 
bad  ford  about  three  hundred  yards  higher  up.  I  masked  my  artillery  be 
hind  some  shrubs  near  the  ford,  leaving  one  battalion  of  the  4th  regulars  to 
support  it,  and  ordering  the  remainder  of  that  regiment  to  cross  the  bridge, 
holding  the  4th  Michigan  and  7th  Pennsylvania  in  line  to  cover  the  move 
ment.  Before  the  first  squadron  had  time  to  cross  the  head  of  a  rebel  col 
umn  carrying  their  arms  at  '  right  shoulder  shift/  and  moving  at  the  double 
quick,  as  steadily  as  if  at  drill,  came  through  the  gap  not  five  hundred  yards 
from  the  bridge.  The  artillery  opening  on  them  from  an  unexpected  quar 
ter  evidently  took  -them  by  surprise,  and  immediately  checked  their  ad 
vance,  again  causing  them  to  deploy.  The  4th  Michigan  followed  the  4th 
regulars,  and  the  7th  Pennsylvania  the  4th  Michigan.  One  squadron  of 
the  4th  regulars,  under  Lieut.  Davis,  most  gallantly  covering  the  crossing 
of  the  7th  Pennsylvania.  One  squadron  of  the  4th  Michigan,  under  Lieut. 
Simpson,  on  picket  on  the  Harrison  rorid,  was  cut  off  by  the  rapid  advance 
of  the  enemy ;  they  made  a  gallant  resistance,  and  eventually  swam  the 
creek  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  The  artillery  crossed  the  ford  in  safety, 
and  I  placed  it  in  position  to  dispute  the  crossing  of  the  bridge,  from  which 
Lieut.  Davis's  meji  had  thrown  most  of  the  loose  planking.  Here  I  was 
soon  hotly  engaged  and  was  holding  the  rebels  in  check,  when  I  received  a 
note  from  the  officer  in  charge  of  my  wagon  train  (which  I  had  sent  back 
to  Gordon's  Mill)  stating  '  Col.  Wilder  has  fallen  back  from  Alexander's 
Bridge ;  he  is  retreating  towards  Gordon's  Mills,  and  the  enemy  is  crossing 
the  river  in  force  at  all  points.'  I  sent  an  order  to  Col.  Miller  to  join  me 
without  delay ;  and  on  his  arrival  I  fell  back  to  Gordon's  Mill,  skirmishing 
with  the  enemy,  who  followed  me  closely.  With  less  than  1,000  men,  the 
old  'first  brigade'  had  disputed  the  advance  of  7,000  from  7  o'clock  in  the 
morning  until  5  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  during  that  time  fell  back  only 
five  miles.  On  arriving  at  Gordon's  Mill  my  men  were  dismounted,  and, 
with  Col.  Wilder's  brigade  and  a  brigade  from  Gen.  Van  Cleve's  division, 
repulsed  a  heavy  attack  about  8  o'clock  P.  M.  We  lay  in  position  all  night 
within  hearing  of  the  enemy  and  were  without  fires,  although  the  night  was 
bitterly  cold.  At  break  of  clay  General  Palmer's  division  relieved  us.  I 
then  moved  to  the  rear  and  procured  forage  for  our  horses  and  rations  for 
the  men,  who  had  been  entirely  without  since  the  previous  morning. 

"  September  19th. — Moved  along  the  rear  to  the  left  to  protect  the  trains 
moving  into  Chattanooga.  Camped  near  Rossville. 

"  September  20th. — Under  orders  from  Major-General  Granger,  I  march 
ed  to  the  ford  at  Missionary  Mills,  and  sent  strong  patrols  to  Chicamauga 
Station  and  Graysville  without  meeting  the  enemy.  Towards  the  afternoon 
I  received  orders  from  General  Granger  to  take  possession  of  the  position 
then  occupied  by  him  on  the  Ringold  and  Rossville  road.  On  arriving  on 
the  ground  I  found  that  General  Granger  had  already  marched  to  the  as 
sistance  of  General  Thomas.  Being  anxious  to  know  what  was  in  front  of 
me,  I  pushed  forward  towards  Red  House  Bridge,  and  found  Scott's  brigade 
of  cavalry  and  mounted  infantry,  about  1,500  strong,  moving  into  position 
on  our  side  of  the  creek.  I  immediately  attacked  them,  and  after  a  spirited 


THE  FOURTH  CAVALRY.  277 

skirmish  of  about  an  hour's  duration  drove  them  across  the  creek,  with  con 
siderable  loss. 

"September  21st. — During  the  night  General  Thomas  fell  back  to  the 
heights  of  Missionary  Ridge  at  Rossville,  and  this  morning  I  found  myself 
about  two  miles  directly  in  front  of  his  line  of  battle.  The  rebels  advanced 
in  three  columns  from  the  direction  of  Missionary  Mills,  Red  House  Bridge, 
and  Dyer's  Ford.  I  skirmished  with  their  advance  for  a  couple  of  hours, 
and  then  fell  back  to  Rossville,  with  a  loss  of  one  officer  and  seven  men 
killed  and  one  officer  and  thirteen  men  wounded.  I  was  then  ordered  to 
the  left  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy. 

"  September  22d. — Under  orders  from  Major-General  Thomas,  the  4th 
regulars  mov"ed  during  the  night  to  Rossville  and  took  possession  of  the  gap 
vacated  by  our  retiring  infantry,  At  6  A.  M.  I  heard  firing  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Rossville ;  leaving  strong  pickets  in  the  passes  over  the  ridge  I  moved 
forward  with  the  7th  Pennsylvania  and  4th  Michigan  to  support  the  4th 
regulars,  but  found  that  Capt.  Mclntire  had  judiciously  fallen  back,  the 
enemy  having  turned  his  flank  by  advancing  on  the  road  from  Gordon's 
Mills.  I  retired  to  Chattanooga,  skirmishing  sharply. 

"  September  23d. — With  the  3d  Pennsylvania  and  4th  Michigan  I  worked 
in  the  trenches  all  night,  and  at  4  A.  M.  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  and 
encamped  at  Oposum  creek,  from  whence  I  picketed  the  river  from  Wash 
ington  to  Sandy  Shoals. 

"  The  loss  in  my  brigade  from  the  day  I  was  detached  from  the  division 
until  I  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  on  the  24th  was  under  100  men,  of  whom 
only  15  were  missing,  and  of  those  15,  9  are  known  to  be  either  killed  or 
wounded  ;  while  during  that  time,  in  prisoners  alone,  I  took  from  the  enemy 
439  men." 

Colonel  Minty,  in  calling  the  attention  of  the  commanding  General  to 
the  gallant  conduct  in  the  battle  of  Chicamauga  of  certain  officers  of  his 
brigade  whom  he  considered  entitled  to  special  mention,  says  of  Lieutenant 
Simpson,  4th  Michigan  cavalry  : 

"  Lieutenant  J.  H.  Simpson,  4th  Michigan  cavalry,  commanded  the 
squadron  of  his  regiment  on  picket  on  the  Harrison  Road,  on  the  18th, 
which  was  cut  off  by  the  rapid  advance  of  the  enemy.  After  fighting  as 
long  as  he  possibly  could,  he  swam  the  Chicamauga  and  brought  in  his 
squadron,  with  no  casualties  but  one  man  and  one  horse  slightly  wounded." 
On  the  30th,  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Major  Horace  Gray,  having 
been  ordered  to  Cotton's  Ferry,  on  the  Tennessee  river,  to  support  a  bat 
talion  of  U.  S.  cavalry,  it  was  attacked  and  driven  back  by  a  large  body 
of  Wheeler's  rebel  cavalry,  who  had  crossed  the  river.  Here  Lieutenant 
Edward  Tucker  was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  at  Chattanooga  on  the 
7th  of  October  following. 

On  the  1st  of  October  it  again  had  a  skirmish  with  Wheeler's  cavalry, 
who  was  engaged  in  making  a  raid  on  the  communication  of  the  army. 
The  4th  participated  in  the  pursuit  of  Wheeler,  and  on  the  3d  skirmished 
with  his  rear-guard. 

On  the  28th  or  March,  1864,  excepting  a  detachment  of  128  mounted 
men,  the  4th  proceeded,  via  Chattanooga  and  Stevenson,  to  Nashville, 
where  it  arrived  on  the  31st.  It  here  received  new  horses  and  equipments 
and  was  armed  with  the  Spencer  carbine.  On  the  14th  of  April  the  regi 
ment  marched  to  Columbia,  Tenn.,  where  it  joined  the  2d  cavalry  division. 
Marching  from  this  place  with  878  men  present,  on  the  30th,  the  regiment 
proceeded  through  Shelbyville  and  Tullahoma,  and  over  the  Cumberland 
mountains  to  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  thence  crossed  the  Raccoon,  Lookout,  and 


278  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Pigeon  mountains  to  Lafayette,  and  thence  across  Taylor's  Ridge,  to 
Villanon,  Ga.,  where  it  arrived  May  10th.  On  the  15th  the  command 
attacked  the  enemy's  cavalry  at  Tanner's  Bridge,  nine  miles  from  Rome, 
routing  and  pursuing  them  seven  miles,  when  meeting  a  superior  force  with 
artillery,  it  retired,  the  regiment  having  lost  in  the  affair  6  wounded  and  4 
missing,  and  captured  a  number  of  prisoners.  From  Woodland,  on  the 
18th,  seven  companies  were  sent  towards  Kingston  on  a  reconnoissarice. 
Meeting  rebel  cavalry,  the  detachment  drove  them  for  some  miles,  and  until 
it  encountered  a  force  of  rebel  infantry  in  front.  The  enemy's  cavalry 
then  threw  themselves  on  its  flanks  and  rear,  and  nearly  enveloped  the  de 
tachment,  but  it  finally  succeeded  in  cutting  its  way  through  with  the  loss 
of  24  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  Among  the  wounded  was  Lieu 
tenant  Randolph,  mortally,  who  died  on  the  30th  of  that  mouth. 

Colonel  Minty,  in  his  report  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State  already 
referred  to,  says,  regarding  the  operations  of  his  command  at  Lattimer's 
Mill,  on  Noonday  creek : 

"To  give  you  some  idea  of  the  magnitude  of  the  fight  at  Lattimer's  Mill, 
I  hand  you  herewith  a  copy  of  a  supplementary  report  of  the  battle,  made 
by  me  as  brigade  commander,  on  the  7th  July,  1864,  to  Captain  R.  P. 
Kennedy,  Assistant  Adjutant-General,  and  which  is  as  follows : 

"I  beg  to  hand  you  the  following  extracts  from  a  letter  published  at 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  the  afternoon  edition  of  the  Memphis  Appeal  of  the  25th 
June,  1864,  as  a  supplementary  report  of  the  fight  at  Lattimer's  Mill,  on 
the  20th  June : 

"'On  the  20th  instant,  two  divisions — Kelly's  and  Martin's — and  one 
brigade — Williams' — of  our  cavalry,  went  round  to  the  left  flank  and  rear 
of  Sherman's  army,  it  was  said,  to  capture  a  brigade  of  Yankee  cavalry, 
stationed  at  McAfee's.  We  succeeded  in  getting  to  the  right  place,  where 
the  enemy — Miuty's  brigade — was  vigorously  attacked  by  Williams  and 
a  portion  of  Anderson's  brigade.  After  a  sharp  conflict  the  enemy  were 
driven  from  the  field,  Hannon's  brigade  having  come  up  and  attacked 
them  on  the  flank.  The  Yankees  fought  desperately  and  fell  back  slowly, 
with  what  loss  we  are  unable  to  ascertain,  as  they  carried  off  their  wounded 
and  most  of  their  dead.  To  one  who  was  an  eye-witness,  but  not  an  adept 
in  the  '  art  of  war,'  it  seemed  very  strange  that  the  whole  Yankee  force 
was  not  surrounded  and  captured.  Dib roll's  brigade  was  drawn  up  a  few 
hundred  yards  from  and  in  full  view  of  the  battle-field,  with  Martin's  whole 
division  immediately  in  the  rear.  This  is  one  of  the  best  fighting  brigades 
the  Yankees  have,  and  to  have  captured  or  routed  it  would  have  added  a 
bright  feather  to  the  plume  of  the  successful  hero  accomplishing  the  feat. 
After  he  (Minty)  had  been  driven  from  his  first  position,  Martin's  whole 
division  was  brought  up,  and  lost  several  men  of  Allen's  brigade.  Briga 
dier-General  Allen  had  his  horse  shot.  The  8th  Confederate  and  5th 
Georgia,  of  Anderson's  brigade,  lost  several  killed  and  wounded.  Wil 
liams'  Kentucky  brigade  lost  several  good  soldiers.'  " 

Colonel  Minty  adds  in  his  report :  "According  to  the  above,  there  was 
the  following  rebel  force  in  the  field :  Kelly's  and  Martin's  divisions,  con 
sisting  of  the  brigades  of  Anderson,  (six  regiments,)  Hannon's,  (five  regi 
ments,)  Allen's,  (five  regiments,)  and  Johnson's,  (five  regiments,)  and  the 
independent  brigades  of  Williams  and  Dibrell,  composed  of  five  regiments 
each,  say  in  all  twelve  regiments,  with  an  average  of  300 — 3,600 ;  the  5th 
Georgia  numbered  over  800.  The  entire  force  I  had  engaged  was  7th 
Pennsylvania,  170  men,  and  4th  Michigan,  283 — in  all  453.  These  few 
men  held  their  ground  against  the  repeated  assaults  of  the  enemy  for  over 


THE  FOURTH  CAVALRY.  279 

two  hours,  and  when  I  ordered  them  to  fall  back,  they  retired  slowly,  in 
good  order.  I  beg  to  call  the  attention  of  the  General  commanding  to  the 
heavy  loss  sustained  by  this  small  force.  In  a  loss  of  over  twelve  per  cent, 
the  very  small  proportion  reported  missing  shows  how  steadily  and  stub 
bornly  they  fought." 

General  Minty  adds  in  a  note  to  this  report:  "My  loss  in  this  engage 
ment  was  2  officers  and  65  men.  The  Marietta  (Ga.)  papers  acknowledge 
a  loss  of  94  killed  and  351  wounded.  Two  battalions  4th  Michigan  re 
pulsed  three  sabre  charges,  made  by  the  8th  Confederate  and  5th  Georgia, 
numbering  over  1.000  men,  and  one  battalion,  led  by  Captain  Hathaway, 
repulsed  a  charge  made  by  Williams'  Kentucky  Brigade,  by  a  counter 
charge." 

The  4th  Michigan  lost  37  killed  and  wounded  and  3  missing,  including 
among  the  killed  Lieutenant  T.  W.  Button. 

Having  crossed  the  Chattahoochie  river,  the  regiment,  in  command  of 
Major  Mix,  on  the  18th  of  July,  1864,  participated  in  a  raid  on  the  Atlanta 
and  Augusta  railroad,  and  destroyed  the  track  for  several  miles.  From 
the  22d  to  the  24th  it  was  engaged  in  a  raid  on  Covington,  on  the  same 
railroad,  and  in  destroying  the  bridges  and  track.  On  the  27th  the  com 
mand  marched  through  Deeatur,  covering  the  "  Stoneman  raid."  Encamp 
ing  at  Flat  Shoals,  it  was  there  surrounded  by  the  rebel  cavalry,  but  on 
the  28th  succeeded  in  cutting  its  way  through,  and  fell  back  to  Lithonia, 
on  the  Augusta  railroad.  From  the  1st  to  the  14th  of  August  the  4th  was 
employed  as  infantry,  occupying  a  portion  of  the  trenches  in  front  of  At 
lanta  that  had  been  vacated  by  the  23d  corps. 

The  4th,  still  in  command  of  Major  Mix,  composed  a  part  of  General 
Kil patrick's  force  while  on  his  celebrated  raid  around  the  rebel  army  then 
defending  Atlanta.  This  force  consisted  of  the  3d  division  of  cavalry,  about 
2,500  strong,  commanded  in  person  by  General  Kilpatrick,  Minty's  and 
Long's  brigades  of  the  2d  cavalry  division,  numbering  about  2,554,  with 
two  sections  of  the  Chicago  Board  of  Trade  battery,  in  command  of  Lieut. 
Robinson.  Kilpatrick  made  a  complete  circuit,  occupying  four  days,  fight 
ing  almost  the  entire  time  superior  numbers,  and  whipping  them  with  half 
their  force.  General  Garrard,  of  the  2d  division  did  not  accompany  the 
expedition,  consequently,  Col.  Minty,  of  the  4th  Michigan,  then  the  ranking 
colonel,  took  command  of  the  brigades  of  that  division. 

At  1  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  of  August,  Minty's  command 
broke  camp  and  left  our  lines  for  the  rendezvous  of  the  expedition  at  Sand- 
town,  arriving  there  at  6  A.  M.  The  movement  was  commenced  under 
cover  of  darkness,  to  prevent,  if  possible,  any  information  being  obtained  by 
the  enemy ;  yet,  a  rebel  letter,  captured  on  the  20th,  dated  at  Atlanta  on 
the  18th,  gave  the  number  of  Minty's  command,  and  the  destination  of  the 
raiders.  On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  Minty  reported  to  General  Kilpat 
rick  at  Sand  town,  and  received  his  orders,  and  that  night  the  command 
moved  oif  on  their  bold  undertaking,  the  3d  division  in  the  advance,  skir 
mishing  all  the  way,  until  the  West  Point  railroad  was  reached  near  Fair- 
bern,  where  the  first  rebel  assault  was  made.  The  enemy  struck  the  column 
on  the  left  flank,  with  artillery  and  dismounted  cavalry,  with  so  mi^ch  force 
as  to  cut  the  7th  Pennsylvania,  in  command  of  Major  Jennings,  in  two,  but 
were  immediately  reinforced  by  the  4th  Michigan,  commanded  by  Major 
Mix,  when  a  vigorous  and  irresistible  attack  was  made  on  the  enemy  driving 
him  from  the  ground  in  great  disorder.  Pursuing  the  rebel  force  to  Flint 
river,  it  was  found  that  the  bridge  had  been  destroyed,  the  stream  deep, 
and  bottom  bad  for  crossing,  while  Ross  and  Furgerson's  brigades  of  cav- 


280  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

airy  presented  a  bold  front  on  the  east  bank,  and  with  artillery  disputed 
the  passage.  The  artillery  was  promptly  in  position,  and  soon  silenced  the 
rebel  batteries ;  instantly  the  1st,  3d,  and  4th  Ohio  and  4th  Michigan  cav 
alry  dismounted,  formed  in  line,  and  under  cover  of  a  destructive  fire  of 
grape  and  canister  directed  on  the  rebel  rifle  pits,  and  with  a  yell,  dashed 
forward  on  the  double-quick  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  where  a  deadly  fire 
was  poured  into  the  rebels  at  short  range,  dislodging  their  sharp-shooters, 
when  the  column  crossed  the  river  on  the  stringers  of  the  burned  bridge, 
leaving  the  7th  Pennsylvania,  one  section  of  artillery,  and  the  led  horses  on 
the  west  bank.  Minty,  with  his  command  dismounted,  then  advanced  on 
Jonesboro,  the  4th  Michigan  being  deployed  as  skirmishers,  1st  Ohio,  4th 
U.  S.,  in  line,  with  one  section  of  artillery  in  the  centre,  and  the  3d  and  4th 
Ohio  following  in  column,  driving  Ross  and  Ferguson  into  town  where  they 
took  shelter  in  the  houses,  and  opened  a  sharp  fire.  While  Minty  was  get 
ting  his  artillery  in  position  to  riddle  the  buildings,  the  rebels  mounted  their 
horses  and  vacated  in  disorder.  The  3d  division  was  then  quickly  brought 
up,  and  the  destruction  of  the  town  commenced,  two-thirds  of  it  being  de 
stroyed  by  fire. 

While  this  was  being  done,  Ferguson  and  Ross  were  reinforced  by 
a  brigade  of  infantry,  and  took  a  position  near  Kilpatrick's  forces,  en 
trenching  themselves  by  felling  timber,  &c.  Kilpatrick's  main  object 
being  to  destroy  the  railway,  and  not  whipping  the  enemy,  except  when 
necessary  in  the  execution  of  his  purpose,  that  same  night  left  Jonesboro. 
Striking  east  about  five  miles,  he  then  marched  direct  for  Lovejoy's  Station, 
on  the  Macon  road.  At  daybreak  the  next  morning  his  flight  from  Jones 
boro  was  discovered  by  the  enemy,  who  started  in  pursuit  with  his  cavalry. 
At  one  and  a  half  miles  from  Lovejoy's  Station,  the  2d  division  in  the  ad 
vance,  Minty's  brigade  leading,  followed  by  Long's,  the  4th  Michigan  was 
detached,  with  orders  to  gain  possession  of  and  destroy  the  railroad ;  and 
was  engaged  in  tearing  up  the  track,  when  the  column  moving  down  the 
direct  road  to  the  station  encountered  the  enemy's  mounted  pickets,  who 
were  driven  in  by  the  7th  Pennsylvania  in  fine  style ;  but  skirmishing  was 
continued  until  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  station,  where  the  force 
was  dismounted.  In  the  meantime  the  4th  U.  S.  cavalry  had  been  sent  to 
reinforce  the  7th  Pennsylvania,  but  before  their  line  was  fairly  formed  a 
whole  rebel  infantry  brigade,  which  was  lying  in  ambush  without  skirmish 
ers  out,  poured  into  the  ranks  a  terrific  volley,  and  with  yells  rushed  over 
the  small  party,  killing,  wounding,  and  taking  prisoners  nearly  the  entire 
party,  who  fought  bravely  until  their  arms  were  wrested  from  them.  Long's 
brigade  was  immediately  formed,  artillery  placed  in  position,  and  the  rebels 
were  quickly  repulsed,  with  severe  loss.  Scarcely  had  this  been  accom 
plished  when  a  whole  division  of  rebel  cavalry,  (Jackson's,)  5,000  strong, 
composed  of  Armstrong's,  Ferguson's,  and  Ross's  brigades,  were  seen  com 
ing  down  on  the  left  and  rear  on  the  keen  run,  accompanied  by  ten  pieces 
of  artillery.  Cleburn's  division  of  cavalry,  10,000  strong,  was  advancing 
rapidly  on  the  right  and  front,  while  Reynolds,  with  seven  regiments  of  in 
fantry,  was  coming  in  quickly  on  the  left  and  front.  Before  Kilpatrick 
had  time  to  learn  what  was  coming,  a  spirited  attack  was  made  on  the  rear, 
but  he  soon  comprehended  the  situation.  Minty's  brigade  was  instantly 
withdrawn  and  hastily  formed  in  line  in  column  of  regiments.  The  7th 
Pennsylvania,  Major  Jennings,  on  the  right ;  4th  Michigan,  Major  Mix,  in 
the  centre,  and  the  4th  U.  S.,  Captain  Mclntire,  on  the  left ;  Long's  brigade 
was  formed  in  rear,  and  the  3d  division  was  formed  on  the  left  of  the  road. 
The  advancing  enemy  was  immediately  most  gallantly  attacked  by  a  charge 


THE  FOURTH  CAVALRY.  281 

of  Minty's  brigade,  which  is  described  by  a  correspondent  of  the  Cincinnati 
Commercial  as  follows : 

"  While  the  various  regiments  were  being  manoeuvred  into  position  to 
meet  the  onslaught  of  the  rebels,  who  were  sweeping  down  upon  them,  the 
men  had  time  to  comprehend  the  danger  that  surrounded  them — rebels  to 
the  right  of  them,  rebels  to  the  left  of  them,  rebels  in  rear  of  them,  rebels 
in  front  of  them — surrounded ;  there  was  no  salvation  but  to  cut  their  way 
out.  Visions  of  Libby  Prison  and  starvation  flitted  through  their  imagi 
nation,  and  they  saw  that  the  deadly  conflict  could  not  be  avoided.  Placing 
himself  at  the  head  of  his  brigade,  the  gallant  and  fearless  Minty  drew  his 
sabre,  arid  his  voice  rung  out  clear  and  loud  :  'Attention,  column !  forward, 
trot;  regulate  by  the  centre  regiment;  march,  gallop,  march !'  and  away 
the  brigade  went  with  a  yell  that  echoed  away  across  the  valleys. 

"The  ground  from  which  the  start  was  made,  and  over  which  they 
charged,  was  a  plantation  of  about  two  square  miles,  thickly  strewn  with 
patches  of  woods,  deep  water  cuts,  fences,  ditches,  and  morasses.  At  the 
word  away  went  the  bold  dragoons,  at  the  height  of  their  speed.  Fences 
were  jumped  and  ditches  were  no  impediment.  The  rattle  of  the  sabres 
mingled  with  that  of  the  mess  kettles  and  frying-pans  that  jingled  at  the 
side  of  the  pack  mule  brigade,  which  were  madly  pushed  forward  by  the 
frightened  darkies  who  straddled  them.  Charging  for  their  lives  and  yell 
ing  like  devils,  Minty  and  his  troopers  encountered  the  rebels  behind  a 
hastily  constructed  barricade  of  rails.  Pressing  their  rowels  deep  into 
their  horses  flanks,  and  raising  their  sabres  aloft,  on,  on,  on,  nearer  and 
nearer  to  the  rebels  they  plunged.  The  terror-stricken  enemy  could  not 
withstand  the  thunderous  wave  of  men  and  horse  that  threatened  to  engulf 
them.  They  broke  and  ran  just  as  Minty  and  his  troopers  were  urging 
their  horses  for  the  decisive  blow.  In  an  instant  all  was  confusion.  The 
yells  of  the  horsemen  were  drowned  in  the  clashing  of  steel  and  the  groans 
of  the  dying.  On  pressed  Minty  in  pursuit,  his  men's  sabres  striking  right 
and  left,  and  cutting  down  everything  in  their  path.  The  rebel  horsemen 
were  seen  to  reel  and  pitch  headlong  to  the  earth,  while  their  frightened 
steeds  rushed  pell-mell  over  their  bodies.  Many  of  the  rebels  defended 
themselves  with  almost  superhuman  strength ;  yet  it  was  all  in  vain.  The 
charge  of  Federal  steel  was  irresistible.  The  heads  and  limbs  of  some  of 
the  rebels  were  actually  severed  from  their  bodies,  the  head  of  the  rider 
falling  on  one  side  of  the  horse,  the  lifeless  trunk  upon  the  other. 

"  The  individual  instances  of  heroism  were  many.  Hardly  a  man  flinched, 
and  when  the  brigade  came  out  more  than  half  the  sabres  were  stained  with 
human  blood. 

"It  was,  all  admit,  one  of  the  finest  charges  of  the  war.  Fully  one  hun 
dred  men  fell  under  the  keen  sabres  of  Minty 's  brigade.  The  praises  of 
Minty  and  his  command  are  upon  every  tongue.  The  4th  U.  S.,  4th  Mich 
igan,  1st,  3d,  and  4th  Ohio  regiments  charged  over  a  rebel  battery  of  three 
guns  on  the  left  of  the  road  ;  but  no  sooner  had  our  men  passed  than  the 
rebels  again  seized  the  cannon,  and  reversing  them,  poured  grape  and  canis 
ter  into  the  charging  columns.  General  Kilpatrick,  seeing  this,  with  his 
staff  and  others,  about  thirty  in  all,  moved  forward  to  capture  the  guns ; 
but  found  a  high  staked-and-ridered  fence  between  him  and  the  battery. 
Seeing  the  predicament  in  which  the  general  was,  Private  William  Bailey, 
a  young  Tennessean  belonging  to  company  I,  4th  Michigan,  an  orderly  to 
Colonel  Minty,  coolly  rode  up  to  the  fence,  dismounted  in  face  of  a  severe 
fire,  tore  down  the  fence,  remounted,  rode  up  to  the  battery,  shot  the  cap 
tain,  took  possession  of  the  horse  and  arms,  and  rode  out.  He  was  imme- 

R* 


282  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

diately  followed  by  a  party  of  men  who  captured  the  battery  and  spiked 
the  guns.  In  the  charge  Minty's  brigade  captured  three  stand  of  colors. 
The  4th  U.  S.  taking  two  and  the  4th  Michigan  one." 

The  position  of  General  Kilpatrick's  force,  and  the  overpowering  numbers 
opposing  him,  rendered  his  condition  most  critical,  leaving  him  to  choose 
between  surrender  or  almost  certain  annihilation  in  the  effort  to  extricate 
himself.  He  chose  the  latter,  and  was  relieved  from  his  dilemma  by  the 
gallant  fighting  of  Minty's  brigade,  and  thus  enabled  to  accomplish  success 
fully  the  object  of  the  expedition. 

The  casualties  in  the  brigade  and  the  Chicago  Board  of  Trade  battery  on 
this  raid  were  1  officer  and  32  men  killed,  6  officers  and  92  men  wounded, 
3  officers  and  20  men  missing,  (wounded,)  and  4  officers  and  48  men  missing. 

The  casualties  in  Minty's  brigade  during  the  campaign,  ending  in  the 
occupation  of  Atlanta,  were  2  officers  and  44  men  killed,  6  officers  and  106 
men  wounded,  and  7  officers  and  83  men  missing. 

The  regiment  arrived  at  Lithonia  on  the  21st,  having  made  a  circuit 
around  Atlanta,  and  been  in  the  saddle  and  almost  constantly  engaged 
since  its  departure  from  Sandtown  on  the  18th,  the  marches  having  been 
made  over  roads  that  had  become  very  rough  from  heavy  rains.  From 
Lithonia  the  regiment  returned  to  Sandtown.  Marching  thence  through 
Atlanta,  it  crossed  the  Chattahoochie  river  on  the  19th,  and  encamped  near 
Roswell.  Less  than  150  mounted  men  were  present  at  this  time  for  duty. 
A  detail  of  50  men,  sent  out  as  guard  for  a  foraging  train  from  Roswell, 
were  attacked  by  a  force  estimated  at  over  four  times  their  number ;  but, 
after  a  sharp  conflict,  the  detachment  repulsed  the  enemy,  its  loss  being 
only  one  wounded  and  two  missing.  On  the  1st  of  October  the  regiment 
again  returned  to  Sandtown,  and  on  the  2d  and  3d  engaged  the  enemy  for 
several  hours  on  each  day,  on  Sweetwater  creek,  but  with  slight  loss.  On 
the  4th  the  regiment  arrived  at  Marietta,  Avhere  it  joined  the  2d  cavalry 
division,  and  moved  with  it  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  army,  then  engaged  in 
its  northward  movement  to  the  Tennessee  river.  The  command  skirmished 
with  the  enemy  for  several  hours  on  the  5th,  and  on  the  following  day  the 
rebels  having  vacated  their  position,  the  command  attacked  their  rear 
guard  and  captured  a  brigadier  general  and  colonel,  with  other  prisoners. 
The  enemy  having  moved  to  Dallas  and  occupied  their  old  works  at  that 
place,  were  attacked  by  the  command  and  driven  out.  On  the  10th  the 
command  was  engaged  near  Rome,  and  on  the  12th  crossed  the  Ostewaula 
river  and  attacked  the  rebel  force,  but  after  driving  them  several  miles  the 
latter  opened  with  artillery,  and  the  command  retired.  On  the  loth  the 
enemy  were  again  attacked  and  two  pieces  of  artillery  and  a  large  number 
of  prisoners  taken  from  them.  Recrossing  the  Ostewaula  river,  the  regi 
ment  marched  through  Rome,  Kingston,  and  Adairsville,  to  Resaca,  thence 
via  Summersville  and  Galesville,  Ala.,  to  Little  river,  where,  on  the  20th, 
it  engaged  General  Wheeler's  cavalry,  forcing  them  to  retire.  The  dis 
mounted  men  had  from  time  to  time  been  sent  to  the  rear,  and  with  the 
exception  of  217  sent  to  Chattanooga,  were  employed  in  garrisoning  the 
block-houses  on  the  railroad  between  Nashville  and  Huntsville.  On  the 
17th  of  September,  Corporal  Charles  M.  Bickford  and  17  men  of  the  regi 
ment,  in  a  block-house,  were  attacked  by  the  rebel  cavalry  under  General 
Wheeler,  numbering  over  8,000,  with  artillery.  Although  the  enemy  shelled 
the  block-house  for  over  five  hours,  they  could  not  force  a  surrender,  and 
finally  retired  with  a  loss  of  8  killed  and  60  wounded.  The  corporal  was 
promoted  to  be  a  commissioned  officer,  and  the  names  of  the  men  were  hon 
orably  mentioned  in  general  orders. 


THE  FOURTH  CAVALRY.  283 

The  regiment,  in  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  B.  F.  Pritehard,  was  at  Gravel 
ly  Springs,  Ala.,  during  the  month  of  February  and  part  of  March,  1865. 
During  the  early  part  of  March  preparations  had  been  made  for  active  ser 
vice,  and  on  the  12th  the  command  broke  camp  at  12  P.  M.  and  reached 
Waterloo  on  the  13th,  crossing  the  Tennessee  river  to  Eastport,  Miss.  It 
remained  there  until  the  22d,  and  then  commenced  its  march  southward, 
over  mountains,  crossing  rivers  and  creeks  and  through  swamps,  building 
miles  of  corduroy  road,  reaching  the  Black  Warrior  river  on  the  29th,  and 
which  was  that  day  crossed  by  swimming  the  horses,  losing  one  man  and 
between  thirty  and  forty  horses.  During  the  night  the  Locust  was  crossed 
in  the  same  manner.  On  the  31st  the  command  crossed  Shades  creek  and 
the  Cahawba  river,  passing  the  battery  over  the  railroad  bridge  after  it  had 
been  laid  with  ties,  losing  five  or  six  mules  and  horses  by  their  tumbling 
over  the  narrow  bridge  and  falling  nearly  a  hundred  feet,  killing  them  in 
stantly.  The  brigade  to  which  the  regiment  was  attached  being  in  the  rear 
of  its  division,  the  2d,  the  4th  division  having  the  advance,  became  engaged 
with  Forrest's  command,  and  had  a  sharp  fight  on  the  1st  of  April  near 
Mulberry  creek,  capturing  three  pieces  of  artillery.  On  the  same  day  the 
regiment,  with  its  brigade,  crossed  the  Big  Mulberry  and  about  midnight 
encamped  at  Plantersville.  On  the  2d  the  brigade,  being  in  the  advance, 
started  at  4  o'clock  A.  M.  on  the  direct  road  to  Selma,  distant  about  twenty 
miles,  reaching  the  fortifications  in  front  of  that  place  at  2  P.  M.  on  the 
same  day.  They  were  found  to  be  stronger  and  more  perfect  than  those  at 
Atlanta,  consisting  of  an  inner  line  of  redans  and  redoubts,  mounted  with 
12-pounder  howitzers  and  20-pounder  Parrots.  The  main  and  outer  line, 
which  extended  entirely  around  the  city  from  river  to  river,  consisted  of 
twenty-five  redoubts  or  bastions  connected  by  curtains,  the  parapet  being 
about  twelve  feet  high  and  surrounded  by  a  ditch  and  well-built  palisade, 
in  front  of  which  was  swampy  ground  partially  covered  with  abattis.  These 
works  were  defended  by  General  Forrest,  with  a  force  estimated  at  nine 
thousand.  The  2d  division,  in  which  was  the  4th  Michigan,  was  ordered 
to  assault  the  works  on  the  Summerville  road  and  the  4th  division  those  on 
the  Plantersville  road.  About  the  time  the  assault  Avas  to  take  place  the 
rear  of  the  2d  division  was  attacked  by  Chalmer's  division  of  rebel  cavalry. 
The  3d  Ohio  and  72d  Indiana,  with  a  portion  of  the  98th  Illinois,  were  im 
mediately  detached  to  hold  them  in  check,  leaving  in  the  2d  division  only 
about  1,483  men  to  make  the  assault.  It,  however,  moved  forward  under  a 
terrific  fire,  going  at  the  work  with  a  cheer,  and  had  possession  of  the  main 
line  in  twenty  minutes,  losing  in  that  brief  space  of  time  324  in  killed  and 
wounded.  General  Long,  commanding  the  division,  had  been  shot  in  the 
head  shortly  after  the  division  moved  to  the  assault,  Colonel  Minty,  of  the 
4th  Michigan,  assuming  command,  leading  the  division  in  the  assault,  .and 
is  reported  to  have  been  the  first  man  to  get  inside  the  works  alive ;  Corpo 
ral  Booth,  company  A,  4th  Ohio  cavalry,  being  killed  as  he  entered  the 
works  just  ahead  of  Col.  Minty.  The  rebels  were  soon  swept  from  the  main 
line  of  works,  and  then  the  inner  line  of  redans  was  carried  in  detail  by 
assault,  and  possession  had  been  gained  of  the  entire  inner  line  when  the 
4th  division  reached  the  outer  works.  The  result  of  this  gallant  affair  was 
the  capture  of  the  city,  with  twenty-five  pieces  of  artillery  in  position,  be 
sides  seventy-five  pieces  in  the  navy-yard,  with  a  large  amount  of  ammu 
nition  and  stores,  together  with  other  property,  and  twenty-eight  hundred 
prisoners. 

On  the  7th  of  May  Lieut.  Col.  Pritehard  was  directed  by  Col.  Minty  to 
proceed  with   the  regiment  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  Spaulding,  in  Irwin 


284  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

county,  and  picket  the  Ocmulgee  river  from  Hawkinsville  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Oconee  river,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  escape  of  Jefferson  Davis, 
who  was  then  supposed  to  be  making  his  way  to  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  if 
he  got  on  his  track  to  follow  him  wherever  he  went,  and  to  capture  or  kill 
him  without  fail.  At  Abby  ville  he  became  satisfied  that  Davis  had  already 
crossed  the  Ocmulgee,  and  ascertained  that  the  1st  Wisconsin  cavalry  was 
following  him  closely  in  the  direction  of  Irwinsville.  With  one  hundred  and 
fifty-three  of  the  best  mounted  men  of  the  regiment  he  followed  the  line  of 
the  Ocmulgee  for  some  miles,  and  then  took  a  bridle  path  or  blind  road 
through  the  woods  towards  Irwinsville,  and  arrived  at  that  place  about  2 
o'clock  A.  M.  on  the  10th,  and  found  that  Davis  had  not  yet  passed.  Pre 
tending  to  be  a  part  of  his  escort,  Col.  Pritchard  gained  information  from 
a  rebel  citizen  that  Davis  was  encamped  in  the  woods  about  three-fourths 
of  a  mile  north  of  the  town.  The  camp  was  at  once  surrounded,  and  at 
about  3  o'clock  A.  M.  the  force  closed  in  and  captured  him  and  his  party. 
Davis  attempted  to  escape,  disguised  in  his  wife's  travelling  cloak,  with  a 
shawl  thrown  over  his  head,  but  private  Adrian  Bee,  of  company  L,  and 
Corporal  Hunger,  of  company  C,  espied  his  military  boots  beneath  his  femi 
nine  attire  and  commanded  him  to  halt.  The  following  morning,  while  en 
route  for  Macon  with  the  captives,  information  was  received  of  the  proffered 
reward  of  8100,000  for  his  capture.  On  arriving  at  Macon  Col.  Pritchard, 
Capt.  Hudson,  Lieut.  Stauber,  and  Lieut.  Purinton,  with  twenty-two  men, 
were  detailed  to  escort  Davis  to  Washington,  D.  C.  The  regiment  remain 
ed  at  Macon  until  the  21st,  when  it  was  started  en  route  for  home,  feeling 
that  in  the  capture  of  Jeff.  Davis  it  had  finished  its  work. 

NOTE. — In  the  account  given  in  the  annals  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  of  the 
capture  of  Franklin,  on  Dec.  13,  1863,  is  found  the  following  notice  of  the  4th  Michigan 
cavalry  :  "  Company  I  of  the  4th  Michigan  cavalry,  dismounting,  took  position  near  the 
bridge  and  opened  fire  on  the  mill  ;  the  remainder  of  the  4th  Michigan  dismounted  un 
der  cover  of  the  rising  ground  on  which  the  7th  Pennsylvania  were  formed,  and  ad 
vanced  at  the  double-quick,  passed  the  position  of  the  7ih  Pennsylvania,  waded  across 
the  river  and  drove  the  rebels  from  the  town.  Colonel  Minty  was  the  first  man  across 
the  river,  and  as  he  scrambled  up  the  south  bank,  he  took  a  rebel  officer.  The  4th 
Michigan  had  passed  through  the  town  and  were  following  the  enemy  out  on  the  Co 
lumbia  and  Carter's  Creek  pikes  on  foot,  before  any  of  the  mounted  men  had  crossed 
the  river.  The  enemy  left  one  captain  aud  four  privates  dead  in  the  town  and  tea 
severely  wounded,  and  fifteen  or  twenty  prisoners  were  captured." 

Col.  Minty,  in  his  report  of  the  operations  of  the  brigade  commanded  by  him  in  the 
battle  of  Stone  river,  says  :  "  Captain  Mix  of  the  4th  Michigan,  with  about  fifty  men, 
not  only  drove  two  hundred  of  the  enemy  for  over  two  miles,  but  held  his  position 
against  a  full  regiment  of  rebel  cavalry.  Lieut.  Eldredge  with  eighteen  dismounted 
men  attacked  the  enemy,  routed  him,  and  re-captured  a  wagon  loaded  with  ammunition." 

Col.  Minty,  in  his  report  covering  the  service  of  his  brigade  at  the  battle  of  Shelby- 
ville,  specially  mentions  officers  for  gallant  conduct,  as  follows  :  "  Lieut,  and  Adjutant 
Hudson,  4th  Michigan  cavalry,  acted  with  great  gallantry  throughout  the  entire  action ; 
he  was  severely  wounded  by  a  musket  ball  through  the  shoulder." 

Regimental  commanders  make  honorable  mention  of  the  following:  "In  4th  Michigan 
cavalry,  Captains  Pritchard,  Hathaway,  Robbins  and  Grant;  Corporal  Hoffrnaster  of 
company  L,  (most  gallant  conduct,)  and  Private  Mason  Brown  of  company  I." 

The  regimental  commanders  (including  Major  Mix,  4th  Michigan)  are  named  by  Col 
onel  Minty  as  deserving  of  special  mention  for  their  promptness  and  the  manner  in 
which  they  handled  their  respective  commands. 

Following  is  Bragg's  circular  to  his  array  directing  the  movements  of  the  18th,  which 
indicates  the  important  position  held  by  the  4th  Michigan  cavalry  : 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OP  TENNESSEE, 
IN  THE  FIBLD,  LEET'S  TANYARD,  Sept.  18,  1863. 
[Circular.]     I.  Johnson's  column  (Hood's)  on  crossing  at  or  near  Reed's  bridge  will 


THE  FOURTH  CAVALRY. 

turn  to  the  left  by  the  most  practicable  route,  and  sweep  up  the  Chicamauga  toward 
Lee  and  Gordon's  mills. 

II.  Walker,  on  crossing  at  Alexander's  bridge,  will  unite  in  this  move  and  push  viy  • 
orously  on  the  enemy's  flank  and  rear  in  the  same  direction. 

III.  Buckner,  crossing  at  Tedford's  ford,  will  join  in  the  movement  to   the  left  aa  i 
press  the  enemy  up  the  stream  from  Folk's  front  at  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills. 

IV.  Polk  will  press  his  forces  to  the  front  of  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills.     *     * 

By  command  of  General  Bragg,  G.  W.  BRENTT,  A.  A.  G." 

Says  an  officer  writing  to  Col.  Minty,  and  who  had  the  opportunity  of  knowing:  "  It 
will  I  think  be  seen  that  you  held  on  that  day  (Sept.  18th)  the  key  of  the  position,  (tbe 
left  of  the  array,)  and  so  successfully  that  the  rebel  plan  was  frustrated.  It  costGtntiral 
Thomas  thousands  of  men  to  maintain  it,  persistently  fought  for  on  the  two  subsequent 
days.  Had  the  rebels  succeeded,  early  in  the  morning  of  the  first  day  of  the  baUle,  in 
taking  Reed's  bridge,  not  only  Col.  Wilder  but  the  whole  army  would  have  bet  i  seri 
ously  compromised.  I  am  sure  had  General  Rosecrans  known  all  the  facts  he  vrould 
have  added  the  18th  to  the  number  of  days  'the  army  could  not  have  dispensed  '  with 
the  services  of  the  cavalry. 

"  The  more  I  consider  the  facts  concerning  the  situation  of  the  army,  and  lear  i  of  the 
rebels,  the  prouder  I  become  of  our  little  brigade.  '  Preston's  division  effectet  an  un 
obstructed  passage  at  Huntsford,'  (says  'Ord,'  the  correspondent  of  the  Mobile.  Tribune, 
Rebel.)  Not  so  with  Johnson  and  Walker  at  Reed's  and  Alexander's  bridges  With 
out  them  there  was  no  'sweeping  up  the  Chicamauga  and  vigorously  pressing  the  ene 
my's  flank  and  rear;'  and  when  the  passage  was  effected,  your  persistent  pres  nee  and 
line  of  retreat  made  the  rebels  fear  to  '  turn  to  the  left'  and  expose  to  you  tl  uir  flank 
and  rear.  It  was  not  cavalry  you  were  fighting,  as  Bragg's  order  proves.  Fo  rest  was 
on  the  rebel  right,  but  the  bulk  of  the  rebel  cavalry  was  watching  at  CatL  it's  Gap. 
On  the  whole,  Colonel,  while  you  have  earned  many  laurels,  at  no  time  can  find  you 
doing  such  valuable  service  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  as  on  the  18th  of  Septem 
ber,  1883." 

In  1864,  while  the  block-houses  on  the  Chattanooga  &  Nashville  Railroad  M  ;re  being 
guarded  by  detachments  of  the  4th  Michigan  cavalry,  one  of  them  was  gar  .soned  by 
twenty-three  men  of  that  regiment,  only  seventeen  of  whom  were  armed  ;  hey  were 
under  the  command  of  Corporal  Chanclor  M.  Bickford  of  Algansee,  Branch  :o.,  Mich. 
On  September  17th  they  were  attacked  by  General  Wheeler's  whole  comnr  tnd,  eight 
thousand  men,  with  three  pieces  of  artillery.  A  summons  of  surrender  wag  ,  ent  twice, 
but  steadily  refused.  At  half-past  12  o'clock  M.  the  rebels  opened  with  the' f  artillery, 
and  for  two  hours  and  a  half  continued  to  shell  the  block-house,  at  one  time  being  not 
more  than  ten  or  fifteen  rods  distant.  .Seven  times  the  rebels  were  made  to  change  the 
position  of  their  artillery,  and  were  finally  forced  to  retreat  at  about  six  o'c!  >ck  in  the 
evening  with  a  loss  of  eight  men  killed  and  sixty  wounded.  The  block  house  was 
struck  during  the  engagement  twenty-five  times  by  artillery.  Corporal  B  ckford  was 
promoted  to  9,  Second  Lieutenancy,  and  the  names  of  the  gallant  men  who  were  under 
his  command  were  honorably  mentioned  in  orders. 

Col.  Minty,  in  his  report  of  the  operations  of  his  command  at  the  capture  of  Selma, 
Ala,  in  mentioning  officers  deserving  special  notice  for  gallant  conduct,  says  of  Major 
Burns,  4th  Michigan:  "Major  Burns,  4th  Michigan  cavalry,  my  A.  A.  A.  G.,  was 
amongst  the  first  to  enter  the  works,  and  acted  in  the  most  gallant  manner  throughout 
the  entire  action." 

Copy  of  the  original  letter  written  with  a  pencil  by  Col.  Pritchard,  announcing  the 
capture  of  Jefferson  Davis  : 

HEADQUARTERS  4rn  MICHIGAN  CAVALRY, 

ABBEVILLE,  GA.,  May  llth,  1865. 
CAPT.  SCOTT,  A.  A.  A.  G.,  2d  Division,  C.  C.  M.  D.  M. 

Sir: — 1  have  the  honor  to  report  that  at  daylight  yesterday  at  Trwinsville,  I  surprised 
and  captured  Jeff  Davis  and  family,  together  with  his  wife's  sister  and  brother,  his 
Postmaster-General  (Ragan)  his  private  Secretary  (Colonel  Harrison,)  Col.  Johnson,  A. 
D.  C.  on  Jeffs  staff,  Col.  Morris,  Col.  Lubbock,  Lieut.  Hathaway,  also  several  unimpor 
tant  names,  and  a  train  of  five  wagons  and  three  ambulances,  making  a  most  perfect 
success,  had  not  a  most  painful  mistake  occurred  by  which  the  4th  Michigan  and  1st  Wis 
consin  collided  which  cost  us  two  men  killed  and  Lieut.  Boutelle  wounded  through  the 
arm,  in  the  4th  Michigan,  and  three  men  wounded  in  the  1st  Wisconsin.  This  occurred 
just  at  daylight  after  we  had  captured  the  camp,  by  the  advance  of  the  1st  Wisconsin, 
not  properly  answering  our  challenge,  by  which  they  were  mistaken  for  the  enemy.  I 
returned  to  this  point  last  night  and  shall  move  right  on  to  Macon  without  awaiting 


286  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

orders  froro  you  as  directed  feelin?  that  the  whole  objects  of  the  expedition  are  accom 
plished.  It  will  take  at  least  three  days  to  reach  Macon  as  we  are  75  miles  out  and  our 
stock  is  much  wearied.  I  hope  to  reach  Hawkinsville  to-night. 

I  have  the  honor,  Sir,  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  ob'dt  servt, 

D.  B.  PRITCHARD,  Lieut.  Col.  4th  Michigan. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  regiment  who  were  present 
at  the  capture  of  Jefferson  Davis  and  party,  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  May,  1865: 

Lieut.  Colonel  Benjamin  D.  Pritchard,  commanding.  Julian  G.  Dickinson,  Adjutant. 
Perry  J.  Davis,  Quartermaster.  Cba-  les  T.  Hudson,  Captain  Co.  E.  Henry  S.  Boutelle, 
1st  Lieut.  Co.  C.  Silas  J.  Stauber,  1st  Lieut.  Co.  G.  Alfred  B.  Purington,  2d  Lieut. 
Co.  I.  John  Bennett,  2d  Lieut.  Co.  B. 

Company  A — Sergeants  Thomas  Davis,  Thomas  Riley,  George  A.  Simmons,  Rezin 
Wright.  Corporals  Darwin  Dunning,  Robert  L.  Reynolds,  Lyman  J.  Russell.  Privates 
William  Balon,  Daniel  C.  Blinn,  Gilbert  Coata,  James  Fullerton,  Casper  Enable,  Philo 
Morse,  Charles  W.  Nichols,  Henry  Provost,  George  Rinke. 

Company  B — Sergeants  A.  A.  Braley,  E.  A.  Ford.  Corporals  B.  B.  Bennett,  William 
Crow,  C.  F.  Parker,  J.  H'.  Sherburne,  U.  B.  Tuttle.  Privates  Augustus  Armstrong,  J. 
J.  Bontel,  Frank  Grim,  John  Nichols,  A.  F.  Shepherd,  W.  P.  Steadman,  William  V. 
Wood,  L.  H.  Wilcox. 

Company  C — Corporals  David  J.  Curry,  George  M.  Munger,  Reuben  Palmerton,  Abram 
Sebring.  Privates  James  F.  Bollard,  David  Dillon,  Frank  C.  Leach,  James  H.  Lynch, 
(Stephen  B.  Munson,  killed,)  Ranseler  Riggs,  John  Rupert,  Harmon  Stevens,  William  J. 
Smith. 

Company  D — Corporal  James  H.  Place.  Privates  John  Brown,  Thomas  Hunter,  Burt 
Judson,  Horace  C.  Jenney,  William  H.  J  Martin,  Jacob  E.  Munn,  William  Parker,  Fran 
cis  E.  Thompson,  Z.  H.  Wilcox. 

Company  E — Sergeants  George  A.  Bullard,  David  B.  Green.  Corporals  Dewitt  C. 
Carr,  William  H.  Crittenden,  (John  Hines,  killed.)  Charles  W.  Tyler.  Privates  Silas 
Bullard,  George  F.  Delmage,  William  F.  Driesman,  Henry  Johnson,  Robert  G.  Tripp, 
John  G.  Stevens,  Peter  Seqariy,  Oscar  E.  Tefft. 

Company  F — Sergeant  John  Correnton.  Corporals  DeWitt  C.  Cobb,  William  F.  True. 
Privates  Joseph  Bellinger,  Henry  Bradock,  Dennis  Drescoe,  Henry  Frickey,  John  F. 
Grossman,  Ira  Harrington,  Jr.,  Homer  Hazelton,  B.  Franklin  Nichols,  James  Patterson, 
George  Raab,  William  Wright. 

Company  G — Sergeants  John  Cavanaugh,  Jeremiah  F.  Craig,  Jacob  N.  Frash,  James 
F.  O'Brien,  William  H.  Palmeteer.  Corporals  John  Ballou,  George  Myers,  Leander  B. 
Shaw,  George  W.  Van  Sickle.  Privates  Daniel  Graham,  David  Cunningham,  Joshua 
Parks,  Gary  Reed,  John  A.  Skinner,  Joseph  Odrin. 

Company  I — Sergeants  Lester  P.  Bates,  Elias  F.  Pierce.  Corpornls  Preston  W. 
Brown,  Jerome  B.  Heath.  Privates  George  W.  Rodwell,  Martin  L.  Brown,  George  M. 
Dutcher.  William  Dill,  Charles  Flugger,  Daniel  E.  Krumm,  Patrick  McKennedy,  Charles 
W.  Middaugh,  Hiram  McCollough,  Martin  R.  Pettit,  Luke  M.  Thayer. 

Company  K — Sergeant  Ansel  Adams.  Corporal  Alonzo  Moe.  Privates  Thomas  Fol- 
ley,  Decatur  Jaycox,  John  H.  Kelch,  Edwin  Mabie,  Smith  B.  Mills,  James  R.  Norton, 
Jacob  D.  Newith,  John  Nelson,  Enoch  L.  Rhodes,  Nathaniel  Root. 

Company  L — Sergeants  Benjamin  K.  Golf,  Joseph  Hoffmaster.  Corporals  Charles  C. 
Marsh,  William  Oliver.  Privates  Andrew  Bee,  Benjamin  F.  Carpenter,  Daniel  Edwards, 
E.  Lane,  J.  W.  Linsley,  William  Munn,  William  Newkirk,  George  Noggle,  Perry  Phelps, 
Jesse  J.  Penfield,  Joseph  Stewart. 

Company  M — 1st  Sergeant  Wesley  D.  Pond.  Corporals  Simeon  Huff,  Henry  Shana- 
han.  Privates  Andrew  Anderson,  Robert  Arnold,  Emanuel  Beazan,  John  Vautyle. 

A  commission  was  appointed  by  the  War  Department  which  decided  that  the  4th 
Michigan  cavalry  were  entitled  to  the  reward  for  the  capture  of  Jeff  Davis,  and  directed 
how  it  should  be  distributed.  But  when  the  appropriation  came  before  Congress,  a  claim 
was  set  up  by  the  1st  Wisconsin  cavalry,  which  deferred  the  passage  of  the  bill  from  time 
to  time  until  the  close  of  the  session,  July,  1868,  when  the  bill  authorizing  the  expenditure 
was  finally  passed.  The  claim  of  the  4th  Michigan  was  ably  advocated  by  the  Michigan 
Delegation,  but  the  matter  was  so  managed  by  Congress  that  the  award  of  the  Commis 
sion  so  far  as  the  money  in  question  was  concerned,  was  set  aside,  and  the  amount  dis 
tributed  as  follows:  General  Wilson,  commanding  U.  S.  cavalry  in  that  region  of  coun 
try,  $3000;  Lieut.  Colonel  Pritchard,  4th  Michigan,  $3000  ;  Colonel  Harnden,  1st  Wis 
consin  cavalry,  $3000;  Captain  Joseph  A.  0.  Yoeman,  1st  Ohio  cavalry,  $3000.  The 
remainer  of  the  $100,000  was  distributed  equally  to  the  members  of  these  organizations 
then  with  the  expedition. 


THE  EIGHTH  CAVALRY.  287 

THE  EIGHTH  CAVALRY. 

The  rebel  General  ft  [organ,  on  his  memorable  raid  through  Kentucky, 
Indiana,  and  Ohio  in  1863,  found  some  Michigan  troops  after  him,  as  they 
were  generally  after  rebels  on  almost  every  other  occasion  during  the  rebel 
lion,  and  they  troubled  them  somewhat  on  this  occasion.  Among  them  were 
the  8th  Michigan  cavalry,  then  in  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  G.  8.  Wormer, 
who  pursued  Morgan  for  sixteen  successive  days  and  nights,  and  on  over 
taking  him  at  Buffington's  Island,  in  the  Ohio  river,  on  July  19th,  the  regi 
ment,  together  with  other  troops,  vigorously  attacked  his  forces ;  and,  after 
a  brisk  fight,  routed  him,  driving  his  .command  in  great  confusion,  taking 
five  hundred  and  seventy-three  prisoners,  four  hundred  and  eighty-seven 
horses  and  mules,  with  a  large  quantity  of  arms. 

A  detachment  of  the  regiment,  in  charge  of  Lieut.  Boynton,  afterwards 
led  a  force  commanded  by  Major  Rue,  9th  Kentucky  cavalry,  which  pur 
sued  and  captured  Morgan  near  New  Lisbon.  Ohio,  on  the  26th  of  July, 
1863.  This  detachment  was  on  the  right  of  the  command  at  the  time  of 
his  surrender,  and  under  its  standard  the  final  terms  were  consummated. 

This  regiment  left  the  State  in  May,  1863,  and  down  to  the  fight  at  Buffing- 
ton's  Island  had  been  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Triplet's  Bridge,  Leba 
non,  Lawrenceburg,  and  Salvica,  Kentucky,  becoming  thus  early,  after  it 
reached  the  field,  prominently  and  actively  at  work  battling  the  rebellion 
and  nobly  maintaining  the  high  standard  of  Michigan  troops.  The  regiment 
was  raised  and  organized  by  Col.  John  Stockton,  who  commanded  it  until 
health  failed  him,  and  proved  a  brave  and  efficient  body  of  men,  accom 
plishing  much  hard  service  and  passing  through  many  desperate  encounters 
with  the  Western  rebel  troops,  and  always  acquitting  itself  gloriously,  whe 
ther  in  partial  defeat  or  in  complete  and  substantial  victory.  While  the 
record  of  the  regiment  is  bright  and  dazzling,  and  numbers  many  successful 
and  brilliant  battles,  none  of  them  perhaps  appear  to  more  advantage  than 
the  severe  fights  at  Athens  and  Calhoun,  East  Tennessee,  September  26th 
and  27th,  1863,  in  which  its  brigade,  being  the  1st  of  the  4th  division,  4th 
army  corps,  became  engaged  with  Forrest's  and  Wheeler's  cavalry,  esti 
mated  at  15,000,  and  where  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Colonel  Wormer, 
occupied  a  prominent  position,  fought  stubbornly,  and  lost  forty-three  men 
in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  On  October  28th  following,  while  on  a 
reconnoissance  from  London,  it  became  engaged  in  a  severe  action,  losing 
nine  wounded. 

Conspicuous  also  are  its  gallant  achievements  while  checking  the  advance 
of  Longstreet's  army  on  Knoxville,  when  the  regiment,  in  command  of 
Major  Edgerly,  participated  in  covering  the  retreat  of  the  Union  forces, 
then  falling  back  before  the  rebel  army  from  Lenoir  Station  on  Knoxville. 
On  that  occasion  the  regiment  was  engaged  with  the  enemy  constantly  from 
the  12th  until  the  19th  November,  and  afterwards  took  part  in  the  glorious 
and  successful  defence  of  Knoxvijle  until  the  raising  of  the  siege  on  the  5th 
of  December,  when  it  joined  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  army,  skirmishing  with 
their  rear  guard  and  driving  them  at  every  point  until  Bean's  Station  was 
reached,  where  it  became  heavily  engaged  on  the  14th  December,  but  suc 
ceeded  in  pushing  them  with  loss  from  every  position.  For  its  decided 
bravery,  determined  fighting,  and  the  valuable  service  rendered  the  army, 
the  regiment  was  complimented  in  special  orders  by  General  Burnside. 
The  regiment,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Col.  Mix,  formed  a  portion  of  Stone- 
man's  cavalry,  which  covered  Sherman's  right  on  his  advance  upon  Atlanta, 
and  on  July  4th,  1864,  became  conspicuously  distinguished  at  the  Chatta- 


288  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

hoodie  river,  where,  after  a  hard  fight  with  Armstrong's  brigade  of  rebel 
cavalry  with  an  artillery  support,  the  regiment  charged  and  drove  the 
brigade  across  the  river.  For  this  gallant  conduct  it  received  at  the  time 
the  cheers  of  General  Stoneman  and  his  staff.  It  also  took  part  in  the  fruit 
less  raid  of  Stoneman  on  Macon  in  July,  and  even  in  that  fearfully  disas 
trous  undertaking  won  glorious  distinction  as  a  fighting  regiment.  When 
Stoneman  became  entirely  surrounded,  and  surrender  was  evident,  the  8th 
Michigan,  then  in  command  of  Col.  Mix,  unwilling  to  lay  down  their  arms 
to  the  rebels,  and  bearing  in  mind  the  honor  of  their  State  as  well  as  their 
own,  obtained  permission  from  the  commanding  general  to  cut  their  way 
out,  and,  dashing  forward,  commenced  their  desperate  undertaking,  sur 
rounded  entirely  by  the  enemy,  engaging  him  hand  to  hand.  Colonel  Mix 
being  captured,  owing  to  the  loss  of  his  horse,  Major  Buck  assumed  com 
mand,  and  succeeding  in  forcing  through  the  enemy  by  persistent  and  stub 
born  fighting,  he  undertook  to  reach  the  Union  lines  near  Atlanta,  but  failed. 
After  a  hard  march,  much  fatigue  and  exposure,  having  been  seven  days 
and  eight  nights  in  the  saddle,  pursued  and  harassed,  he  was  overtaken, 
and,  after  a  severe  engagement,  a  large  number  were  made  prisoners ;  yet 
a  portion  of  the  regiment  reached  the  Union  lines. 

This  regiment  was  serving  in  Tennessee  on  November  1st,  1864,  and  bri 
gaded  with  the  14th  and  16th  Illinois  cavalry,  and  at  that  date,  with  its 
brigade,  was  on  the  march  from  Nashville  to  Pulaski  for  the  purpose  of 
watching  the  movements  of  Hood,  wrho  was  then  on  his  northern  expedition 
from  Atlanta.  Having  reached  Pulaski,  the  regiment,  on  the  6th,  moved 
on  a  scout  to  Lawrenceburg  and  returned,  and  again  on  the  12th  to  Waynes 
boro'.  Returning  from  that  point,  it  marched  to  Mount  Pleasant  on  the 
14th  and  15th,  and  remained  there  in  camp  on  the  16th,  on  the  17th  and 
18th  was  on  the  march  to  Waynesboro',  company  C  having  a  skirmish  with 
the  enemy.  Having  reached  Waynesboro',  on  the  18th,  19th,  and  20th 
nearly  the  whole  regiment  was  engaged  day  and  night  in  scouting  by  de 
tachments,  one  being  sent  to  Lawrenceburg  to  form  a  junction  with  General 
Hatch,  who  was  then  falling  back  from  the  Tennessee  river,  near  Florence; 
one  to  Clifton,  another  towards  Savannah,  all  returning  and  joining  the 
command  on  the  20th.  On  the  21st,  information  having  been  received  that 
Forrest  was  advancing  towards  Lawrenceburg,  the  command  fell  back  to 
within  eleven  miles  of  Mount  Pleasant  and  went  into  camp.  In  the  mean 
time  communication  had  been  opened  with  General  Hatch,  and  on  the  23d 
a  detachment  of  one  officer  and  twenty-five  men  of  the  regiment  was  sent 
back  towards  Waynesboro',  which  met  the  enemy  about  seven  miles  out  and 
near  Henry ville,  where  it  kept  a  whole  regiment  in  check.until  company  B 
was  sent  forward  as  a  re-enforcement,  but  before^it  reached  there  it  was  at 
tacked  and  driven  back  and  the  detachment  cut  off.  It  was  then  ascer 
tained  that  the  enemy  had  succeeded  in  getting  a  position  between  General 
Hatch  and  the  command.  A  battalion  of  this  regiment  was  ordered  to  hold 
the  road  in  front,  while  the  brigade  fell  back  three  miles  to  the  junction  of 
the  Mount  Pleasant  and  Lawrenceburg  roads,  and  there  threw  up  a  barri 
cade  and  made  a  stand  for  the  purpose  of  checking  the  enemy  should  he 
succeed  in  driving  the  battalion.  During  that  time  the  battalion  was  hold 
ing  him  in  check,  although  vigorously  attacked  and  closely  pressed  ;  and, 
after  a  stubborn  and  gallant  resistance,  the  enemy  succeeded  in  throwing  a 
heavy  force  on  its  left  flank  and  driving  it  back  to  within  a  short  distance 
of  the  barricade,  where  it  made  a  determined  stand,  but  was  attacked  by  a 
superior  force,  and,  before  it  could  fall  back  on  the  command,  the  enemy 
had  gained  its  rear.  The  attacking  force  was  discovered  by  the  brigade, 


THE  NINTH  CAVALRY.  289 

but,  owing  to  the  darkness,  it  was  supposed  to  be  the  battalion  falling  back, 
and  therefore  no  effort  was  made  to  check  it.  At  that  time  the  balance  of 
the  8th  Michigan  was  ordered  to  a  position  behind  the  barricade;  but  be 
fore  it  could  be  properly  posted  the  enemy  made  a  desperate  charge  on  the 
whole  line,  and  so  unexpected  was  the  attack  that  it  threw  the  two  other 
regiments  of  the  brigade  into  confusion,  producing  a  perfect  stampede,  when 
the  8th  Michigan,  with  great  coolness  maintaining  its  position,  poured  a  vol 
ley  into  his  ranks,  checking  his  advance,  then  gavl  him  a  second  volley, 
when  he  retired.  In  the  meantime  the  battalion  of  the  8th  Michigan  that 
had  been  left  in  front  to  hold  him  in  check,  and  which  had  now  been  cut 
off  from  the  main  command,  cut  its  way  through  the  enemy  under  a  heavy 
fire  and  rejoined  the  brigade,  having  lost  several  killed  and  wounded. 

About  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  the  pickets  were  again  at 
tacked,  the  brigade  falling  back  about  two  miles,  closely  followed  by  the 
enemy,  when  he  threw  a  heavy  column  on  both  its  flanks,  compelling  it  to 
retreat  in  double-quick  to  Columbia,  the  enemy  pursuing  closely.  On 
reaching  that  point,  a  division  of  infantry,  from  the  23d  army  corps,  which 
had  just  arrived  there,  succeeded  in  driving  him  back,  and  prevented  the 
whole  of  General  Forrest's  command  from  dashing  into  the  town  and  cap 
turing  it.  On  the  25th  a  detachment  of  fifty  men  of  the  regiment  was  sent 
to  Hardison's  Mills,  on  Duck  river,  for  the  purpose  of  crossing,  to  ascertain 
if  the  enemy  was  moving  in  that  direction,  and  next  day  the  brigade  was 
ordered  to  that  point,  and  picketed  the  different  fords  along  the  river  for 
six  or  eight  miles.  On  the  morning  of  the  28th  the  advance  of  Hood's 
army  was  discovered  moving  towards  the  fords,  and  about  noon  he  had 
driven  in  the  advance  pickets,  and  at  2  P.  M.  he  opened  fire  at  almost 
every  ford,  but  he  was  kept  in  check  until  the  communication  with  Gene 
ral  Johnson  was  cut  off  by  the  enemy  crossing  at  one  of  the  fords  east  of 
Columbia,  and  also  on  the  left  of  the  command,  when  the  detachments  at 
the  fords  were  ordered  back;  then  the  brigade  became  completely  sur 
rounded,  when  one  regiment  (7th  Ohio)  succeeded  in  cutting  its  way 
through  the  enemy,  in  its  rear,  still  leaving  the  remaining  portion  of  the 
command  (in  which  was  the  8th  Michigan)  completely  and  closely  sur 
rounded.  The  regiment,  together  with  the  14th  and  16th  Illinois,  being 
armed  with  Springfield  muskets,  dismounted,  and  with  bayonets  fixed, 
charged  through  the  enemy  in  gallant  style,  driving  over  100  rebels  into 
the  river.  A  detachment  of  40  men  of  the  regiment  had  been  cut  off  at 
one  of  the  lower  fords,  but  succeeded  in  extricating  itself  with  but  little 
loss.  Next  morning  the  command  fell  back  six  miles  on  General  Hatch's 
division,  which  had  been  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  to  check  any  further 
advance  of  the  enemy.  On  the  following  morning  the  whole  cavalry  force 
fell  back  to  near  Franklin,  the  infantry  having  already  evacuated  Colum 
bia  and  taken  position  at  Franklin.  On  the  30th  the  enemy  made  several 
attempts  to  drive  the  cavalry  in,  but  failed.  Towards  evening  he  massed 
a  strong  force,  and  made  a  desperate  attack,  but  was  repulsed  with  heavy 
loss.  Next  morning,  December  1st,  before  daylight,  the  whole  command 
had  commenced  falling  back  towards  Nashville,  and  when  within  six  miles 
of  that  place  the  cavalry  made  a  stand,  but  the  enemy  did  not  come  up. 
During  the  night  the  whole  cavalry  force  moved  inside  the  lines  at  Nash 
ville. 

THE  NINTH  CAVALRY. 

The  capture  of  the  notorious  rebel  General  Morgan  and  the  rout  of  his 
forces  while  on  his  raid  of  robbery  and  plunder  in  Indiana  and  Ohio,  in 

S 


290  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

1863,  should  to  a  very  great  extent  be  attributed  to  the  9th  Michigan  cav 
alry,  then  commanded  by  Colonel  James  I.  David,  by  whom  it  had  been 
raised  and  organized. 

After  the  regiment,  while  in  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  George  S. 
Acker,  had  participated  in  the  attack  on  Morgan's  troops,  at  Buffington's 
Island,  on  July  19th,  acquitting  itself  with  much  distinction,  a  detachment 
of  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Major  W.  B.  Way,  with  a  section  of  bat 
tery  L,  1st  Michigan*  light  artillery,  on  July  24th,  joined  in  pursuit  of 
Morgan's  fleeing  cavalry.  Proceeding  by  cars  to  Mingo  Junction,  on  the 
Ohio  river,  thence  marched  to  La  Grange  and  Stuebenville,  overtaking 
Morgan  near  Stuebenville,  July  25th.  The  command  skirmished  with  his 
forces,  driving  him  during  the  night,  and  on  the  following  morning  suc 
ceeded  in  pressing  him  into  an  engagement  near  Salineville,  which  resulted, 
after  a  severe  fight,  in  the  complete  defeat  and  rout  of  his  command,  with 
a  loss  of  23  killed,  44  wounded,  and  305  prisoners.  Morgan,  flying  with 
a  remnant  of  his  troops,  was  then  chased  until,  meeting  the  forces  under 
General  Shackleford,  he  surrendered. 

At  the  beginning  of  November,  1863,  the  regiment  was  at  Henderson 
Station,  East  Tennessee,  and  seems  to  have  performed  a  considerable 
amount  of  scouting  during  the  month  in  that  portion  of  the  State.  Its 
December  return  notes  its  march  towards  Knoxville  on  the  6th,  and  a 
skirmish  with  the  enemy  on  Clinch  Mountains  on  the  7th,  during  a  march 
of  30  miles.  On  the  10th,  while  on  reconnoissance,  it  met  the  enemy  two 
miles  from  Moorestown,  and  successfully  engaged  them.  The  12th  was 
occupied,  with  its  brigade,  in  a  sharp  action  near  Russelville.  The  posi 
tion  of  the  regiment  at  Bean's  Station  was  attacked  on  the  14th,  and  the 
command  fell  back  toward  Rutledge.  The  next  two  days  the  regiment,  in 
command  of  Major  S.  Brockway,  (Colonel  Acker  being  wounded  at  Bean's 
Station,)  while  acting  as  rear-guard,  was  engaged  in  constant  skirmishing 
near  Rutledge.  Later  in  the  month  it  was  in  skirmishes  at  Dandredge  and 
Mossy  creek.  On  the  16th  of  January  following,  the  regiment — then  in 
command  of  Major  M.  F.  Gallagher — moved  from  Dandredge  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Bull's  Gap,  and  encountered  the  enemy's  infantry  in  large  force  at 
Kinsboro's  Cross  Roads.  After  a  severe  fight  of  about  half  an  hour  the  regi 
ment  fell  back  on  Dandredge,  having  lost  32  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

In  June,  1864,  this  regiment  was  again  found  fighting  with  the  notorious 
Morgan,  near  Cynthiaua,  Ky.  It  appears  that  on  June  9th,  the  regiment, 
then  in  command  of  Col.  George  S.  Acker,  was  in  camp  at  Nicholasville, 
and  ordered  to  scout  as  far  as  Bayley's  Cross-roads,  a  distance  of  fourteen 
miles,  with  orders  that  if  the  enemy  was  found  to  engage  him.  Not  finding 
him  Col.  Acker  returned.  On  June  10th  he  marched  to  Lexington,  where 
a  battalion  of  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Major  McBride,  met  with  a 
portion  of  Morgan's  command,  had  a  brisk  skirmish,  and  retired.  On  June 
llth  the  regiment  marched  to  Paris  and  bivouacked  for  two  hours ;  after 
dark  started  for  Cynthiana,  leading  the  horses  the  most  of  the  way,  so  as 
to  make  as  little  noise  as  possible.  Just  at  daylight  on  the  12th  the  enemy 
was  found  behind  rail  barricades;  the  llth  Michigan  cavalry  and  12th 
Ohio  cavalry  were  in  line  of  battle  on  foot  for  the  purpose  of  driving  him 
from  the  barricades,  while  the  9th  Michigan  charged  the  enemy  on  his  left 
flank  in  most  splendid  style,  taking  300  prisoners,  about  500  horses,  and  a 
large  quantity  of  small  arms,  also  a  number  of  beef  cattle.  This  charge 
was  a  brilliant  affair,  completely  routing  him  and  driving  great  numbers 
of  his  troops  into  the  Licking  river  in  much  confusion,  and  thoroughly  de 
moralized. 


THE  NINTH  CAVALRY.  291 

On  the  27th  of  November  the  regiment  moved  in  the  direction  of  Waynes- 
boro',  and  on  the  28th  was  engaged,  while  covering  the  rear  of  the  division, 
losing  two  men  killed  and  one  wounded.  Near  Louisville,  on  the  29th,  the 
regiment  drove  two  brigades  of  the  enemy  from  a  mill,  after  a  slight  engage 
ment.  Proceeding  towards  Waynesboro'  on  the  1st,  2d,  and  3d  of  Decem 
ber,  skirmishing  during  the  night  of  the  2d  ;  encamped  on  the  night  of  the 
3d  ;  attacking  Wheeler's  cavalry  on  the  4th,  driving  them  through  Waynes- 
boro'  in  great  confusion,  the  regiment  charging  with  their  sabres,  taking 
four  hundred  prisoners,  and  losing  two  killed  and  five  wounded,  and  one 
officer  taken  prisoner.  For  its  conduct  in  that  gallant  charge,  the  regiment 
received  special  notice  in  the  report  of  the  commanding  general  to  the  War 
Department.  During  the  5th  and  6th  the  march  was  continued,  the  enemy 
attacking  the  regiment  vigorously ;  on  the  7th  a  charge  was  made  by  the 
2d  battalion,  in  command  of  Major  McBride,  at  Cypress  Swamp,  and  after 
a  severe  fight,  in  which  it  lost  two  killed,  two  wounded,  and  five  missing, 
he  was  compelled  to  retire.  In  this  charge  fell  the  gallant  Captain  Fred 
erick  S.  Ladd. 

The  9th  was  the  only  Michigan  cavalry  regiment  having  the  honor  of 
marching  with  General  Sherman's  army  to  the  ocean,  and  composed  the 
escort  of  General  Kilpatrick  when  he  opened  communication  between  that 
army  and  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  at  the  time  when  that  important  and  in 
teresting  dispatch  from  General  Howard,  of  Sherman's  army,  dated  Decem 
ber  9,  1864,  to  the  American  fleet  in  St.  Catherine's  Sound  on  the  coast  of 
Georgia,  reaching  it  on  the  13th  of  that  month,  saying,  "  We  have  had  per 
fect  success,  and  army  in  fine  spirits." 

On  that  great  campaign  of  General  Sherman  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea, 
the  regiment,  in  command  of  Col.  Acker,  served  with  the  cavalry  of  Gen. 
Kilpatrick.  On  the  morning  of  the  battle  of  Waynesboro',  Kilpatrick  had 
broke  camp  at  4  A.  M.,  and  when  within  about  two  miles  of  Waynesboro' 
struck  the  rebel  General  Wheeler's  command.  The  9th  Michigan  was  the 
third  regiment  in  column,  the  92d  Illinois  were  acting  as  skirmishers,  and 
the  10th  Ohio  cavalry  in  line  mounted.  On  reaching  within  about  a  mile 
of  the  town,  the  enemy  made  a  stand,  when  the  10th  Ohio  charged,  but 
were  driven  back  in  confusion.  The  9th  Michigan  was  then  ordered  to 
charge,  and  had  to  form  while  on  the  run  from  column  of  fours  to  that  of 
battalions,  driving  the  enemy  from  the  field,  taking  100  prisoners  and  a 
large  amount  of  small  arms,  and  losing  only  one  man  killed,  three  wounded, 
and  five  horses  shot.  The  charge  was  spoken  of  with  favorable  comment 
by  General  Kilpatrick,  and  the  brigade  commander,  General  S.  Atkins,  in 
their  official  reports. 

In  the  Cleveland  Herald,  of  July  27,  1863,  is  found  a  detailed  account 
of  the  capture  of  Morgan,  from  which  the  following  extract  is  taken : 

"At  this  time  the  utmost  alarm  existed  among  the  people  of  Salineville. 
The  houses  were  closed,  doors  and  windows  locked  and  barred,  and  women 
and  children  stampeding  into  the  country  with  whatever  portable  property 
could  be  carried  along.  The  men,  who  had  weapons  and  courage,  turned 
out  to  resist  the  progress  of  the  dreaded  rebel,  while  all  the  others  fled  with 
the  women  and  children. 

"  In  a  short  time  the  expected  rebels  made  their  appearance,  coming  around 
a  bend  in  the  road.  On  catching  sight  of  the  infantry  they  halted,  and 
turned  their  horses  heads  in  another  direction.  Before  they  could  get  out 
of  the  trap  they  found  themselves  in,  Major  Way,  with  250  men  of  the  9th 
Michigan  cavalry,  dashed  among  them  and  commenced  cutting  right  and 


292  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

left.  The  rebels  made  but  a  brief  resistance ;  a  few  shots  were  fired  by  them, 
and  then  the  whole  party  broke  in  utter  confusion.  The  scene  that  followed 
was  almost  ludicrous,  and  could  only  be  matched  by  the  previous  stampede 
at  Buffington  Island.  Men  dismounted,  threw  down  their  arms,  and  begged 
for  quarter,  whilst  others  galloped  round  wildly  in  search  of  a  place  of 
escape,  and  were  '  brought  to  time'  by  a  pistol  shot  or  sabre  stroke. 

"  Morgan  himself  was  riding  in  a  carriage  drawn  by  two  white  horses. 
Major  Way  saw  him,  and  galloping  up,  reached  for  him.  Morgan  jumped 
out  at  the  other  side  of  the  carriage,  leaped  over  a  fence,  seized  a  horse,  and 
galloped  off  as  fast  as  horse-flesh,  spurred  by  frightened  heels,  could  carry 
him.  About  two  hundred  of  his  men  succeeded  in  breaking  away,  and  fol 
lowing  their  fugitive  leader.  In  the  buggy  thus  hastily  '  evacuated '  by 
Morgan  were  found  his  '  rations,'  consisting  of  a  loaf  of  bread,  some  hard- 
boiled  eggs,  and  a  bottle  of  whiskey. 

"A  few  of  our  cavalry  were  wounded,  two  or  three  seriously.  Lieutenant 
Fisk  was  shot  through  the  breast ;  his  wound  is  dangerous,  and  he  has  tele 
graphed  for  his  wife  to  come  from  Michigan." 

THE  TENTH  CAVALRY. 

The  10th  cavalry  was  organized  at  Grand  Rapids,  under  the  supervision 
of  Col.  F.  W.  Kellogg,  and  went  to  the  field  in  Kentucky  in  December,  1863, 
in  command  of  Colonel  Thaddeus  Foote,  first  encountering  the  rebels  at 
House  Mountain,  Tenn.,  in  January,  1864,  subsequently  at  Bean's  Gap, 
March  26th,  and  at  R  heat  own,  April  24th  following,  and  next  day  a  more 
important  engagement  followed  at  Carter's  Station,  near  Jonesboro,  Term., 
when  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  L.  S.  Trowbridge, 
together  with  the  3d  Indiana  cavalry,  were  sent  to  destroy  the  large  rail 
road  bridge  over  the  Watauga  river.  Colonel  Trowbridge  was  to  be  sup 
ported,  if  necessary,  by  Hanson's  brigade,  of  Cox's  division,  13th  corps, 
which  marched  up  as  far  as  Jonesboro,  twelve  miles  from  Carter's  Station. 
The  bridge  was  defended  by  the  rebel  General  A.  E.  Jackson,  called 
"Mudwall  Jackson,"  with  a  strong  force,  occupying  a  strong  redoubt,  with 
extensive  and  well-constructed  rifle-pits.  The  Union  force  had  one  moun 
tain  howitzer,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  E.  J:  Brooks,  but  owing  to  a  very 
limited  amount  of  ammunition,  he  was  unable  to  accomplish  much,  ye*t 
made  some  remarkably  telling  shots.  It  was  soon  ascertained  that  there 
was  no  possible  way  of  reaching  the  bridge  without  first  dislodging  the 
enemy  from  their  strong  position,  and  this  had  to  be  accomplished  at  much 
risk  by  passing  over  perfectly  open  ground  for  a  distance  of  two  hundred 
yards,  swept  by  a  very  sharp  and  hot  cross-fire,  from  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river.  Yet,  being  the  first  heavy  undertaking  of  the  regiment,  Colonel 
Trowbridge  felt  unwilling  to  retire  without  accomplishing  something,  as  it 
would  produce  an  unfavorable  effect  upon  his  command.  He  therefore  de 
cided  to  make  an  attempt,  dismounting  about  one-third  of  his  men.  With 
this  small  force  he  ordered  an  advance  upon  the  enemy's  position  at  double- 
quick,  when  they  gave  way  in  great  disorder,  leaving  their  works  and 
taking  shelter  in  a  large  mill  near  at  hand,  Major  Israel  C.  Smith  being  the 
first  man  to  enter  the  redoubt  and  Captain  Benjamin  K.  Weatherwax  the 
second.  As  soon  as  the  redoubt  was  gained,  an  attempt  was  made  to  drive 
the  enemy  out  of  the  mill,  but  the  charging  force  was  met  with  such  a  ter 
rible  and  destructive  volley  that  it  was  abandoned.  In  this  daring  and 
gallant  attempt  Captain  Weatherwax  lost  his  life,  being  shot  through  the 
heart.  Colonel  Trowbridge,  in  a  special  report  of  the  affair,  says  of  him  : 


THE  TENTH  CAVALRY.  293 

"Thus  was  lost  to  us  one  of  the  most  gallant  and  worthy  officers  whom  I 
have  ever  met.  Full  of  noble  and  generous  sympathy,  the  loftiest  pa 
triotism,  with  that  courage  which  knows  no  fear,  his  loss  was  most  deeply 
felt  by  the  entire  regiment."  The  fight  was  a  brilliant  success,  though 
obtained  at  a  loss  of  seventeen  killed  and  wounded,  and  must  be  recognized 
as  an  uncommon  victory,  considering  it  was  gained  by  dismounted  cavalry, 
new  and  undisciplined,  over  a  much  superior  force  ot  well-trained  infantry, 
holding  strong  defensive  works,  and  having,  in  addition,  to  meet  a  most 
galling  cross-fire  of  the  enemy,  thus  rendering  the  success  uncommon  at 
that  stage  of  the  rebellion,  and  should  be  classed  among  the  most  gallant 
minor  victories  of  the  war. 

This  regiment  was  stationed  at  Strawberry  Plains,  in  East  Tennessee, 
November  1,  1864,  engaged  in  fortifying  that  point  and  in  the  usual  routine 
of  camp  duty  and  occasional  scouting.  On  the  16th  General  Breckinridge, 
with  a  large  rebel  force,  made  his  appearance  in  front  of  the  garrison,  and 
on  the  17th  commenced  a  vigorous  attack  with  artillery  from  the  opposite 
side  of  the  Holston  river,  and  at  the  same  time  threatening  it  in  the  rear 
with  a  heavy  cavalry  force.  Constant  skirmishing  and  occasional  artillery 
firing  was  kept  up  for  four  days,  the  enemy  being  repulsed  on  the  24th, 
when  he  withdrew.  During  the  remaining  portion  of  the  month,  and  up  to 
December  6th,  the  regiment  was  employed  in  constructing  fortifications  at 
that  point,  when,  on  the  receipt  of  orders,  it  marched  to  Knoxville,  and 
soon  after  made  an  expedition  to  Saltville,  Va.,  and  destroyed  the  salt 
works  at  that  point,  being  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Kingsport,  December 
12th ;  at  Bristol,  December  14th,  and  at  Saltville,  December  20th.  Re 
turning  to  Knoxville,  it  had  a  skirmish  atChucky  Bend,  January  10, 1865. 
Remaining  at  Knoxville  until  March  21st,  the  brigade  to  which  it  was 
attached  inarched  to  Upper  East  Tennessee,  under  command  of  Brevet 
Brigadier-General  Palmer.  Joining  the  expedition  under  General  Stone- 
man,  in  his  raid  into  North  Carolina,  the  regiment  was  engaged  with  the 
enemy  at  Brabson's  Mills  on  the  25th,  and  at  Boonville,  N.  C.,  on  the 
27th.  Proceeding,  via  Wilkesboro,  and  thence  down  to  Yadkin  river,  in 
the  direction  of  Salisbury,  reaching  the  Tennessee  and  Virginia  railroad  at 
Christiansburg,  April  5th,  it  assisted  in  destroying  over  one  hundred  miles 
of  that  railroad,  together  with  the  bridges.  This  accomplished,  the  regi 
ment  made  a  rapid  march  of  ninety-five  miles  to  Henry  Court-house, 
making  the  distance  in  twenty-two  hours.  At  that  point  it  became  engaged 
with  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  and  infantry  on  the  8th, 
which,  after  a  brisk  fight,  retired,  the  regiment  losing  in  the  affair  Lieu 
tenant  Kenyon  and  three  men  killed,  and  one  officer  and  three  men  severely 
wounded,  the  loss  of  the  enemy  not  being  ascertained. 

The  regiment,  in  command  of  Colonel  Trowbridge,  had  been  detached  at 
Salem,  on  the  10th,  and  sent  to  destroy  the  bridge  over  Abbott's  creek,  and 
then,  if  not  opposed,  to  join  General  Stoneman  at  Salisbury.  The  10th 
marched  all  night ;  one  battalion,  in  command  of  Captain  James  H.  Cum 
mins,  was  sent  to  High  Point  to  attract  the  enemy  in  that  direction,  and 
succeeded  in  destroying  over  $300,000  worth  of  rebel  stores  without  loss. 
Meanwhile,  the  other  two  battalions,  not  numbering  more  than  250  men, 
were  marching  in  an  opposite  direction.  It  was  important  to  destroy  the 
bridge  before  daylight,  and  on  being  informed  that  there  was  no  enemy 
near,  the  colonel  sent  forward  two  companies  in  command  of  Capt.  Roberts 
for  that  purpose.  While  the  remaining  force  was  moving  leisurely  along,  and 
as  daylight  was  breaking,  it  suddenly  came  upon  the  pickets  of  the  enemy, 
when  it  was  ascertained  that  Ferguson's  brigade  of  Wheeler's  cavalry,  num- 


294  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

bering  1200  men,  were  about  a  mile  ahead.  The  horses  of  the  command 
were  much  worn  out  and  jaded,  and  the  force  only  about  one-sixth  that  of 
the  enemy,  and  twenty  miles  from  any  support,  rendering  a  contest  ex 
tremely  hazardous  and  almost  without  hope  of  success ;  and  as  General 
Stoneman  was  then  expected  to  be  at  work  at  Salisbury,  and  needed  assist 
ance,  it  was  important  to  draw  off  the  force  for  that  purpose  if  possible,  and 
it  was  therefore  determined  to  fall  back  as  soon  as  the  two  detached  com 
panies  of  Captain  Roberts  had  returned.  In  order  to  await  for  them  the 
command  was  put  in  position  for  defence.  Colonel  Trowbridge  determined 
in  case  of  attack  to  make  the  best  fight  possible.  Soon  Captain  Roberts 
returned,  and  reported  that  he  had  slipped  past  the  enemy,  and  had  de 
stroyed  the  bridge  as  directed.  The  chief  object  of  the  movement  having 
been  accomplished,  the  command  commenced  to  retire  by  alternate  squad 
rons,  leaving  Captain  Dunn,  with  his  plucky  company,  to  hold  the  rebels 
in  check  until  the  command  could  get  properly  started.  As  soon  as  the 
movement  was  discovered,  the  enemy  attacked  with  great  vigor,  not  only 
with  a  superior  force  of  cavalry,  but  with  a  large  body  of  infantry,  sending 
a  column  upon  each  flank,  making  an  attempt  to  surround  this  little  band, 
and  rendering  it  necessary  to  fall  back  by  squadrons  as  rapidly  as  practi 
cable.  Each  squadron,  after  holding  a  position  as  long  as  possible,  wheeled 
into  column  and  trotted  back,  and  took  up  another  position,  fighting  most 
gallantly  in  defence  of  each.  This  fight  lasted  for  six  miles,  when  the  ene 
my,  despairing  of  closing  in  upon  this  handful  of  brave  men,  and  disheart 
ened  by  their  losses,  which  had  been  considerable,  stopped  their  pursuit,  and 
Colonel  Trowbridge,  with  his  plucky  comrades  were  permitted  to  retire  and 
rejoin  the  main  command. 

Strange  as  it  may  appear,  after  such  hard  and  disadvantageous  fighting, 
his  loss  was  only  two  taken  prisoners,  while  that  of  the  enemy,  judging  from 
reports  in  rebel  newspapers,  and  from  other  sources,  especially  from  the 
statements  of  Colonel  Wheeler  of  General  Wheeler's  corps,  must  have  been 
from  50  to  75  in  killed,  besides  a  large  number  wounded. 

This  was  a  most  remarkable  fight,  and  shows  what  can  be  done  with 
brave  men  commanded  by  cool  and  gallant  officers. 

Another  instance,  among  the  many,  showing  the  stubborn  fighting  of  this 
gallant  and  patriotic  regiment,  occurred  August  24,  1864,  at  Strawberry 
Plains,  East  Tennessee,  where  Major  Standish,  with  125  men  of  his  regi 
ment,  and  Colvin's  Illinois  battery,  repulsed  in  most  splendid  style  an  attack 
of  Wheeler's  cavalry  corps,  six  thousand  strong,  with  nine  pieces  of  artil 
lery. 

During  this  attack,  seven  of  Standish 's  men  by  hard  fighting  held  McMil 
lan's  Ford,  on  the  Holston  river,  for  three  and  a  half  hours  against  a 
brigade  of  rebel  cavalry,  killing  forty  or  fifty  of  them,  but  were  finally  sur 
rounded  and  captured. 

Colonel  Trowbridge  furnishes  the  following  incident  connected  writh  the 
repulse  of  Wheeler  at  Strawberry  Plains,  on  August  24,  1864: 

"  Eight  men  were  sent  to  guard  McMillan's  Ford,  on  the  Holston  ;  one 
of  them  went  off  on  his  own  hook,  so  that  seven  were  left.  One  of  them  was 
a  large,  powerful  fellow,  the  farrier  of  company  B,  by  the  name  of  Alexan 
der  H.  Griggs,  supposed  to  belong  to  Greenfield,  Wayne  county.  These 
seven  men  actually  kept  back  a  rebel  brigade  from  crossing  that  ford  for 
three  and  a  half  hours  by  desperate  fighting,  killing  forty  or  fifty.  During 
the  fight  this  big  farrier  was  badly  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  and  the  rebels, 
by  swimming  the  river  above  and  below  the  ford,  succeeded  in  capturing 
the  whole  party. 


THE  TENTH  CAVALRY.  295 

"  General  Wheeler  was  much  astonished  at  the  valor  of  these  men,  and 
at  once  paroled  a  man  to  stay  and  take  care  of  this  wounded  man.  Ap 
proaching  the  wounded  farrier,  the  following  dialogue  is  said  to  have  taken 
place : 

"General  Wheeler.  Well,  my  man,  how  many  men  had  you  at  the  ford? 

"Griggs.  Seven,  sir. 

"  Wheeler.  My  poor  fellow,  don't  you  know  that  you  are  badly  wounded  ? 
You  might  as  well  tell  me  the  truth  ;  you  may  not  live  long. 

"  Griggs,  (indignantly.)  I  am  telling  the  truth,  sir.  We  had  only  seven 
men. 

"  Wheeler,  (laughing.)  Well,  what  did  you  expect  to  do  ? 

"  Griggs.  To  keep  you  from  crossing,  sir. 

"Wheeler,  (greatly  amused,  and  laughing.)  Well,  why  didn't  you  do  it? 

"Griggs.  Why,  you  see,  we  did  until  you  hit  me,  and  that  weakened  our 
forces  so  much  that  you  were  too  much  for  us. 

"  Wheeler  was  greatly  amused,  and  inquired  of  another  prisoner,  (who 
happened  to  be  a  horse  farrier  too,)  'Are  all  the  10th  Michigan  like  you 
fellows?'  '  Oh,  no!'  said  the  man,  '  we  are  the  poorest  of  the  lot.  We  are 
mostly  horse  farriers  and  blacksmiths,  and  not  much  accustomed  to  fight 
ing/  '  Well,'  said  Wheeler,  '  if  I  had  300  such  men  as  you  I  could  march 
straight  through  h— 1.'  " 

Col.  Trowbridge,  in  a  recent  report,  says  of  the  engagement  at  Strawberry 
Plains,  November  16,  1864: 

"  In  November,  1864,  I  had  a  sharp  fight  at  Strawberry  Plains,  East  Ten 
nessee,  with  Breckinridge.  I  had  700  men,  some  of  them  indifferently  arm 
ed,  and  many  of  them  very  indifferent  soldiers,  made  up  of  stragglers  from 
a  dozen  different  commands.  Breckinridge  had  5,000  men,  among  them 
John  B.  Palmer,  formerly  of  Detroit,  who  commanded  the  artillery  and  in 
fantry,  and  ranked  as  a  brigadier-general  in  the  rebel  army.  I  had  a  sec 
tion  of  Wood's  Illinois  battery,  and  Breckiuridge  had  nine  or  ten  pieces  of 
artillery.  We  had  a  brisk  fight,  and  by  good  fighting  and  a  show  of  bold 
ness  Breckinridge  was  repulsed.  I  think  some  credit  was  due  the  men  un 
der  my  command  for  the  manner  in  which  they  acquitted  themselves,  as  well 
as  to  myself  as  their  commanding  officer ;  but,  strange  to  say,  next  day  the 
telegraph  announced  to  the  country  that  General  Ammen  had  repulsed 
Breckinridge  at  Strawberry  Plains  after  a  hard  fight.  General  Ammen 
was  then  the  district  and  division  commander,  and  was  then  at  his  head 
quarters  in  Kuoxville.  I  had  never  communicated  with  him  on  the  sub 
ject,  and  he  could  have  known  no  more  about  the  fight  than  a  man  at  the 
time  in  Sitka." 

The  following  is  furnished  by  Col.  Trowbridge : 

"  When  General  Stoneman  went  to  capture  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  in  1865,  he 
met  the  enemy  at  a  little  stream  a  few  miles  from  town.  The  stream  had 
very  high  and  precipitous  banks  and  could  not  be  forded.  The  only  way 
to  cross  it  was  by  a  narrow  bridge,  which  was  effectually  commanded  by  the 
enemy's  artillery.  After  trying  for  some  time  to  get  fhem  out  of  their  posi 
tion  with  his  artillery  without  success,  Stoneman  called  to  him  Major  Smith, 
of  the  10th,  and  said:  'Major,  I  want  you  to  take  twenty  men,  armed  with 
the  Spencer  carbines,  and  cross  this  creek  and  flank  those  fellows  out  there.' 
Smith  took  his  twenty  men,  and,  crossing  the  creek  on  a  log  out  of  sight  of 
the  enemy,  steadily  approached  and  fired  a  volley  into  their  flank,  when  the 
whole  force  broke  in  the  greatest  confusion.  Stacy,  with  his  Tennessee  cav 
alry,  was  on  them  in  an  instant,  and  the  fight  was  over.  Results :  19  pieces 
of  artillery,  1,100  prisoners,  and  supplies  enough  for  an  army  of  100,000 


296  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

men.  This  exploit  of  Major  Smith  and  his  gallant  little  band  was  as  daring 
as  it  proved  successful. 

"  One  of  the  most  gallant  things  of  the  war  occurred  in  East  Tennessee 
at  the  time  when  Wheeler  made  his  raid  through  there  in  August,  1864. 
Major  Smith,  of  the  10th,  was  sent  out  from  Knoxville  with  seventy-two 
men,  all  the  mounted  force  that  could  be  mustered,  to  scout  in  the  direction 
of  Strawberry  Plains  and  ascertain  the  position  of  the  enemy.  With  the 
true  spirit  of  a  cavalry  man,  he  ordered  his  advance  guard  to  charge  the 
first  party  of  rebels  they  should  see.  They  discovered  the  enemy  two  and 
a  half  miles  from  Flat  Creek  Bridge,  and,  according  to  orders,  charged 
them  in  gallant  style.  Smith  followed  up  with  his  command.  The  enemy 
proved  to  be  the  8th  Texas  cavalry,  400  strong.  Smith  routed  them  com 
pletely,  captured  their  commanding  officer,  a  lieutenant  colonel,  and  thirty 
or  forty  prisoners,  and  was  hotly  pursuing  them  at  a  full  gallop  when  he 
came  to  Flat  Creek  Bridge — a  long,  high,  and  narrow  bridge.  Over  this 
Smith  charged,  to  find  himself  confronted  by  Humes'  division  of  rebel  cav 
alry,  2,000  strong,  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  scarcely  three  hundred  yards 
from  the  bridge.  Of  course  he  had  to  get  away,  which  he  succeeded  in  do 
ing  without  any  very  great  loss,  though  the  enemy  charged  him  for  seven 
miles.  The  boldness  of  the  thing  annoyed  the  rebels  not  a  little,  and  they 
ever  after  entertained  a  wholesome  fear  of  the  10th  Michigan  cavalry. 

"  In  the  summer  of  1864  I  was  ordered  to  go  up  near  the  Virginia  line  to 
capture  a  large  number  of  horses  that  were  said  to  be  in  pasture.  It  was 
not  expected  that  I  would  meet  the  enemy  before  I  reached  Kingsport,  but 
unfortunately  for  the  success  of  my  enterprise  I  met  them  at  Bean's  Station. 
I  at  once  ordered  Capt.  Roberts,  with  two  companies,  to  charge  them.  One 
of  the  companies  was  commanded  by  Lieut,  afterwards  Captain  Brooks. 
Brooks  was  smarting  under  some  ill  treatment  from  a  superior  officer,  and 
immediately  dashed  forward  with  his  company.  After  routing  the  rebels 
handsomely  and  charging  them  for  a  couple  of  miles,  Capt.  Roberts  wisely 
ordered  a  halt.  But  Brooks  had  gone  ahead  with  a  few  men,  and  actually 
kept  up  that  charge  with  three  men  with  him  for  a  distance  of  ten  miles  and 
a  half.  Captain  Brooks  was  afterwards  rewarded  for  his  gallantry  by  the 
brevets  of  major  and  lieutenant  colonel." 

THE  ELEVENTH  CAVALRY. 

On  the  10th  of  December,  1863,  the  llth  cavalry,  which  Colonel  F.  W. 
Kellogg  had  been  authorized  to  raise,  left  Michigan  for  Kentucky,  in  com 
mand  of  Colonel  S.  B.  Brown,  of  St.  Clair,  who  had  recruited  and  organized 
the  regiment.  After  its  arrival  in  Kentucky  it  was  employed  in  protecting 
the  eastern  district  of  that  State  from  incursions  of  parties  of  thieving  rebels 
from  Virginia,  performing  a  vast  amount  of  service,  and  first  met  the  enemy 
at  Pound  Gap  on  May  17th,  1864.  Out  of  the  many  battles  and  skirmishes 
in  which  this  regiment  participated  with  much  credit,  none,  it  is  deemed, 
appear  to  have  proved  the  sterling  bravery  and  efficiency  of  this  pattern 
cavalry  regiment  than  the  important  battles  of  Saltville,  Va.,  October  2d, 
1864,  and  Marion,  Va.,  December  17th  of  the  same  year,  as  they  will  un 
doubtedly  be  considered  by  the  regiment  and  those  familiar  with  its  history 
as  among  its  principal  engagements. 

In  August  of  that  year  the  regiment  was  at  Camp  Burnside,  on  the  Cum 
berland  river.  On  the  17th  of  September  following  it  was  ordered  to  Mount 
Sterling,  Ky.,  and  thence  engaged  with  its  division,  in  command  of  Gen. 
Burbridge,  in  a  raid  to  Saltville,  Va.  Encountering  the  enemy  at  McCor- 


THE  ELEVENTH  CAVALRY.  297 

mick's  Farm,  Ky.,  on  the  23d,  and  then  at  Laurel  Mountain,  Va.,  on  the 
29th,  and  at  Bowen's  Farm  on  the  30th  and  October  1st.  Having  expe 
rienced  a  long  and  hazardous  march,  through  a  rocky,  barren  country,  and 
being  in  the  advance,  skirmished  daily  with  the  enemy,  who  contested  every 
foot  of  the  ground  with  much  vigor  and  persistence,  the  command  of  Gen. 
Burbridge,  on  the  morning  of  the  2d,  came  upon  the  enemy's  works  at  Salt- 
ville,  defended  by  the  troops  of  Breckinridge,  Echols,  and  Williams,  num 
bering  about  22,000,  including  7,000  militia.  The  whole  of  Burbridge's 
command,  numbering  less  than  4,000  effective  men,  were  ordered  to  move 
on  the  enemy's  works ;  a  different  point  of  attack  being  assigned  to  each 
brigade.  The  nature  of  the  ground  and  the  fact  that  the  enemy  greatly 
outnumbered  the  Union  troops,  and  being  behind  strong  embankments  de 
fended  with  twenty  pieces  of  artillery,  rendered  the  undertaking  a  very 
hazardous  and  desperate  one.  The  brigade  commanded  and  led  by  Col. 
Brown,  and  to  which  the  llth  cavalry,  then  in  command  of  Lieut.  Colonel 
Mason,  were  attached,  carried  the  main  work  in  most  brilliant  style,  and 
were  the  only  troops  that  effected  a  lodgment  within  the  defences.  The  fact 
that  the  llth  cavalry  alone  lost  eighty-six  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing, 
more  men  than  were  lost  by  any  other  brigade  of  the  command,  proved  con 
clusively  that  the  success  of  the  troops  under  Brown  was  not  the  result  of 
lack  of  courage  or  of  determined  and  desperate  fighting  on  the  part  of  their 
opponents,  but  was  a  result  of  their  own  gallant  and  persistent  fighting. 
The  rebel  position  proving  too  strong  to  be  held,  the  command,  after  most 
stubborn  fighting,  was  withdrawn,  but  not  until  all  its  ammunition  had  been 
expended.  On  the  retreat  the  llth  constituted  the  rear  guard,  and  next 
day  skirmished  with  the  enemy's  advance,  and  the  day  following  the  battle 
was  renewed  near  Sandy  Mountain,  where  the  regiment  became  cut  off  from 
the  division  and  surrounded  by  a  body  of  cavalry  numbering  about  4,000, 
under  "  Cerro  Gordo"  Williams.  After  a  very  sanguinary  conflict  of  over 
an  hour,  the  enemy  closing  in  upon  the  regiment,  Col.  Mason  determined  on 
fight  before  surrender,  gallantly  led  the  regiment  to  the  charge,  and  suc 
ceeded,  after  a  bloody  hand-to-hand  encounter,  in  cutting  through  the  rebel 
lines,  punishing  the  enemy  so  severely  that  he  abandoned  any  pursuit.  This 
brilliant  affair  was  not  accomplished  without  loss,  which  included  the  gal 
lant  Mason,  a  noble  soldier ;  he  was  mortally  wounded  in  the  charge  and 
died  next  day. 

Long  and  numerous  marches  and  almost  continuous  battles  and  skirmishes 
followed  the  engagements  at  Saltville  and  Sandy  Mountain,  the  regiment 
acquitting  itself  creditably  on  all  occasions. 

On  December  4,  1864,  it  was  at  Bean  Station,  East  Tennessee,  and  on 
the  llth,  in  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Charles  E.  Smith,  moved  with 
the  force  of  General  Stonernan  on  his  raid  into  North  Carolina,  and  after 
a  long  march  and  much  fighting  at  various  points,  the  command  reached 
Marion,  Va.,  on  the  17th,  when  a  detachment  of  the  llth,  then  forming  a 
part  of  the  brigade  of  Colonel  Brown,  coming  upon  the  enemy  under 
Breckinridge,  charged  his  cavalry  and  opened  the  engagement,  which  con 
tinued  with  much  vigorous  fighting  for  thirty-six  hours,  during  which  re 
peated  and  daring  charges  were  made  by  both  sides,  and  the  enemy,  after 
the  most  determined  fighting,  fell  back  in  disorder  across  the  mountains 
into  North  Carolina.  A  detachment  of  the  llth  Michigan,  numbering  one 
hundred  and  twenty  officers  and  men,  under  the  command  of  Captain  E. 
C.  Miles,  held  a  bridge  during  the  whole  engagement  which  was  of  much 
importance,  being  the  key  to  the  position  held  by  the  Union  troops. 
Captain  George  B.  Mason,  while  gallantly  attempting  to  reinforce  Captain 

S* 


298  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Miles  with  a  squadron  of  the  regiment,  was  mortally  wounded.  The  bridge 
was  stubbornly  held  under  a  severe  fire  from  a  heavy  force  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  and,  in  addition  to  the  loss  of  Captain  Mason,  Lieutenant 
Davis  and  five  enlisted  men  nobly  fell  in  its  defence.  For  this  important 
service,  the  detachment  of  Captain  Miles  received  the  highest  praise  from 
General  Stoneman,  and  the  regiment  was  thanked  in  the  general  orders  of 
the  department  commander  for  its  meritorious  and  valuable  services  in  the 
battle  of  Marion. 

On  the  19th  of  January,  1865,  the  regiment  being  stationed  at  Lexing 
ton,  Ky.,  moved  to  Mount  Sterling,  and  was  engaged  in  scouting  the 
eastern  portion  of  Kentucky.  On  February  23d  it  started  to  join  General 
Stoneman's  command  at  Knoxville,  reaching  there,  via  Louisville,  Ky., 
and  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  15th,  when  it  was  assigned  to  2d  brigade,  and 
formed  part  of  the  force  on  Stoneman's  expedition  through  East  Tennessee, 
North  and  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia.  The  command  left  Knoxville, 
March  17th,  and  passed  through  Boon,  N.  C.,  on  the  27th,  crossed  the 
Yadkin  river  on  the  30th,  passing  through  Mount  Airy  on  the  31st,  Hills- 
dale,  April  1st,  and  arrived  at  Christiansburg  April  3d,  where  it  destroyed 
a  portion  of  the  East  Tennessee  railroad,  and  passing  through  Danbury, 
April  9th,  Germantown,  April  10th,  and  arriving  at  Salisbury,  April  12th, 
it  engaged  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  and  captured  1,800  prisoners,  22 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  destroyed  a  large  amount  of  property,  and  also  the 
railroads  and  telegraph  lines  leading  from  that  point.  In  this  engagement 
Captain  John  Edwards  was  killed.  From  Salisbury  the  command  marched 
via  Taylorsville  on  the  14th,  passing  Lenoir  Station  on  the  15th,  and  was 
engaged  at  Morgantown  on  the  17th.  On  the  19th  it  proceeded  to  Swan- 
anoa  Gap,  and  passing  through  Rutherfordton  on  the  20th,  Hendersonville 
on  the  23d,  arriving  at  Ashville  on  the  26th,  taking  at  that  point  two  hun 
dred  prisoners,  and  capturing  a  large  amount  of  property,  including  artil 
lery.  Passing  again  through  Hendersonville  on  the  27th,  the  command 
entered  South  Carolina,  via  Saluda  Gap  and  Csesar's  Head,  arriving  at 
Anderson  Court-house  May  1st.  It  destroyed  the  remnant  of  the  rebel 
treasury,  then  moved  to  Carnesville,  Ga.,  on  the  3d,  and  to  Athens  on  the 
4th,  and  on  the  llth  captured  the  cavalry  escort  of  Jefferson  Davis  near 
Washington,  moving  to  Hartwell  on  the  13th,  the  command  guarding  the 
crossing  points  of  the  Tugaloo  and  Savannah  rivers.  On  the  22d,  crossing 
the  Savannah  river,  reached  Maxwell's  Farm,  S.  C. ;  on  the  23d,  Green 
ville,  and  on  the  25th,  Ashville,  N.  C.,  and  Greenville,  Tenn.,  on  the  27th ; 
Strawberry  Plains  on  the  29th,  Knoxville  on  June  3d,  and  arrived  at  Le 
noir  Station  June  4th,  and  encamped  until  the  24th,  when  the  regiment 
moved  by  rail  to  Pulaski,  and  on  the  20th  of  July  it  was  consolidated  with 
the  8th  Michigan  cavalry. 

THE   "MERRILL  HORSE"    CAVALRY. 

In  September,  1861,  two  companies  of  cavalry  were  raised  respectively 
by  Captain  James  B.  Mason  and  Captain  Jabez  H.  Rogers,  at  Battle 
Creek,  and  in  January,  1863,  another  company  was  recruited  by  Captain 
Almon  E.  Preston,  of  the  same  place.  These  companies  were  designated 
as  companies  H,  I,  and  L  of  the  regiment  known  as  the  "Merrill  Horse," 
a  Missouri  organization,  and  served  during  the  whole  term  of  the  service 
with  the  Western  armies.  It  is  known  to  have  been  actively  engaged,  and 
to  have  seen  much  service  in  the  field  during  the  period  covered  by  this 
report,  but  the  returns  of  these  companies  are  very  meagre  in  the  details 


THE  "MERRILL  HORSE"  CAVALRY— THE  LIGHT  ARTILLERY.        299 

of  their  operations,  consequently  it  has  been  impossible  to  give  a  full  and 
satisfactory  sketch  of  their  movements  and  services. 

It  has  been  ascertained  that  they  were  in  engagements  and  skirmishes  as 
follows:  Memphis,  Mo.,  July  18,  1862;  Moor's  Mill,  Mo.,  July  28,  1862; 
Kirsville,  Mo.,  August  6,  1862;  Brownsville,  Ark.,  August  25,  1863; 
Bayou  Mecoe,  Ark.,  August  27,  1865 ;  Ashley's  Bayou,  Ark.,  September  7, 
1863  ;  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  September  10,  1863  ;  Benton,  Ark.,  September 
11,  1863;  Princeton,  Ark.,  December  8,  1863;  Little  Missouri  Iliver, 
Ark.,  April  3,  4,  1864  ;  Prairie  Dehan,  Ark.,  April  12,  13, 14, 1864  ;  Cam- 
den,  Ark.,  April  15,  1864;  Jenkins'  Ferry,  Ark.,  April  29,  30,  1864; 
Franklin,  Mo.,  October  1,  1864 ;  Otterville,  Mo.,  October  10,  1864 ;  Inde 
pendence,  Mo.,  October  22,  1864  ;  Big  Blue,  Mo.,  October  23,  1864  ;  Tren 
ton  Gap,  Ga.,  March  22,  1865  ;  Alpine,  Ga.,  March  24,  1865 ;  Summer- 
ville,  Ga.,  March  25,  1865. 

On  May  1,  1865,  they  were  at  Resaca.  On  the  9th  left  for  Kingston, 
arriving  there  same  day,  and  on  the  20th  started  with  the  regiment  for 
Atlanta  as  an  escort  to  a  supply  train,  arriving  at  that  point  on  the  23d, 
and  were  then  ordered  to  return  with  the  train  loaded  with  cotton  to  Chat 
tanooga.  On  September  21st  following  they  were  mustered  out  of  service 
at  Nashville,  and  soon  thereafter  paid  off  and  disbanded.  They  were 
known  as  Michigan  companies,  and  their  officers  were  commissioned  by  the 
Governor  of  the  State. 

THE  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

The  regiment  of  Michigan  light  artillery  was  composed  of  twelve  six-gun 
batteries.  It  was  commanded  by  Colonel  C.  O.  Loomis ;  but,  from  the 
character  of  that  arm  of  the  service,  the  batteries  were  never  brought  to 
gether  as  a  regiment. 

Battery  A,  originally  designated  Loomis's,  left  the  State  under  command 
of  Colonel  Loomis,  on  July  1,  1861,  for  the  field  in  Western  Virginia ;  and 
at  Rich  Mountain,  in  July  following,  while  serving  with  General  McClel- 
lan,  first  engaged  the  enemy,  and  thus  early  in  the  war  gave  the  rebels  a 
taste  of  its  pluck. 

Passing  through  the  Western  Virginia  campaign,  it  was  transferred  to 
Kentucky,  and  was  in  advance  in  the  route  of  the  rebels  from  Bowling 
Green. 

At  the  battle  of  Perryville  it  played  an  important  part,  saving  by  its 
gallant  and  effective  service  the  right  wing  of  the  Union  army  from  being 
flanked. 

Fighting  through  many  other  battles,  where  its  vigorous  action,  stubborn 
pluck,  and  brilliant  dash  gave  it  an  enviable  reputation  throughout  the 
whole  army,  it  is  found  hotly  engaged  during  the  memorable  days  and 
nights  of  hard  and  desperate  fighting  in  the  bloody  battle  of  Stone  River, 
where  it  lost  heavily,  but  achieved  a  most  noted  distinction,  second  to  no 
battery  in  the  service,  and  the  history  of  the  times  will  bear  witness  to  its 
noted  fame  in  the  ages  that  shall  follow. 

From  the  annals  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  we  take  the  following 
extract : 

"  During  the  battle  of  Friday,  at  Stone  River,  General  Rousseau  rode  up 
to  Loomis's  battery,  and  saw  there  a  youth  of  the  battery  holding  horses, 
and  in  the  midst  of  a  very  tempest  of  shot  and  shell.  He  was  so  uncon 
scious  of  fear,  and  so  elated  and  excited,  that,  being  debarred  from  better 
occupation  than  holding  horses,  his  high  spirits  found  vent  in  shouting  out 


300  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

songs  and  dancing  to  the  music.  The  General  was  so  well  pleased  with  his 
whole  deportment,  that  he  rode  up  to  him  and  said  :  'Well  done,  my  brave 
boy ;  let  me  shake  hands  with  you.'  A  few  days  after  the  fight,  General 
Rousseau  visited  the  camp  of  the  battery,  and  mentioning  the  circumstance 
to  the  commanding  officer,  expressed  a  desire  to  see  the  youth  again.  '  Step 
out,  Mclntire,'  said  the  officer.  The  youth  came  forward,  blushing  deeply. 
The  General  again  commended  his  conduct,  and  said  :  '  I  shook  hands  with 
you  on  the  battle-field,  and  now  I  wish  to  do  it  again  in  the  presence  of  your 
brother  soldiers.  May  you  carry  the  same  brave  spirit  through  the  war, 
and  come  out  safely  at  last,  as  you  are  sure  to  come  out  honorably.'  The 
General  again  shook  his  hand  warmly  in  the  presence  of  his  officers  and  of 
his  companions." 

The  gallant  services  of  this  battery  and  Guenther's,  fighting  by  its  side, 
were  conspicuous,  demanding  the  attention  of  the  general  officers,  while 
General  Rousseau,  specially  noticing  them  in  his  report,  says : 

"As  the  enemy  emerged  from  the  woods  in  great  force,  shouting  and  cheer 
ing,  the  batteries  of  Loomis  and  Guenther,  double-shotted  with  canister, 
opened  upon  them.  They  moved  straight  ahead  for  a  while ;  but  were 
finally  driven  back  with  immense  loss.  In  a  little  while  they  rallied  again, 
and,  as  it  seemed,  with  fresh  troops  again  assailed  our  position,  and  were 
again,  after  a  fierce  struggle,  driven  back." 

This  high  compliment  to  their  fighting  qualities  is  strongly  endorsed  in 
the  "  Rebellion  Record,"  by  Mr.  Greeley,  who  says : 

"After  debouching  from  cedars,  Loomis  and  Guenther  could  find  no  good 
position  for  their  batteries,  and  the  whole  line  fell  back  under  severe  fight 
ing,  the  left  wing  flat  upon  the  ground,  the  right  covered  by  a  crest.  The 
two  batteries  now  swiftly  wheeled  into  favorable  positions  and  poured  double- 
shotted  canister  into  the  enemy.  The  23d  Arkansas  was  literally  swept 
away  by  their  devouring  fire.  Loomis  and  Guenther  were  wild  with  delight 
at  their  success.  The  baffled  enemy  came  no  farther.  The  field  was  red 
with  the  blood  of  their  slain." 

At  Chicamauga,  September  19th  and  20th,  the  record  is  nobly  main 
tained  and  gloriously  almost  ended.  There,  sooner  than  abandon  its  posi 
tion,  it  suffered  nearly  annihilation ;  making  one  of  the  most  determined 
defences  on  record ;  dealing  to  the  rebel  hosts,  pressing  up  in  masses  to  the 
muzzle  of  the  guns,  utter  destruction  within  its  entire  range;  but  finally  had 
to  surrender  the  guns  so  dearly  prized,  Lieut.  Van  Pelt,  its  commander, 
fighting  most  heroically  for  their  preservation,  and  dying  by  their  side. 
Mr.  Greeley,  in  noticing  this  great  struggle  on  the  19th,  says : 

"  It  was  now  9  A.  M.,  and  while  Baird  and  Brannan  were  making  the 
required  movements,  Palmer's  division,  of  Crittenden's  corps,  came  up  and 
took  position  on  Baird's  right.  By  10  A.  M.  Croxton's  brigade,  of  Bran- 
nan's  division,  had  become  engaged,  driving  back  Forrest's  cavalry,  when 
Ector's  and  Wilson's  infantry  brigades  were  sent  in  by  Walker  to  Forrest's 
support.  Croxton,  of  course,  was  brought  to  a  dead  halt ;  but  now  Thomas 
sent  up  Baird's  division,  and  the  rebel  brigades  were  hurled  back  badly 
cut  up.  Hereupon,  Walker  in  turn  sent  up  LiddelPs  division,  making  the 
odds  against  us  two  to  one,  when  Baird  was  in  turn  driven ;  the  rebels 
charging  through  the  lines  of  the  14th.  16th,  and  18th  U.  S.  regulars,  taking 
two  batteries. 

"  One  of  the  batteries  here  lost  was  the  1st  Michigan,  formerly  Loomis's, 
regarded  by  the  whole  army  with  pride,  and  by  those  who  served  in  it  with 
an  affection  little  short  of  idolatry.  It  had  done  yeoman  service  on  many  a 
hard-fought  field,  and  was  fondly  regarded  as  well  nigh  invincible.  But 


THE  LIGHT  ARTILLERY.  301 

now  abandoned  by  its  supports,  who  recoiled  before  a  rebel  charge  in  over 
whelming  force,  with  all  its  horses  shot,  and  most  of  its  men  killed  and 
wounded,  it  could  not  be  drawn  off,  and  was  doomed  to  be  lost.  Its  com 
mander,  Lieut.  Van  Pelt,  refused  to  leave  it,  and  died,  sword  in  hand,  fight 
ing — one  against  a  thousand — by  the  side  of  his  guns." 

Battery  B  went  to  the  field  from  Grand  Rapids  about  the  latter  part  of 

1861,  in  command  of  Capt.  W.  S.  Bliss,  and  was  in  the  desperate  fight  at 
Pittsburg  Landing,  and  while  heavily  engaged  became  cut  off  from  its  in 
fantry  supports  by  the  enemy's  cavalry,  losing  four  of  its  guns  and  having 
sixty  of  its  officers  and  men  taken  as  prisoners.     The  battery  was  reorgan 
ized  after  the  exchange  of  officers  and  men  taken  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  and 
passed  through  much  hard  and  useful  service  and  many  severe  engage 
ments,  including  the  defence  of  Corinth  by  Gen.  Rosecrans  in  1862.     It  was 
with  the  army  while  advancing  on  Atlanta  in  1864,  and  engaged  the  enemy 
at  Resaca  on  the  14th,  15th,  and  16th  of  May,  where  Lieut.  Wright  was 
severely  wounded.     It  was  also  engaged  at  Lay's  Ferry,  Calhoun  Ferry, 
Rome  Cross-roads,  and  Cave  Springs,  Georgia,  and  at  Turkey  Ridge,  Ala 
bama. 

On  November  13th  it  commenced  the  memorable  march  with  General 
Sherman's  army  from  Atlanta,  and  on  the  22d  following  engaged  the  enemy 
at  Griswold,  near  Macon,  doing  excellent  service,  distinguishing  itself  by 
steady,  rapid,  and  precise  firing,  doing  much  execution.  In  this  engage 
ment  the  brigade  to  which  it  was  attached,  numbering  only  about  1,500, 
defeated  the  enemy  in  very  superior  force,  killing,  wounding,  and  taking 
prisoners  from  1,500  to  2,000,  the  brigade  losing  only  about  eighty.  The 
loss  of  the  battery  was  seven  wounded,  including  its  commander,  Capt.  A. 
F.  R.  Arndt ;  two  of  the  enlisted  men  losing  each  a  leg  and  one  an  arm. 
In  this  engagement  the  battery  behaved  most  gallantly,  and  fought  until  the 
last  round  of  ammunition  was  expended,  all  the  horses  of  one  gun  killed, 
and  only  saved  the  piece  by  drawing  it  from  the  field  by  the  prolong. 

Lieut.  Bliss,  of  this  battery,  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh, 
Tennessee,  April  6,  1862,  and  was  sent  to  Montgomery,  Ala.,  where  he  was 
murdered  by  a  rebel  sentinel  May  1st,  1862,  under  the  following  circum 
stances  :  Lieut.  Bliss  had  permission  to  go  to  a  house  near  the  prison  and 
purchase  milk  for  the  convalescent  officers  in  the  prison ;  on  one  of  these 
errands,  accompanied  by  a  sentinel  and  while  waiting  for  the  canteens  to 
be  filled  by  the  woman  of  the  house,  he  was  ordered  by  the  rebel  sentinel  to 
"  Hurry  up."  Bliss  replied,  "  Yes,  as  soon  as  I  can  get  my  canteens."  The 
sentinel  cocked  his  musket  and  placed  the  muzzle  against  Lieut.  Bliss's 
breast.  Bliss  said,  "  I  hope  you  will  not  shoot  me."  The  sentinel  replied, 
"  Yes,  I  will,  you  damned  Yankee ;"  and  at  the  same  moment  fired.  Bliss 
fell  to  the  ground  and  never  spoke  again ;  he  lived  about  three-quarters  of 
an  hour  after  being  shot.  So  far  as  is  known  no  action  was  taken  by  the 
rebel  authorities  in  the  matter. 

This  statement  regarding  his  death  was  given  by  the  woman  of  the  house 
where  it  occurred  and  who  was  an  eye-witness  of  the  murder.  The  wroman 
was  obliged  soon  after  to  flee  North  to  save  her  own  life,  she  having  shown 
many  acts  of  kindness  to  the  Union  troops  wrho  were  prisoners  of  war  at 
that  place. 

Battery  C  first  met  the  rebels  at  the  siege  of  Corinth,  Mississippi,  in  May, 

1862.  On  September  16th  following  the  battery,  in  command  of  Capt.  A. 
W.  Dees,  was  sent  from  Burnsville  on  a  reconnoissance  towards  luka,  Miss., 
made  by  the  2d  brigade,  2d  division,  Army  of  the  Mississippi.     About  six 
miles  from  that  place  the  command  was  met  by  the  enemy's  pickets,  which 


302  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

were  driven  in,  and  the  force  advanced.  The  line  of  battle  was  formed  on 
a  hill  commanding  the  country  for  about  a  mile.  Two  of  the  guns  of  the 
battery  (10-pounder  Parrott  and  10-pounder  howitzer)  were  placed  on  the 
brow  of  the  hill,  throwing  shot  and  shell.  The  other  two  guns  of  the  battery 
were  soon  after  into  position,  and  the  firing  continued  for  about  fifteen 
minutes.  The  force  advanced  through  an  open  field  below  the  hill,  and, 
reaching  the  wood  on  the  other  side,  turned  to  the  right,  when  the  infantry 
and  cavalry  advanced  and  opened  fire  on  the  enemy.  The  firing  was  brisk 
on  both  sides  for  a  short  time,  when  a  retreat  was  ordered,  the  battery  cov 
ering.  On  falling  back  to  the  hill  before-mentioned  a  halt  was  made,  the 
battery  reopened  fire,  and  shelled  in  several  directions.  On  the  advance 
of  the  skirmishers  toward  a  wood  about  a  mile  distant  the  enemy  opened  a 
brisk  fire  from  the  edge  of  the  wood,  when  the  battery  again  opened  fire 
from  a  10-pounder  Parrott,  shelling  the  enemy  with  such  good  effect  that 
he  very  soon  left  the  wood.  Soon  night  came  on  and  the  firing  ceased. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3d  October,  1862,  the  battery,  in  command  of 
Lieut.  George  Robinson,  with  a  section  of  the  8th  Wisconsin  battery,  all 
being  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  C.  A.  Lamberg,  of  battery  C,  marched 
from  a  point  on  the  Kossuth  road,  four  miles  from  Corinth,  with  the  1st 
brigade,  2d  division,  Army  of  Mississippi,  towards  Corinth,  and  took  a  po 
sition  southwest  of  the  town.  On  the  morning  of  the  4th,  the  battery  was 
stationed  on  the  north  of  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad  Depot. 
About  4  A.  M.  the  enemy  commenced  shelling  the  town,  throwing  several 
shells  into  the  battery,  but  without  effect.  The  battery  was  placed  in  posi 
tion  a  short  distance  to  the  right,  and  afterwards  in  rear  of  General  Rose 
crans'  headquarters,  with  an  Ohio  battery  on  its  right ;  seeing  the  enemy's 
skirmishers  in  front,  firing  was  commenced  on  them  about  8  A.  M.,  when 
they  disappeared.  Later  in  the  day  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  appeared, 
advancing  on  the  right  and  front  of  the  battery,  when  it  again  opened  fire, 
driving  them  back  into  the  woods.  They  soon  advanced  in  greater  force, 
when  the  guns  were  double-shotted  with  canister,  and  a  rapid  fire  was  opened 
with  good  effect  for  about  an  hour,  but  the  enemy  continued  to  advance. 
The  infantry  on  the  right  of  the  Ohio  battery  broke,  when  it  limbered  up 
and  retired,  leaving  the  right  flank  of  the  Michigan  battery  exposed  and 
without  support.  The  enemy  being  within  twenty  yards  of  the  guns,  and 
unable  to  maintain  the  position,  it  limbered  to  the  rear  and  moved  to  the 
south  side  of  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad,  and  from  there  to  the 
rear  of  General  Rosecrans'  headquarters,  when  the  firing  ceased  ;  the  enemy 
being  driven  back  at  all  points  in  a  very  demoralized  condition.  During 
the  engagement  the  battery  lost  eleven  in  wounded  and  missing,  and  had 
six  horses  killed  and  eight  wounded. 

On  this  occasion  it  acquired  a  high  reputation  for  efficiency  and  bravery 
and  as  a  serviceable  and  reliable  battery. 

The  battery,  in  command  of  Capt.  George  Robinson,  served  on  the  At 
lanta  campaign  with  much  enviable  reputation,  and  participated  in  the  siege 
of  that  stronghold.  After  its  fall  it  followed  Sherman  to  the  sea,  and  among 
other  battles  on  that  great  campaign  was  hotly  engaged  at  the  South  Edisto, 
S.  C.,  on  February  9th,  1865,  acquiring  much  distinction  and  losing  several 
killed  and  wounded. 

Battery  D,  on  leaving  the  State  in  1861,  proceeded  to  Kentucky,  and  first 
encountered  the  rebels,  damaging  them  much  at  Hoover's  Gap,  Tennessee, 
on  the  26th  of  June,  1862,  when  Rosecrans  was  advancing  on  Tullahoma 
and  Chattanooga. 

It  seems  from  the  record  of  this  battery  that  its  most  prominent  fight  wag 


THE  LIGHT  ARTILLERY.  303 

at  the  great  battle  of  Chicamauga  on  the  19th  and  20th  September,  1863, 
where,  in  command  of  Capt.  J.  W.  Church,  it  became  closely  and  hotly  en 
gaged,  behaving  in  splendid  style,  but  losing  heavily,  having  nine  wounded 
and  three  missing  ;  among  the  wounded  was  its  commander. 

It  \vas  also  in  the  assault  on  Mission  Ridge  November  25th  following. 
On  the  preceding  day  the  battery  aided  in  covering  Hooker's  advance  up 
Lookout  Mountain.  On  both  of  these  occasions  it  proved  a  serviceable  bat 
tery,  and  its  splendid  firing  and  valuable  services  attracted  much  attention. 

Battery  E,  raised  and  organized,  in  connection  with  the  regiment  of 
engineers  and  mechanics,  by  Captain  John  J.  Dennis,  left  the  State  in 
1861,  going  into  the  field  with  the  Western  army,  was  attached  to  General 
Crittenden's  command  at  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  there  first 
met  the  rebels.  In  1864  it  accompanied  General  Rousseau  on  a  raid  into 
Alabama  and  Georgia,  and  was  engaged  at  the  battles  of  Coosa  and  Che- 
raw,  Alabama. 

The  battery  participated  with  much  credit  in  the  gallant  defence  of 
Nashville  by  General  Thomas,  in  December,  1864,  gaining  an  enviable 
reputation  in  that  important  affair. 

The  first  station  of  battery  F  in  the  field  was  at  West  Point,  Ky.,  where, 
under  command  of  Captain  John  S.  Andrews,  who  raised  and  organized 
the  battery,  it  garrisoned  that  post  for  several  months  in  the  spring  of  1862. 
Its  first  engagement  with  the  enemy  was  at  Henderson,  Ky.,  in  that  year. 
After  undergoing  much  hard  service,  with  a  great  amount  of  marching  in 
1863  and  in  the  early  part  of  1864,  it  is  found  in  May  of  that  year  with 
General  Sherman's  army,  on  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  attached  to  the 
2d  division,  23d  corps.  It  passed  through  numerous  engagements  on  that 
campaign,  maintaining  a  high  reputation  for  promptness  and  efficiency. 
Among  its  principal  encounters  with  the  enemy  may  be  classed  its  severe 
fight  at  Utoy  creek,  Ga.,  on  August  4,  where,  in  command  of  Lieutenant 
Miller,  it  vigorously  engaged  the  enemy  with  some  loss,  and  had  the  equip 
ments  and  wheels  of  two  guns  literally  shot  to  pieces,  but  bravely  holding 
its  position  and  finally  silencing  two  rebel  batteries.  In  this  affair  the  bat 
tery  attracted  much  attention  and  favorable  comment  on  account  of  its 
stubborn  and  effective  fighting. 

The  battery  was  transferred  with  General  Scofield's  command  to  the 
North  Carolina  coast  early  in  1865.  Being  stationed  at  Newbern  on  March 
3d,  it  left  that  point,  in  command  of  Captain  Paddock,  with  the  1st  di 
vision,  23d  corps,  and  became  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Wise's  Forks, 
March  10th,  with  some  loss  in  killed  and  wounded.  In  this  engagement 
the  battery  maintained  its  previous  high  reputation  for  gallant  service  and 
daring  pluck. 

The  next  battery  that  left  the  State  for  the  field  was  G,  raised  and 
organized  in  1862  by  Captain  C.  H.  Lamphere,  in  connection  with  the  13th 
infantry,  at  Kalamazoo,  and  was  stationed  at  West  Point,  Ky.,  in  February 
following,  whence  it  proceeded  to  Cumberland  Gap,  East  Tennessee,  in 
May,  and  first  engaged  the  enemy  at  Tasewell. 

In  November  following  it  was  ordered  to  Memphis,  and  from  thence  to 
the  Yazoo  river,  Miss.,  and,  in  command  of  Captain  Lamphere,  took  an 
active  part  in  the  battle  of  Chickasaw  Bayou,  December  28th  and  29th, 
and  was  heavily  engaged,  losing  ten  wounded,  two  mortally,  with  eight 
horses  killed  or  disabled.  The  loss  of  the  battery  at  this  point  indicates 
its  gallant  and  valuable  service. 

It  participated  in  the  Vicksburg  campaign,  and  served  with  the  2d  bri 
gade,  belonging  to  the  9th  division,  13th  corps.  The  battery  was  engaged 


304  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

in  the  fight  near  Port  Gibson,  on  May  1,  1863,  where  it  acquired  much  dis 
tinction,  and  was  mentioned  in  the  report  of  General  McClernand  as  fol 
lows:  "The  splendid  practice  of  Lamphere's  and  Foster's  batteries  disabled 
two  of  the  enemy's  guns,  and  contributed  largely  to  this  success." 

The  rendezvous  of  battery  H  was  in  Monroe  in  connection  with  the  15th 
infantry,  and  lei't  that  place,  under  command  of  Captain  Samuel  De  Gobyer, 
on  the  loth  of  March,  1862,  to  report  to  General  Halleck  at  St.  Louis; 
thence  it  was  ordered  to  New  Madrid,  Mo.  Served  afterwards  in  Ken 
tucky,  West  Tennessee,  and  Northern  Mississippi,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  the  Mississippi  campaign  preceding  the  siege  of  Vicksburg. 

At  Thompson's  Hills,  Miss.,  May  1,  1863,  it  first  encountered  the  rebels, 
and  then  at  Raymond,  May  12th  following,  where  it  received  much  favor 
able  comment  on  its  rapid  and  effective  fire.  Greeley,  in  his  "American 
Conflict,"  on  noticing  the  battle  of  Raymond,  makes  the  following  mention 
of  the  gallant  and  valuable  services  rendered  by  the  battery  in  that  affair : 

"  The  fight  here  was  a  short  one.  The  rebels  opened  with  great  fury, 
attempting  to  charge  and  capture  De  Gobyer's  battery,  which  was  in  posi 
tion  in  our  front,  but  being  repulsed  by  a  terrific  fire  of  grape  and  canister, 
they  broke  and  fled  precipitately." 

The  following  extract  from  the  "  Rebellion  Record  "  still  further  credits 
the  battery  for  excellent  and  gallant  service  on  the  occasion  referred  to : 

"Shortly  after  the  opening  of  the  fight,  Captain  De  Gobyer's  battery 
(8th  Michigan)  was  ordered  to  the  front,  and  took  a  commanding  position 
for  the  purpose  of  dislodging  the  enemy  from  the  woods,  the  infantry  having 
proven  itself  inadequate  to  the  task.  The  James  rifled  guns  of  De  Gobyer's 
battery  opened,  and  commenced  pouring  a  heavy  fire  of  shell  into  the  rebel 
columns.  The  enemy  now,  for  the  first  time,  opened  artillery  upon  us.  His 
aim  was  good,  succeeding  in  making  our  infantry  change  position.  But 
his  purpose  was  to  silence  the  8th  Michigan  battery,  and  he  failed  in  that. 
Finding  it  impossible  to  silence  the  guns  with  artillery,  the  rebels  attempted 
a  charge  upon  the  battery.  A  regiment  of  men  essayed  the  hazardous 
undertaking.  While  they  were  removing  a  fence,  preparatory  to  making 
the  decisive  dash,  the  battery  opened  on  them.  Our  men  fired  two  shells 
into  their  midst,  both  of  which  burst  among  them,  killing  and  wounding  a 
large  number,  and  causing  the  entire  column  to  fall  back  in  disorder.  At 
their  inglorious  withdrawal  our  infantry  sent  up  a  few  rousing  cheers,  which 
had  the  effect  of  accelerating  the  speed  of  the  fugitives,  and  inspiring  our 
whole  command  with  a  new  zeal  and  determination  to  press  forward  to  a 
victory  of  which  they  felt  certain,  even  when  the  fortunes  of  the  day  seemed 
to  turn  against  them. 

"  The  rebels,  defeated  in  their  attempt  to  capture  our  battery,  found  them 
selves  compelled  to  fall  back  to  a  position  immediately  in  the  rear  of  Farn- 
den's  creek." 

The  battery  participated  in  the  fight  at  "  Champion  Hills,"  with  loss,  and 
then  was  actively  engaged  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  until  its  surrender, 
where,  on  the  28th  of  May,  its  gallant  commander,  Captain  De  Gobyer, 
received  a  wound,  which  caused  his  death  on  the  8th  of  August  following. 

Battery  I,  raised  and  organized  in  Detroit  by  Captain  J.  J.  Daniels,  left 
the  State  with  the  5th  cavalry  on  December  4,  1862,  for  Washington,  D. 
C.  On  April  27,  1863,  Captain  Daniels,  with  his  battery,  encountered  the 
rebels  at  Aldie,  Va.;  then  at  Gettysburg,  during  that  great  battle,  where  on 
July  3d  it  became  heavily  engaged,  losing  one  killed  and  four  wounded,  and 
acquiring  much  credit  for  vigorous  and  brave  fighting.  On  October  27th 
following  it  was  ordered  to  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland,  arriving  at 


THE  SHARP-SHOOTERS.  305 

Nashville  on  the  12th  of  November.  In  April,  1864,  it  was  attached  to 
the  3d  division,  20th  corps,  and  afterwards  participated  in  the  Georgia 
campaign,  and  was  in  the  various  engagements  of  that  great  undertaking, 
including  the  memorable  siege  of  Atlanta. 

On  the  27th  and  28th  of  June,  when  under  command  of  Captain  L.  R. 
Smith,  it  fought  the  enemy  at  New  Hope  Church  with  loss;  on  the  17th  at 
Lost  Mountain,  losing  some;  and  at  Marietta,  on  July  13th,  again  became 
engaged  and  lost  lightly. 

These  are  some  of  the  most  noted  fights  of  this  battery,  in  all  of  which  it 
behaved  with  determined  courage  and  perseverance,  securing  final  success 
in  these  as  well  as  in  all  others  in  which  it  was  engaged. 

The  next  battery  (K)  went  from  Grand  Rapids,  under  command  of  Cap 
tain  John  C.  Schultz,  arriving  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  March  1,  1863,  and 
served  on  duty  at  various  forts  in  that  vicinity,  until  October  28th,  when  it 
left  Washington  for  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  was  again  assigned  to  garrison 
duty  and  service  on  gunboats  and  transports  on  the  Cumberland  river.  A 
portion  of  the  battery  assisted  with  much  spirit  and  vigor  in  repelling  an 
attack  of  the  rebel  General  Wheeler's  force  on  Dalton,  Ga.,  in  1864. 

Battery  L  had  its  rendezvous  at  Cold  water,  being  organized  by  Captain 
Charles  J.  Thompson,  in  connection  with  the  9th  cavalry,  and  went  to  Ken 
tucky  in  May,  1863.  First  fought  the  rebels  at  Triplett's  Bridge,  Ky.,  on 
June  loth  following.  A  portion  of  the  battery  was  the  first  artillery  to 
open  on  Morgan's  forces  at  Buffington's  Island,  on  July  19th,  and  gained 
much  notoriety  by  its  rapid  and  effective  fire  on  that  occasion. 

The  last  battery  of  the  regiment  (M)  left  Dearborn,  its  rendezvous,  under 
command  of  Captain  Edward  G.  Hillier,  and  went  to  Indianapolis  in  July, 
1863,  thence  in  the  pursuit  of  Morgan,  then  on  his  raid  through  Indiana 
and  Ohio.  In  the  latter  part  of  1863  and  in  1864  it  served  in  East  Ten 
nessee,  and  was  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Blue  Springs,  October  10th;  at 
Walker's  Ford,  December  2,  1863 ;  and  at  Tazewell  on  January  21,  1864, 
behaving  on  every  occasion  with  uniform  efficiency. 

The  13th  battery,  commanded  by  Captain  C.  H.  O'Riordan,  left  Grand 
Rapids,  where  it  was  recruited,  and  arrived  in  Washington  on  the  7th  of 
February,  1864.  During  its  service  it  was  mostly  stationed  in  the  forts 
around  that  city,  and  for  a  short  time  was  mounted  as  cavalry  for  scouting 
purposes.  On  the  llth  and  12th  of  July,  1864,  under  command  of  Captain 
Charles  Dupont,  it  assisted  in  the  defence  of  Fort  Stevens  against  an  attack 
of  Early 's  forces  then  threatening  Washington.  On  that  occasion  it  proved 
a  serviceable  and  reliable  battery,  its  fire  being  used  with  good  effect  on 
the  enemy. 

On  February  1, 1864,  the  14th  battery  moved  from  Kalamazoo  for  Wash 
ington,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Charles  Heine,  and  garrisoned  forts 
in  that  vicinity  during  its  entire  service.  While  General  Early  was  seeking 
to  attack  Washington  it  took  a  creditable  and  conspicuous  part  in  the 
action  near  Forts  Stevens  and  Slocum  on  the  llth,  12th,  and  13th  of  July, 
1864. 

THE  SHARP-SHOOTERS. 

The  regiment  of  Michigan  sharp-shooters,  organized  and  commanded  by 
Colonel  C.  V.  De  Land,  commenced  its  services  in  Indiana  in  1863,  in  pur 
suit  of  the  notorious  rebel  Morgan,  while  he  was  raiding  through  that 
State  and  Ohio,  having  an  encounter  with  his  rear-guard.  The  regiment 
was  afterwards  stationed  at  Chicago,  guarding  rebel  prisoners,  and  subse- 

T 


306  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

quently  joined  the  9th  army  corps  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  in  March,  1864,  and 
with  much  distinction  and  gallantry  participated  in  the  important  battles 
of  that  celebrated  corps  which  followed. 

In  May,  1864,  the  sharp-shooters  belonged  to  Colonel  Christ's  2d  brigade, 
of  the  2d  division,  commanded  by  General  O.  B.  Wilcox,  and  commenced 
their  first  important  engagements  with  the  enemy  in  the  memorable  battles 
of  the  Wilderness,  sustaining  a  loss  of  twenty-five  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing. 

On  these  occasions  they  performed  commendable  service  for  a  new  and 
inexperienced  regiment,  and  in  the  second  day's  battle  bore  an  active  and 
distinguished  part  with  their  veteran  associates ;  and  soon  following  these 
battles  came  that  of  Spottsylvania,  in  which  it  became  signally  celebrated. 
On  May  9th  the  9th  corps  moved  forward  in  the  direction  of  Spottsyl 
vania,  the  3d  division  in  the  advance,  and  before  noon  encountered  the 
enemy,  when  the  lines  were  formed,  the  sharp-shooters,  in  command  of 
Colonel  C.  V.  De  Land,  on  the  left.  Immediately  the  division  experienced 
severe  fighting ;  for  a  time  the  line  wavered,  but  advanced  quickly, 
gaining  ground  all  day,  and  on  the  10th,  with  the  corps,  crossed  the  Po 
river,  and  went  into  position  on  the  heights  southwest  of  the  river,  where 
its  artillery  commanded  the  junction  of  the  twro  great  wagon  roads  which 
the  rebels  had  to  hold  in  order  to  cover  Richmond.  Heavy  skirmishing 
continued  on  the  llth,  and  the  height  of  the  fighting  was  reached  on  the 
next  day,  said  to  have  been  acknowledged  by  the  Generals  of  both  armies 
as  one  of  the  bloodiest  of  the  campaign.  The  rain  having  continued  for 
two  days,  the  roads  had  become  totally  impassable,  and  it  was  only  by  the 
most  persistent  and  overtasking  exertions  that  the  9th  and  2d  corps  were 
joined  and  put  in  a  defensive  position.  The  rebel  General,  moving  on 
plank  and  macadamized  roads,  took  quick  advantage  of  this  state  of  affairs 
to  make  a  tremendous  onslaught  upon  the  9th  corps  while  thus  isolated  and 
unsupported,  with  a  swollen  and  almost  impassable  river  in  its  rear.  Gen 
eral  Burnside,  not  waiting  to  be  attacked,  initiated  the  action,  and  the 
fighting  commenced  at  4  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  1st  division  (Crittenden's)  in 
front,  assisted  by  the  2d  division  (Potter's)  maintained  the  action  until 
noon,  when  the  3d  division  (Wilcox's)  was  put  in,  \vhen  a  most  determined 
and  vigorous  attack  was  made  by  the  1st  brigade,  under  General  Hartranft, 
which  drove  the  rebels  into  their  works  and  gave  the  Union  troops  a  most 
decided  advantage,  and  the  division  was  instantly  formed  and  ordered  to 
assault  the  main  line  of  works,  while,  at  the  same  time,  as  was  afterwards 
ascertained,  Anderson's  corps  of  the  rebel  army  had  been  preparing  to 
charge  to  dislodge  the  Union  troops. 

The  Federal  line  swiftly  advanced,  with  a  cheer,  to  the  desperate  con 
test.  Answering  back  came  the  shrill  yell  of  the  rebel  hosts,  as  if  in  con 
fident  defiance.  Midway  the  space  between  the  two  lines  of  battle  the  two 
charging  columns  met,  amid  the  thick  smoke  of  battle,  in  a  dense  thicket 
of  pines;  the  bloody  struggle  commenced,  and  almost  in  an  instant  after 
the  first  shock  they  became  mixed  in  inextricable  confusion,  and  the  charge 
became  a  series  of  furious  and  unrelenting  hand-to-hand  encounters.  At 
length  the  superior  numbers  of  the  rebels  began  to  force  the  Union  lines  to 
retire;  regiment  after  regiment  fell  slowly  and  sullenly  back,  and  the 
whole  left  was  in  retreat.  The  terrible  sacrifice  of  the  troops  attest  their 
valor  and  the  magnitude  of  the  struggle. 

On  a  little  knoll,  among  the  thick  spindling  pine,  where  their  rifles  com 
manded  the  country  for  their  full  range,  rallied  two  Michigan  regiments — 
the  1st  sharp-shooters,  Colonel  De  Land,  and  the  27th,  Major  Moody,  while 


THE  SHARP-SHOOTERS.  307 

a  little  back,  in  a  ravine,  was  the  14th  New  York  battery,  supported  by 
the  2d  Michigan  infantry.  The  combat,  slowly,  sullenly,  disastrously 
rolling  down  from  the  left,  was  bursting  upon  them,  when  Colonel  Humph 
rey,  of  the  2d  Michigan,  commanding  brigade,  cool  as  an  iceberg  and  reso 
lute  as  fate,  said  :  "Boys,  this  must  be  stopped."  The  leaden  hail  pattered 
and  whistled  with  terrific  furor,  but  the  little  band  stood  firm.  More  than 
once  the  bold  rebels  laid  their  hands  on  the  guns  of  the  battery  only  to  be 
driven  back  by  well-directed  volleys*  A  cheer  arose,  the  rebels  were 
checked,  broken,  but  not  defeated  ;  in  incredible  short  time  they  had  re 
formed,  and  again  the  fearful  struggle  was  renewed.  On  the  right  stood 
the  27th,  fighting  with  unequalled  coolness  and  bravery ;  everything  on 
the  left  of  the  sharp-shooters  had  been  swept  away,  and  the  attack  on  their 
front  and  flank,  with  both  infantry  and  artillery  pouring  in  shot  and  shell, 
was  terrific  ;  but  they  gallantly  held  their  ground.  On  the  left  of  the  sharp 
shooters  were  a  company  of  civilized  Indians,  in  command  of  the  gallant 
and  lamented  young  Graveraet,  an  educated  half-breed — as  brave  a  band 
of  warriors  as  ever  struck  a  war-path  ;  they  suffered  dreadfully,  but  never 
faltered  nor  moved,  sounding  the  war-whoop  with  every  volley,  and  their 
unerring  aim  quickly  taught  the  rebels  they  were  standing  on  dangerous 
ground.  The  fighting  continued  on.  Near  night  a  rumor  runs  along  the 
lines  that  ammunition  is  gone,  and  the  cry  of  give  them  the  steel  is  received 
with  a  cheer.  The  attack  has  again  been  repulsed,  and  the  storm  lulls ; 
the  fight  is  losing  its  horrid  fury,  and  with  a  fearful  burst  of  artillery  it 
sinks  into  a  scattered  skirmish,  but  not  until  the  darkness  came  did  the 
battle  cease.  During  this  fearful  and  bloody  day  Col.  De  Land  was  twice 
struck  and  prostrated  by  the  flying  missiles,  but  badly  injured  as  he  was 
remained  faithful  to  his  command.  The  regiment  lost  34  killed,  117 
wounded,  and  4  missing.  Among  the  killed  was  Major  John  Piper,  a 
brave  and  lamented  officer,  who,  after  several  years  of  hard  and  faithful 
service,  fell  by  a  shot  through  the  brain. 

Passing  through  Grant's  great  campaign  on  Richmond  with  much  credit 
and  crossing  the  James  river,  it  arrived  with  its  division  in  front  of  Peters 
burg  June  16,  1864,  and  on  the  next  day,  while  in  command  of  Major  Le 
vant  C.  Rhines,  became  so  heavily  engaged  and  so  specially  distinguished 
in  charging  and  holding  the  enemy's  works  and  repelling  his  repeated  as 
saults  to  retake  them  that  this  bloody  battle  becomes  one  of  the  most  prom 
inent  events  in  the  history  of  the  regiment. 

The  position  of  the  regiment  being  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  corps,  and  the 
5th  corps  failing  to  connect  the  line  after  the  capture  of  the  rebel  works,  a 
large  gap  was  left  through  which  the  rebels  poured  their  troops,  and  most 
severe  fighting  occurred,  the  regiment  most  gallantly  repulsing  the  enemy 
in  two  successive  and  vigorous  charges,  taking  two  officers  and  eighty-six 
men  prisoners,  and  the  colors  of  the  35th  North  Carolina,  which  were  cap 
tured  by  Corporal  Benj.  F.  Young,  of  company  I,  who  was  promoted  for 
distinguished  gallantry  on  the  occasion.  During  the  engagement  the  left 
of  the  regiment  became  completely  enveloped,  and  was  placed  in  a  position 
compelling  it  either  to  surrender  or  cut  its  way  through  the  rebel  lines ;  the 
last-named  resort  was  determined  on,  and  having  first  destroyed  the  nation 
al  color  of  the  regiment  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
then  commenced  fighting  its  way  out,  and  finally  succeeded  in  getting  through 
the  rebel  lines.  The  gallant  Major  Rhines  fell  in  this  desperate  struggle, 
together  with  31  killed  and  died  of  wounds,  46  wounded,  and  84  missing. 

Capt.  Thomas  H.  GafFuey  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  June  20th,  1864, 
of  wounds  received  in  action  before  Petersburg  June  17th,  1864. 


308  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Lieut.  Garrett  A.  Graveraet  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  July  10,  1864, 
of  wounds  received  in  action  before  Petersburg  June  17,  1864. 

Capt.  George  C.  Knight  and  Lieut.  Martin  Wager  killed  before  Peters 
burg  ;  the  former  in  action  June  17th,  and  the  latter  in  the  trenches  June 
23d,  1864. 

On  the  30th  of  July  the  regiment  led  its  brigade  in  the  charge  on  the 
rebel  works  contiguous  to  the  fort  which  was  blown  up  by  the  "  mine,"  and 
aided  in  carrying  the  works,  taking  about  fifty  prisoners.  The  rebels  hav 
ing  finally  succeeded  in  retaking  the  works  it  was  obliged  to  retire,  with  a 
loss  of  three  killed,  twelve  wounded,  and  thirty-three  missing.  The  regi 
ment  remained  in  front  of  Petersburg  until  the  19th  of  August,  when  it  was 
ordered  to  move  to  the  Weldon  railroad.  Soon  after  its  arrival  it  assisted 
in  retaking  a  line  of  works  from  which  our  forces  had  been  driven.  Its 
loss  in  this  affair  was  one  killed  and  two  wounded.  Until  the  28th  of  Sep 
tember  the  regiment  was  here  engaged  in  the  erection  of  fortifications.  On 
the  30th  of  September  it  participated  in  the  battle  near  Peebles'  House, 
with  a  loss  of  three  wounded  and  sixteen  missing.  The  casualties  of  the 
regiment  while  in  the  trenches  in  front  of  Petersburg  were  twenty-seven 
killed  and  died  of  wounds  and  six  wounded.  On  the  27th  of  October  the 
regiment  took  part  in  the  movement  toward  the  South-Side  Railroad,  and 
was  engaged  during  the  day  in  skirmishing  with  the  enemy,  losing  five  men 
wounded. 

On  April  2d,  1865,  the  regiment,  while  in  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  W.  A. 
Nichols  and  in  the  brigade  of  Col.  Ralph  Ely,  again  most  signally  acquired 
n,  very  enviable  notoriety  and  great  credit  for  a  most  daring  and  brilliant 
achievement  while  making  a  demonstration  in  front  of  Petersburg,  on  the 
left  of  the  enemy's  works,  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  troops  from  his  right 
while  our  forces  were  attacking  him  at  other  points.  After  making  two 
efforts,  under  a  very  severe  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  the  regiment  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  hold  on  his  works  to  the  extent  of  its  regimental  front, 
which  it  held  for  an  hour  under  a  terrific  fire.  The  object  of  the  attack 
having  been  attained  it  was  ordered  back  to  its  former  position,  having  suf 
fered  a  heavy  loss.  On  the  next  day,  about  4  A.  M.,  it  was  again  ordered 
to  advance,  under  the  supposition  that  the  enemy  was  withdrawing.  On 
moving  forward  and  finding  that  he  had  evacuated  his  works,  it  pushed  on. 
:md  was  the  first  regiment  to  enter  Petersburg,  and,  while  Col.  Ely  was  re- 
•eiving  the  surrender  of  the  city,  raised  the  first  national  flag  on  the  court 
house  of  that  rebel  stronghold. 

The  capture  of  Petersburg  was  long  and  anxiously  looked  for,  as  leading 
to  the  immediate  possession  of  Richmond  by  the  Union  forces.  It  was  final 
ly  accomplished,  the  rebel  army  fled,  and  Richmond  fell.  Michigan  troops 
\vere  prominently  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the  result.  Colonel  Ely's 
brigade  of  Michigan  regiments,  belonging  to  Wilcox's  division,  (1st,)  9th 
•orps,  were,  as  previously  stated,  the  first  to  enter  the  city  and  place  their 
Colors  on  the  public  buildings,  raising  one  flag  on  the  court-house  and 
.-mother  on  the  custom-house ;  Colonel  Ely  himself  receiving  the  surrender 
of  the  city  from  the  authorities. 

Gen.  Wilcox,  in  the  following  report  of  the  operations  of  his  division  in 
:hat  affair,  says : 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  operations  of  this  division  in  the  field 
'Vom  the  29th  of  March  to  the  9th  of  April,  1865,  inclusive. 

"  On  the  night  of  the  29th  of  March,  at  half-past  10  o'clock,  the  enemy 
^pened  on  my  lines,  stretching  from  above  Fort  Morton  to  the  Appomattox, 
,vith  all  their  artillery  of  every  description  and  some  musketry  from  their 


THE  SHARP-SHOOTERS.  309 

main  line.  At  about  11  o'clock  the  artillery  lulled.  I  expected  an  ad 
vance,  of  the  enemy's  troops  and  was  ready  to  receive  them,  but  no  attack 
was  made,  and  a  desultory  firing  of  artillery  only  continued  through  the 
night. 

"  It  afterwards  appeared  from  the  official  reports  of  the  enemy  that  they 
thought  that  we  had  made  an  attack ;  in  fact,  Major-General  Gordon  re 
ported  such  to  be  the  case,  and  that  they  had  handsomely  repulsed  us ;  but 
although  we  were  under  orders  from  corps  headquarters  to  be  ready  to  at 
tack,  and  I  had  caused  to  be  distributed  axes  for  cutting  the  enemy's  abatis, 
yet  no  sort  of  attack  was  actually  ordered  or  made  on  our  front. 

"  The  sensitiveness  of  the  enemy  seemed  to  encourage  our  men.  Prepara 
tions  were  made  on  the  31st  as  well  as  on  April  1st  for  a  night  attack  op 
posite  Forts  Steadman  and  Haskell,  3d  brigade,  and  at  a  point  in  front  of 
Ely's  brigade,  nearer  the  Appomattox.  Through  the  night  of  the  2d  va 
rious  demonstrations  were  made  along  the  line,  and  the  enemy's  picket-pits 
captured  at  various  points,  in  pursuance  of  orders  from  corps  headquarters, 
made  in  aid  of  operations  being  carried  on  on  the  left  of  the  army. 

"At  about  1  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  April,  orders  were  received 
from  corps  headquarters  to  mass  one  brigade  (except  garrisons)  by  4  o'clock 
on  the  same  morning  near  Fort  Sedgwick,  on  the  2d  division  front,  where  Gen. 
Hartraiift  was  to  make  a  real  attack  with  his  division  and  a  brigade  from 
each  of  the  other  divisions,  while,  by  the  same  order,  I  was  directed  to  make 
a  vigorous  demonstration  along  my  whole  division  line  with  the  rest  of  my 
troops  at  the  same  hour. 

"  Col.  Harriman  was  accordingly  detached,  with  staff  officers  who  knew 
the  road,  tools,  ammunition,  and  every  possible  aid,  to  report  to  Hartranft; 
and  this  brigade  was  in  position  and  formed  at  the  moment  required. 

"  The  demonstration  along  the  line  began  precisely  at  4  by  the  2d  brigade, 
Brevet  Col.  Ralph  Ely ;  3d  brigade,  Brevet  Col.  G.  P.  Robinson,  and  CoL 
Wm.  J.  Bolton,  commanding  51st  Pennsylvania,  left  on  the  1st  brigade  line 
of  entrenchments.  Some  of  the  enemy's  picket-pits  were  captured  near  the 
"  Old  Crater "  by  Col.  Bolton.  The  pickets  of  the  3d  and  2d  brigades, 
strongly  reinforced,  advanced  handsomely,  the  artillery  opened  vigorously, 
and  large  portions  of  the  enemy  were  down  to  oppose  what  they  considered 
a  real  attack  in  force. 

"  On  the  extreme  right,  near  the  Appomattox,  a  portion  of  Ely's  brigade 
actually  carried  some  two  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  works ;  but  our 
lines,  two  miles  in  length,  were  too  much  attenuated  to  hold  the  ground. 
Some  seventy-five  prisoners  were  secured  and  brought  in.  Three  regiments 
were  withdrawn  from  other  points  and  double-quicked  to  the  point,  but  be 
fore  it  could  be  reinforced  the  enemy  had  recovered  it. 

"  The  effect  of  the  movement,  however,  on  the  grand  result  was  most 
happy,  inasmuch  as  it  contributed  to  weaken  the  enemy's  line  in  front  of 
Fort  Sedgwick,  where  the  real  attack  was  completely  successful. 

"  For  the  handsome  part  performed  by  Harriman's  brigade  of  this  divi 
sion  at  the  latter  point  I  respectfully  refer  you  to  his  own  report  and  that 
of  Brevet  Major-Gen.  Hartranft,  commanding  at  that  part  of  the  line. 

"  Through  the  day  offensive  demonstrations  were  kept  up,  and  the  batte 
ries  playing  in  aid  of  the  more  serious  work  of  the  day  going  on  further  to 
the  left. 

"  In  the  afternoon  and  evening  the  enemy  strengthened  their  line  opposite 
me;  but  about  midnight  of  the  2d  reports  came  up  from  Colonel  Ely,  com 
manding  2d  brigade,  and  Col.  James  Ben tl iff,  now  commanding  3d  brigade, 
by  virtue  of  his  rank,  that  there  were  signs  of  the  enemy's  withdrawing 


310  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

from  our  front,  leaving  only  their  picket  line.  I  gave  orders  to  the  2d  bri 
gade  commanders  to  press  through  as  soon  as  possible. 

"At  about  2  A.  M.  on  the  3d  some  of  our  parties  broke  through. 

"  Bentliff 's  brigade  advanced  upon  Cemetery  Hill  and  Ely's  more  direct 
ly  into  town,  with  a  section  of  Stone's  battery.  I  gave  Col.  Ely  orders  to 
take  measures  to  at  once  secure  order  in  the  city. 

"  At  4.28  one  of  Ely's  flags,  that  of  the  1st  Michigan  sharp-shooters,  was 
raised  on  the  court-house,  and  that  of  the  2d  Michigan  on  the  custom-house 
a  few  minutes  later,  and  guards  were  posted  about  the  town." 

The  2d  and  20th  Michigan  infantry  and  1st  Michigan  sharp-shooters  were 
in  the  2d  brigade,  commanded  by  Col.  Ralph  Ely,  of  the  8th  Michigan. 

The  8th  and  27th  Michigan  were  in  the  1st  brigade. 

The  17th  Michigan  were  acting  as  an  engineer  regiment  at  division  head 
quarters. 

THE  FIRST  INFANTRY. 

The  1st  Michigan — the  regiment  which,  under  Colonel  Wilcox,  led  the 
advance  of  Michigan  troops  to  the  front — although  hurriedly  organized  and 
hastily  equipped,  left  the  State  a  pattern  regiment  in  every  respect,  none 
better  having  preceded  it  to  the  National  Capital  from  any  State ;  arriving 
there  at  a  critical  time,  when  that  place  was  in  great  and  immediate  danger 
of  being  attacked  and  captured  by  the  rebels,  whose  troops  then  picketed 
the  Potomac.  Its  presence  aided  much  in  establishing  confidence  among 
those  in  authority,  that  the  Capital  was  safe,  and  its  appearance  in  Penn 
sylvania  avenue  was  hailed  with  the  cheers  of  loyal  thousands.  As  it  passed 
in  review  before  the  lamented  Lincoln  it  received  his  highest  praise,  and 
through  them  he  thanked  the  State  for  their  prompt  appearance  in  Wash 
ington. 

The  regiment  was  assigned  to  Heintzelman's  division,  and  under  Colonel 
Wilcox  led  the  advance  of  the  Union  army  across  the  Long  Bridge  into 
Virginia,  on  the  24th  of  May,  driving  in  the  rebel  pickets,  and  entering 
Alexandria  via  the  road,  simultaneously  with  the  regiment  of  Ellsworth's 
Zouaves  that  entered  it  by  steamer. 

The  1st  Michigan  took  possession  of  the  railroad  depot,  capturing  near 
there  a  troop  of  rebel  cavalry,  numbering  one  hundred,  with  their  horses 
and  equipments. 

At  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  the  regiment  belonged  to  the  brigade  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Wilcox,  and  was  in  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  eagerly 
pressing  forward  on  the  enemy,  losing  heavily,  but  fighting  stubbornly  and 
gallantly. 

The  Fire  Zouaves,  after  charging  bravely,  but  in  vain,  upon  one  of  the 
heaviest  of  the  rebel  batteries,  fell  back,  when  the  Michigan  1st,  then  com 
manded  by  Major  Bidwell,  which  had  been  constantly  associated  with  the 
Zouaves  ever  since  Ellsworth  fell  at  Alexandria,  moved  promptly  and  rap 
idly  forward  and  took  their  places.  They  charged  in  double-quick  upon 
the  battery  once  and  again  in  splendid  "style,  and  yet  it  was  not  taken. 
They  pushed  forward  to  the  attempt  a  third  time,  and  were  again  driven 
back  before  the  deadly  fire  of  the  enemy.  But  the  attack  was  not  aban 
doned  ;  the  brave  fellows  rallied  for  a  fourth  time  to  the  deadly  work;  but 
it  was  all  in  vain,  the  battery  could  not  be  taken. 

On  that  disastrous  field  the  1st  established  the  highest  standard  for  Mich 
igan  troops,  so  uniformly  and  so  remarkably  maintained  throughout  the 
entire  war.  Its  dead  were  found  nearest  the  enemy's  works. 


THE  FIRST  INFANTRY.  311 

In  the  engagement  the  loss  of  the  regiment  was  heavy.  Among  the  num 
ber  were  Captain  Butterworth,  Lieutenants  Mauch  and  Casey  wounded  and 
taken  prisoners,  and  who  afterwards  died  of  their  wounds  in  rebel  custody. 
Colonel  Wilcox  was  wounded,  and,  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  was 
held  as  a  prisoner  at  Richmond  for  about  fifteen  months. 

The  regiment,  on  the  expiration  of  its  three  months'  term  of  service,  re 
turned  to  the  State,  and  was  mustered  out  August  7,  1861.  It  was  soon 
after  reorganized  as  a  three  years'  regiment,  and  left  for  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  August  16,  1861,  commanded  by  Colonel  John  C.  Robinson,  then 
captain  in  the  U.  S.  A.,  who  continued  to  command  it  until  April  28, 1862, 
when  he  was  appointed  a  brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  was  succeeded 
in  command  by  Colonel  H.  S.  Roberts,  promoted  from  lieutenant-colonel. 
It  went  to  the  Peninsula  with  McClellan,  and  was  in  the  engagements  at 
Mechanics ville,  June  26th  ;  at  Games'  Mills,  June  27th ;  at  Malvern  Hill, 
July  1st ;  and  at  Gaiusville,  August  29th.  The  losses  of  the  regiment  in 
these  engagements  were  not  reported,  excepting  Captain  O.  C.  Comstock 
who  was  killed  at  Games'  Mills. 

It  rendered  most  gallant  and  valuable  service  in  many  hard-fought  bat 
tles  during  the  war,  and  suffered  severe  losses  in  killed  and  wounded. 

Among  its  numerous  engagements  none  perhaps  will  be  more  vividly  re 
membered  by  the  regiment  than  the  disastrous  charges  so  bravely  made,  but 
with  such  fearful  loss,  upon  the  rebel  position  along  the  Warrenton  and 
Centreville  turnpike  on  August  30,  1862,  during  that  disastrous  series  of 
engagements  near  Manassas,  now  known  as  the  Second  Battle  of  Bull 
Run. 

The  regiment,  under  command  of  Colonel  Roberts,  was  in  General  Fitz 
John  Porter's  corps,  and  had  during  the  day  been  posted  in  the  woods 
fronting  the  enemy's  lines,  and  near  one  of  his  most  important  batteries. 
At  4  P.  M.  the  order  was  given  to  advance  and  dislodge  the  rebels.  The 
1st  Michigan,  with  the  18th  Massachusetts  and  the  13th  New  York  regi 
ments  of  infantry,  deployed  column,  and  with  cheers  charged — 

"  Forward,  the  Light  Brigade  ! 

Was  there  a  man  dismay'd  ? 

Not  tho'  the  soldier  knew 

Some  one  had  blundered; 
Theirs  not  to  make  reply, 
Theirs  not  to  reason  why, 
Theirs  but  to  do  or  die — 
Into  the  Valley  of  Death 
Rode  the  six  hundred. 

"  Cannon  to  right  of  them, 
Cannon  to  left  of  them, 
Cannon  in  front  of  them, 

Volleyed  and  thunder'd; 
Storm'd  at  with  shot  and  shell, 
Boldly  they  rode,  and  well, 

Into  the  jaws  of  Death, 
Into  the  very  mouth  of  hell, 
Rode  the  six  hundred." 

They  instantly  found  themselves  the  target  of  a  terrific  fire  from  ambushed 
infantry  of  the  enemy,  and  from  five  batteries,  four  of  which  had  been 
masked,  and  hitherto  unseen.  The  charge  was  a  murderous  one,  and  within 
a  few  moments  fell  eight  officers  and  fifty  per  cent,  of  the  regiment.  The 
men  stood  their  ground  bravely  and  with  veteran  coolness,  under  these 


312  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

trying  circumstances,  and  when  the  impossibility  of  success  became  a  cer 
tainty,  and  the  order  to  retreat  was  given,  fell  back  in  good  order  to  the 
woods,  and  reformed  their  division.  Had  victory  been  possible,  their  cour 
age  and  persistency  would  have  won  it.  Their  demeanor  amid  disaster  and 
defeat  affords  one  of  the  greatest  examples  of  true  courage. 

Chaplain  Arthur  Edwards,  then  with  the  regiment,  and  who  rendered  most 
valuable  and  very  acceptable  service  during  the  entire  engagement,  and 
throughout  his  whole  term  in  the  army  was  an  exemplary  chaplain,  wrote 
at  the  time  as  follows : 

"  The  regiment  deployed  column  and  with  cheers  advanced  towards  the 
enemy,  our  right  resting  near  the  railroad  embankment,  the  centre  and  left 
near  a  stone  wall  and  railroad  cut,  in  each  of  which  places  was  posted  a 
rebel  battery.  On  our  right  and  front  was  a  force  of  the  enemy's  infantry, 
and  as  we  advanced  the  regiment  was  subjected  to  a  murderous  fire  from 
infantry  and  a  cross-fire  from  five  rebel  batteries.  The  regiment  suffered 
severely  in  crossing  the  open  space.  Colonel  Roberts  fell  at  an  early  mo 
ment  after  it  deployed  out  of  the  woods.  Four  captains  and  three  lieuten 
ants—Captains  Charles  E.  Wendell,  Russell  H.  Alcott,  Eben  T.  Whittelsey, 
Edward  Pomeroy,  and  Lieutenants  H.  Clay  Arnold,  J.  L.  Garrison,  and 
W.  Bloodgood — met  their  death,  and  more  than  fifty  per  cent,  of  the  regi 
ment  were  either  killed  or  wounded. 

"  Colonel  Roberts  was  an  active,  efficient,  brave,  beloved,  and  is  now  a 
sincerely  lamented  leader.  Captains  Wendell,  Alcott,  Whittelsey,  Pome 
roy,  and  Lieutenants  Arnold,  Garrison,  and  Bloodgood  were  excellent  offi 
cers,  whose  loss  will  be  felt  by  the  regiment,  and  mourned  by  their  personal 
acquaintances. 

"  The  regiment  went  into  battle  with  twenty  officers  and  two  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  men.  Of  the  former  but  four  are  in  camp  unhurt,  and  of  the 
latter  hardly  one  hundred  and  fifty.  In  the  action  the  1st  was  placed  in 
the  centre.  In  front  was  a  rebel  battery,  and  so  destructive  was  its  fire  and 
so  commanding  its  position,  that  General  Porter  ordered  our  brigade  (Mar- 
tindale's,  of  Morrell's  division)  forward  to  capture  it.  The  service  was  so 
desperate,  and  so  very  sure  were  our  officers  of  the  death  that  awaited  them, 
that  they  shook  hands  with  each  other  in  farewell.  Like  heroes  they 
pressed  on  to  the  charge,  until,  coming  within  range,  the  enemy  opened 
four  additional  batteries,  hitherto  masked,  and  poured  in  a  deadly  fire. 
Thus  were  they  exposed  to  a  cross-fire  from  five  batteries  at  short  range, 
throwing  grape  and  canister,  and  to  a  flank  fire  of  infantry.  The  result 
may  be  easily  seen.  Men  fell  like  grain  in  harvest.  Colonel  Roberts  was 
shot  in  the  breast  by  a  Minie  ball,  and  lived  about  ten  minutes.  His  words 
were:  'lam  killed;  tell  Captain -  to  take  command  of  the  regi 
ment/  He  seemed  to  feel  that  he  was  about  to  fall,  for  previous  to  his 
going  to  his  place  in  line,  he  called  me  aside,  and,  after  leaving  some  pri 
vate  messages,  said :  '  I  trust  that  Michigan  will  believe  that  I  tried  to  do 
my  duty.' " 

After  the  death  of  Colonel  Roberts,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Franklin  W. 
Whittelsey  was  promoted  to  the  colonelcy  of  the  regiment,  but  was  absent 
from  the  field  on  account  of  injuries  received  on  the  Peninsula  campaign. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  at  Antietam,  September  17th,  at  Shepherds- 
town  Ford,  September  20th,  and  at  Fredericksburg,  December  loth  and 
14th.  At  Fredericksburg  it  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Ira  C. 
Abbott,  and  was  heavily  engaged,  and  lost  one  officer  (Captain  J.  B.  Ken 
nedy)  and  seven  men  killed,  together  with  seven  officers  and  thirty-three 
men  wounded. 


THE  FIRST  INFANTRY.  313 

After  this  engagement  the  regiment  lay  in  camp  near  Falmouth  until  the 
27th  of  April  following,  when  it  moved  with  its  corps  and  division  in  the 
direction  of  Chancellorsville.  Crossing  the  Rappahannock  and  Rapidan, 
it  reached  that  battle-ground  on  the  30th,  after  four  days  of  forced  and 
heavy  marching,  and  entered  into  action  there  with  twenty-three  officers 
and  two  hundred  and  forty  muskets.  Between  the  1st  and  5th  of  May  its 
losses  in  the  various  engagements  in  that  vicinity  were  three  men  killed 
and  seventeen  wounded.  Again  resuming  its  camping  ground  near  Fal 
mouth,  it  lay  there  until  the  28th  of  May,  when  the  division  to  which  it 
was  attached  moved  to  Morrisville,  a  two  day's  march,  and  on  the  9th  of 
June  crossed  the  river  as  support  to  a  cavalry  force  which  advanced  to 
Brandy  Station,  fighting  all  day,  and  returning  to  camp  on  the  10th.  On 
the  14th  it  broke  camp  at  Morrisville,  and  on  the  19th  and  21st  was  in 
brisk  skirmishes  with  the  enemy's  cavalry  at  Aldie.  On  the  26th  the  regi 
ment  crossed  the  Potomac  into  Maryland  at  Edward's  Ferry,  and  after 
laborious  and  exhausting  marches,  under  a  broiling  sun,  it  reached  Gettys 
burg,  Penna.,  at  1:30  A.  M.,  of  the  2d  of  July.  It  entered  into  battle  the 
same  day  with  a  force  of  twenty  officers  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
men,  sustaining  a  loss  during  the  engagement  of  Captain  Amos  Ladd  and 
four  men  killed,  with  six  officers  and  twenty-five  men  wounded.  Among 
the  wounded  was  Colonel  Abbott,  disabled  early  in  the  action,  who  was 
succeeded  in  command  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  A.  Throop.  It  joined  in 
the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  on  the  5th,  and  on  the  18th  recrossed  the  Poto 
mac  into  Virginia,  aided  in  driving  the  rebels  through  Manassas  Gap,  and 
went  into  camp  at  Warrenton  on  the  27th,  and  at  Beverley  Ford  on  the 
8th  of  August. 

In  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  commencing  May  5, 1864,  this  regiment, 
in  command  of  W.  A.  Throop,  especially  distinguished  itself.  It  was  in 
Bartlett's  (3d)  brigade,  of  Griffin's  (1st)  division,  5th  corps,  in  the  van  of 
Grant's  celebrated  movement  on  Richmond,  which  ultimately  culminated 
in  the  fall  of  the  rebel  capital  and  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army. 

Near  Robertson's  Tavern,  on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  its  picket  line  first 
discovered  the  advance  of  the  Southern  forces  upon  its  division,  in  the 
thickest  of  the  Wilderness.  It  fired  the  first  musket  of  that  glorious  cam 
paign,  and  its  brigade  checked  the  rebel  advance  on  the  road  leading  to 
Orange  Court-house,  and  opened  thus  the  last  act  of  the  great  drama.  In 
the  opening  engagements  of  the  campaign  it  especially  distinguished  itself, 
and  so  constantly  was  it  under  fire,  and  so  perilous  were  the  duties  to  which 
it  was  assigned,  that  on  the  evening  of  the  8th,  after  a  brilliant  and  suc 
cessful  charge  at  Alsop's  Farm,  its  gallant  commander  was  only  able  to 
muster  twenty-three  men  fit  for  active  service.  Colonel  Throop,  in  his  re 
port  of  the  engagement  on  the  5th,  states:  "The  regiment  was  detailed  on 
the  morning  of  the  4th  of  May  to  picket  in  front  of  the  brigade,  covering 
the  road  leading  to  Orange  Court-house,  and  connecting  on  the  left  with 
the  pickets  of  the  2d  brigade.  There  was  at  this  time  no  enemy  in  our 
front,  and  during  the  night  I  received  orders  that  the  troops  would  move  at 
5  A.  M.  of  the  5th.  At  5:30  A.  M.  I  received  written  orders  to  withdraw 
my  pickets  and  rejoin  the  brigade  on  the  road  to  the  Old  Wilderness  Tav 
ern.  Fifteen  minutes  before  receiving  the  order  to  withdraw,  the  enemy 
was  discovered  coming  down  the  road  towards  us,  with  a  strong  force  of 
infantry,  preceded  by  cavalry.  I  therefore  retained  my  picket  line  in  po 
sition,  disposing  my  reserves  to  cover  my  right  flank  and  hold  the  road. 
The  cavalry  of  the  enemy  approached  to  within  four  hundred  yards  of  my 
picket  line  on  the  road,  and  his  infantry  deployed  to  the  right  and  left  of 

T  * 


314  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

the  road  in  line  of  battle.  The  disposition  of  his  forces  was  immediately 
reported  by  me,  and  the  18th  Massachusetts  and  20th  Maine  regiments 
•were  sent  out  to  my  support,  and  moved  up  to  the  rear  of  my  picket  line, 
and  formed  in  line  of  battle.  The  enemy  had  thrown  out  a  very  heavy 
line  of  skirmishers  in  my  immediate  front,  and  pushed  them  boldly  forward 
into  the  edge  of  the  wood  against  my  lines,  but  without  firing.  Our  lines 
having  been  formed,  and  everything  in  readiness,  an  attack  was  ordered, 
and  I  pushed  my  skirmish  line  forward  at  double-quick  over  an  open  field 
of  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  driving  the  enemy's  picket  line  into  the  woods  and 
on  to  their  line  of  battle.  I  was  followed  up  by  my  brigade  in  two  lines  of 
battle,  and  the  fight  became  general.  Part  of  my  skirmish  line  fought 
that  of  the  enemy  in  the  woods  hand-to-hand,  using  the  bayonet.  Captain 
Bradish,  a  most  gallant  officer  was  killed,  and  Captain  Stan  way  and  Lieu 
tenant  Raymond  were  wounded,  the  former  severely  in  the  arm,  while 
almost  at  the  very  muzzle  of  a  rebel  gun." 

During  the  following  eight  days  it  was  almost  continuously  engaged  in 
battle  or  in  skirmishing,  sustaining  large  losses,  especially  at  the  battle  of 
Alsop's  Farm,  on  the  8th,  where  the  regiment  came  out  of  the  engagement 
with  only  twenty-three  men.  Pressing  forward  with  the  army,  it  partici 
pated  in  the  battles  of  Spottsylvania,  thence  moved  to  the  North  Anna,  and 
on  the  23d  took  part  in  the  engagement  at  Jericho  Mills.  Crossing  the 
Pamunkey  river,  it  advanced  to  near  Cold  Harbor  and  participated  in  the 
engagements  near  that  place. 

Proceeding  to  James  river  with  the  army,  it  crossed  that  stream  on  the 
16th  of  June,  and  on  the  17th  arrived  in  front  of  Petersburg  and  became 
engaged  in  the  ordinary  duties  in  the  trenches.  On  the  30th  of  September 
following  the  regiment  participated  in  the  movement  of  that  date  on  the 
right  of  the  enemy's  line,  near  Poplar  Grove  Church,  and  participated  in 
the  desperate  fighting  that  ensue.d.  Unaided  it  stormed  and  carried  two 
strong  fortifications  and  a  portion  of  one  line  of  works.  During  this  action 
the  officer  commanding  the  regiment,  Capt.  James  H.  Wheaton,  was  killed. 

On  the  6th  of  December,  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Major  George 
Lockley,  started  on  a  raid  along  the  Weldon  railroad.  After  crossing  the 
Nottaway  river  the  regiment  assisted  in  destroying  several  miles  of  that 
railroad.  Proceeding  as  far  as  Hicksford  it  returned,  arriving  at  its  former 
encampment  on  the  12th.  Remaining  there  until  February  5th,  1865,  it 
broke  camp  and  moved  to  the  left  of  the  line  and  participated  in  the  en 
gagement  on  the  6th  at  Hatcher's  Run,  losing  three  killed  and  three  taken 
by  the  enemy.  It  remained  in  camp  near  that  place  until  the  29th  of 
March.  On  the  25th  of  March  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  an  attack  on 
the  enemy's  right  at  Hatcher's  Run,  having  several  wounded.  On  the 
morning  of  the  29th  it  broke  camp  and  engaged  the  enemy  the  same  day 
on  the  White  Oak  road,  and  also  on  April  1st  at  Five  Forks,  at  Amelia 
Court-house  on  the  5th,  at  High  Bridge  on  the  6th,  and  at  Appomattox 
Court-house  on  the  9th. 

Captain  Lewis  C.  Randell  was  killed  in  action  at  Laurel  Hill,  May  10th, 
1864. 

Lieut.  Wm.  S.  Woodruff  died  June  28th,  1864,  of  wounds  received  in 
action  on  the  27th  of  that  month. 

Following  is  the  report  of  Gen.  Wilcox,  dated  at  Detroit  September  3d, 
1862,  and  addressed  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  army  at  Washington: 

"  My  brigade,  the  2d  of  Heiutzelman's  division,  marching  in  rear  of 
Franklin's  brigade,  arrived  at  the  Sudley  Ford  at  about  half-past  12  P.  M. 
July  21,  1862.  The  brigade  now  consisted  of  the  1st  Michigan,  llth  New 


THE  FIRST  INFANTRY.  315 

York,  (Fire  Zouaves,)  38th  New  York,  and  Arnold's  battery.  The  4th 
Michigan  had  been  left  at  Fairfax  Station  and  Fairfax  Court-house  by  the 
order  of  Gen.  McDowell.  Halting  for  rest  and  water,  I  obeyed  the  gene 
ral's  orders  to  post  Arnold's  battery  on  a  hill  commanding  the  ford,  with 
the  1st  Michigan  for  support,  and  at  1  o'clock  pushed  forward  with  my  two 
remaining  regiments  up  the  Sudley  and  Brentville  road.  We  marched 
about  two  miles  and  came  up  on  the  right  of  what  I  suppose  to  have  been 
Franklin's  line,  near  the  junction  of  the  Warrenton  and  Sudley  roads.  The 
troops  on  our  left  were  engaged  in  a  desultory  fire  with  the  enemy,  posted 
in  the  thicket  and  ravine  across  the  Warrenton  road,  not  far  from  the  Hen 
ry  House.  The  28th  New  York  was  quickly  formed  in  order  of  battle,  and 
the  Zouaves  were  hastening  into  line,  when  I  received  an  order  to  detach  a 
regiment  for  the  support  of  Ricketts'  battery,  (of  Franklin's  brigade,)  posted 
on  a  hill  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  our  right  and  front,  near  Dogan  House.  I 
led  up  the  Zouaves  for  this  important  service,  leaving  the  38th  under  its 
gallant  and  experienced  Col.  Hobart  Ward.  Ricketts  was  soon  ordered  to 
take  a  new  position  near  the  Henry  House.  The  Zouaves  followed  in  sup 
port,  and  finally  formed  line  on  the  right  flank  of  the  battery,  with  two 
companies  in  reserve. 

"  Up  to  this  time  the  enemy  had  fallen  back,  but  now  he  formed  the  re 
mains  of  his  brigades  engaged  with  Hunter  in  the  morning,  viz :  Bee's,  Bar- 
tow's,  and  Evans',  in  a  new  line,  appuyed  upon  Jackson's  brigade  of  fresh 
troops,  making  altogether  6,500  infantry,  13  pieces  of  artillery,  and  Stuart's 
cavalry,  according  to  Gen.  Beauregard's  report.  This  force  was  posted  in 
the  belt  of  woods  which  skirted  the  plateau  southwardly  and  lying  in  the 
angle  formed  in  that  direction  between  the  Warrenton  and  Sudley  roads, 
about  a  mile  from  the  Warrenton  road,  and  with  its  left  resting  on  the 
Brentsville  and  Sudley  roads.  Ricketts'  battery  had  crossed  the  Sudley 
road  from  its  post  near  Dogan's  House,  and  was  within  musket  range  of  the 
woods  which  stretched  from  that  road  around  from  his  right  towards  his  front, 
and  forming  a  pocket  which  almost  enveloped  the  battery  with  its  support. 

"  The  enemy  were  first  discovered  by  Col.  Heintzelman  lining  the  woods 
in  our  front.  He  ordered  up  the  Zouaves,  commanded  by  Col.  Farnham. 
The  ground  was  slightly  rising  before  us,  and  the  enemy  opened  a  heavy 
but  not  destructive  fire  as  we  reached  the  crest.  The  Zouaves  returned  the 
fire,  but  immediately  fell  back,  bewildered  and  broken.  Stuart's  cavalry 
charged  upon  them  from  the  woods  on  the  right,  but  were  scattered  by  a 
fire  from  the  two  reserve  companies,  with  a  loss  (as  ascertained  from  the 
Southern  papers)  of  twenty-nine  killed  and  wounded. 

"  Meantime  Ricketts'  cannoneers  were  being  picked  off.  With  Colonel 
Heintzelman's  approval  and  a  promise  of  reinforcements,  I  collected  some 
one  hundred  Zouaves,  and,  with  Capt.  Douney  and  others  of  their  officers, 
made  a  dash  into  the  woods  on  our  right  and  killed,  wounded,  and  captured 
about  thirty  of  the  enemy.  Returning  in  a  few  minutes,  I  found  the  field 
cleared  of  both  friend  and  foe  except  the  killed  and  wounded. 

"  The  horses,  men,  and  two  officers  of  Ricketts'  battery  lay  stretched  upon 
the  ground,  but  the  enemy  had  not  yet  seized  it. 

"  Recrossing  the  Sudley  road,  I  met  the  1st  Michigan,  Major  Bidwell  com 
manding,  and  marching  back  with  this  regiment  we  found  the  enemy  now 
drawn  up  in  a  thin  line  across  the  field  and  in  possession  of  the  battery ; 
advancing  to  the  fence  on  the  roadside  the  1st  Michigan  opened  fire,  the 
right  wing  fell  back  to  reload,  owing  to  a  blundering  order,  but  the  left 
stood  firm,  expelled  the  enemy  and  retook  the  battery.  The  troops  here 
opposed  to  us  I  believe  to  have  been  the  7th  Georgia. 


316  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

"Colonel  Heintzelman  now  came  up  and  ordered  us  promptly  forward,  and 
with  the  promise  of  another  regiment  it  was  my  design  to  turn  the  enemy's 
left.  The  left  wing  of  the  1st  Michigan  recrossed  the  field,  struck  into  the 
woods  beyond  the  Zouaves,  succeeded  in  destroying  and  capturing  a  small 
number  of  the  enemy  and  pushing  back  his  extreme  left  out  of  that  part  or 
point  of  the  woods  adjacent  to  the  Sudley  road. 

"Meantime  the  right  wing  of  the  1st  Michigan  reformed  and  advanced  in 
good  order.  I  met  it  and  we  pushed  on  toward  the  next  point  of  woods. 
From  this  point  I  found  the  enemy's  left  discovered  us  by  our  fire  and  we 
became  engaged  with  their  rear  rank,  their  front  being  occupied  by  the  ad 
vancing  troops  of  Franklin's  or  Sherman's  brigade.  The  officers  and  men 
of  the  1st  Michigan  stood  up  bravely  at  this  critical  moment,  holding  on 
anxiously  for. reinforcements.  But  from  all  I  can  learn,  the  38th,  which 
was  ordered  up  to  me,  were  directed  to  the  left  of  the  Henry  House,  (in 
stead  of  to  the  right  and  along  the  Sudley  road,)  came  in  contact  with  the 
enemy's  centre  and  never  reached  me. 

"  It  was  now  nearly  four  o'clock.  General  Beauregard  had  been  gather 
ing  new  reinforcements;  General  Kirby  Smith  had  joined  him  with  a  por 
tion  of  Johnston's  army.  Our  scattered  troops  were  contending  in  fractions 
against  the  enemy's  army  in  position  and  massed  on  the  plateau,  with  his 
artillery  sweeping  every  approach.  Gen.  Johnston  was  bringing  fresh 
troops  to  turn  our  right.  The  28th  Virginia  attacked  my  own  handful 
from  the  rear  in  the  woods,  and  I  had  the  ill  fortune  to  be  wounded  and  a 
few  moments  afterward  captured.  But  I  was  spared  witnessing  the  disaster 
which  further  pursued  our  arms. 

"  In  this  report  I  have  only  endeavored  to  supply  partly  the  information 
that  was  not  known  or  found  in  any  other  report  in  consequence  of  my  cap 
ture.  Permit  me  to  add  further,  that  the  38th  New  York  was  distinguished 
for  its  steadiness  in  ranks,  and  for  gallantly  repelling  a  charge  made  upon 
it  by  the  'New  Orleans  Tigers.'  The  Zouaves,  though  broken  as  a  regi 
ment,  did  good  service  under  my  own  eyes  in  the  woods,  and  detachments 
of  them  joined  various  other  regiments  in  the  fight.  The  1st  Michigan  de 
serves  the  credit  of  advancing  farther  into  the  enemy's  lines  than  any  other 
of  our  troops,  as  their  dead  bodies  proved  after  the  battle.  I  only  regret 
that  from  the  fact  of  my  separation  from  Arnold's  battery,  I  cannot  add 
any  testimony  of  my  own  to  the  well  known  gallantry  with  which  he  and 
his  command  conducted  themselves." 

THE  SECOND  INFANTRY. 

The  2d  infantry,  under  command  of  Col.  J.  B.  Richardson,  by  whom  it 
had  been  organized,  with  much  promptness  followed  the  1st  regiment  to  the 
war  in  Virginia,  and  was  in  time  to  be  present  in  the  first  engagement,  being 
in  the  brigade  of  Richardson,  which  opened  fire  upon  the  rebels  at  Black 
burn's  Ford,  on  the  18th  of  July,  1861,  and  which  covered  the  retreat  of 
the  army  from  Bull  Run  on  the  21st  following. 

The  regiment,  under  command  of  Col.  O.  M.  Poe,  participated  in  all  of 
the  engagements  on  the  Peninsula,  first  meeting  the  enemy  on  that  cam 
paign  at  Williamsburg,  on  May  5, 1862,  where  it  lost  17  killed,  38  wounded, 
and  4  missing;  at  Fair  Oaks,  on  the  27th ;  at  Charles  City  Cross-roads,  on 
June  30th,  and  at  Malvern  Hill  July  1st.  At  Fair  Oaks  it  lost  10  killed 
and  47  wounded,  while  its  bravery  was  so  marked  as  to  receive  the  follow 
ing  notice  in  the  published  history  of  the  time : 

"  Meantime,  Heintzelman  had  sent  forward  Kearney  to  recover  Casey's 


THE  SECOND  INFANTRY.  317 

lost  ground,  and  a  desperate  fight  was  going  on  at  the  extreme  left.  The 
enemy  had  been  successfully  held  in  front  of  Couch's  old  entrenched  camp, 
until  Kearney's  division  arrived,  when  he  staid  the  torrent  of  battle.  One 
after  another  his  gallant  regiments  pushed  forward,  and  pressed  back  the 
fiery  rebels  with  more  daring  than  their  own.  Here  the  55th  New  York 
won  new  laurels,  and  Poe's  2d  Michigan  was  bathed  in  blood.  Five  hun 
dred  of  them  charged  across  the  open  field  against  ten  times  their  number, 
and  stopped  them  in  mid  career,  losing  17  brave  fellows  in  that  one  des 
perate  essay." 

Immediately  following  the  battles  on  the  Peninsula  it  entered  on  the 
campaign  of  General  Pope,  and  was  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Bull  Run 
August  28th,  29th,  and  30th,  and  at  Chantilly  on  the  1st  of  September. 

On  the  12th  of  December  following,  the  regiment,  then  commanded  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Louis  Dillman,  participated  in  the  engagement  atFred- 
ericksburg  with  slight  loss. 

The  2d  was  transferred  early  in  1863  to  another  field  of  operations  with 
the  9th  corps,  and  served  with  distinction  on  the  Grant  campaign  in  Missis 
sippi,  terminating  with  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  and  the  defeat  and  route  of 
Johnston  at  Jackson.  It  was  also  in  the  campaign  of  Burnside  in  East 
Tennessee,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  the  defence  of  Knoxville  against 
the  attacks  of  Longstreet,  and  in  the  various  battles  with  his  forces  in  that 
vicinity.  Although  the  survivors  of  this  noble  regiment  can  look  back 
upon  their  campaigns  in  Virginia  and  recount  with  much  justifiable  pride 
their  numerous  battles,  yet,  Jackson  and  Kuoxville  will  ever  hold  promi 
nent  places  in  their  memories,  as  engagements  in  which  the  regiment  spe 
cially  distinguished  itself  and  sustained  heavy  loss. 

Immediately  following  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  General  Sherman  with 
his  army,  a  part  of  which  was  the  9th  corps,  moved  in  pursuit  of  General 
Johnston,  who  was  then  in  the  vicinity  of  Jackson,  and  reached  there  on 
the  10th  of  July.  The  2d  regiment  belonged  to  the  2d  brigade,  1st  divi 
sion,  and  on  the  llth  of  July  became  engaged  with  the  enemy,  making  one 
of  the  most  daring  and  gallant  charges  of  the  war.  Col.  Humphrey,  com 
manding  the  regiment,  in  his  report  thus  details  its  movements  on  that  occa 
sion: 

"At  5  A.  M.  I  was  ordered  by  Col.  Leasure,  commanding  the  brigade,  to 
deploy  my  regiment  as  skirmishers  on  the  left  of  the  skirmish  line  of  the 
1st  brigade — to  keep  my  connection  with  it  perfect — to  be  guided  in  the 
movements  of  my  line  strictly  by  those  of  the  regiment  on  my  right,  and  to 
advance  until  I  drew  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery. 

"  I  at  once  deployed  my  regiment  as  directed,  and  moved  forward,  meet 
ing  with  only  slight  opposition  from  the  enemy,  until  about  6  o'clock,  when 
he  opened  a  brisk  fire  along  my  whole  line.  We  had  come  up  to  the  enemy 
strongly  posted  in  front  of  my  right  on  a  deep  water  course,  and  of  my  left 
in  a  heavy  woods.  For  an  hour  a  brisk  skirmish  was  kept  up.  The  enemy 
made  a  determined  resistance,  but  was  gradually  forced  back  toward  his 
support. 

"At  7  A.  M.  the  order  came  down  the  line  from  the  right  to  *  forward! 
double-quick  !'  The  men  at  once  advanced  with  a  cheer,  drove  in  the  ene 
my's  skirmishers  through  their  camps,  and  into  their  reserves,  strongly  posted 
in  a  deep  ravine,  charged  and  broke  the  reserve,  and  drove  it  up  out  of  the 
ravine  into  its  main  support,  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  on  the  top  of  the 
south  bank  of  the  ravine,  charged  under  a  hot  fire  of  musketry  and  artil 
lery  up  the  steep  bank  against  the  main  body,  broke  this  line,  and  drove  the 
enemy  within  his  works. 


318  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

"We  waited  now  for  our  support  to  come  up,  but  on  sending  for  it  were 
surprised  to  find  we  had  none.  The  regiment  on  my  right,  for  some  reason 
unknown  to  me,  advanced  but  a  short  distance,  then  fell  back  to  the  line 
left  by  it  a  few  moments  before.  By  some  mistake  the  three  companies  (C, 
F,  and  H)  on  the  left  did  not  advance  with  the  rest  of  the  regiment  in  this 
charge,  which  was  made  with  about  one  hundred  and  seventy  men.  Fifty 
of  these,  almost  one-third,  had  fallen.  The  enemy  was  being  reinforced, 
and  we  were  entirely  without  support,  with  no  connection  on  the  right  and 
no  troops  on  our  left.  Thus  situated,  to  hold  for  any  length  of  time  the 
ground  we  had  so  dearly  won  would  be  impossible.  I  therefore  put  my  men 
under  cover  of  the  bank  of  the  ravine,  through  which  we  had  advanced, 
within  twenty  yards  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  held  the  position  until  the 
wounded  were  carried  to  the  rear,  and  then  following  the  movement  of  the 
regiment  on  my  right,  fell  back  to  the  line  from  which  we  had  advanced 
an  hour  before." 

In  this  charge  the  regiment  had  9  killed,  39  wounded,  among  whom  Were 
Lieutenants  Sheldon,  Stevenson,  and  Montague,  and  8  taken  as  prisoners. 

The  2d  was  also  specially  distinguished  on  several  occasions  during  the 
siege  of  Knoxville  by  Longstreet  in  1863,  and  particularly  so  on  the  24th 
of  November,  when  under  command  of  Major  Cornelius  Byington  (Colonel 
Humphrey  being  in  command  of  the  brigade)  it  so  gallantly  charged  a 
strong  force  of  rebels  protected  by  entrenchments  and  a  house  which  they 
occupied,  driving  them  from  their  position  and  leveling  the  house  and  works 
to  the  ground.  In  the  charge  the  regiment  lost  in  killed  and  wounded,  out 
of  161  officers  and  men  engaged,  86.  Among  the  killed  were  Lieutenants 
William  Noble  (adjutant)  and  Charles  E.  Galpin,  and  Major  Byington  and 
Lieutenant  Frank  Zoellener  mortally  wounded.  This  charge  is  handed 
down  in  the  history  of  the  day  as  among  the  most  brilliant  of  the  war. 

Eeturning  with  its  corps  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  on  the  5th  of  May, 
1864,  it  crossed  the  Rapidan,  taking  part  with  that  army  in  the  great  cam 
paign  which  had  just  commenced,  sharing  in  its  sufferings,  its  privations, 
and  its  glory.  On  May  6th,  in  command  of  Colonel  W.  Humphrey,  it 
participated  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  losing  6  killed  and  32  wounded 
and  missing.  On  the  10th,  llth,  and  12th  it  was  in  the  battle  at  Spottsyl- 
vania  Court-house,  where  it  lost  2  killed  and  9  wounded ;  among  the  killed 
was  Captain  James  Farrand ;  and  on  the  3d  of  June,  at  the  battle  of 
Bethesda  Church,  where  its  loss  was  2  killed  and  36  wounded.  From 
Bethesda  Church  the  regiment  marched  to  Cold  Harbor.  June  12th  it 
crossed  the  Chicahominy  river,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  and  during 
the  night  of  the  15th,  crossed  to  the  south  side  of  the  James  river.  It 
participated  in  the  engagement  before  Petersburg  on  the*t7th  and  18th  of 
June,  losing  on  the  17th  8  killed,  including  Captain  James  Bradley,  74 
wounded,  and  4  missing;  on  the  18th,  14  killed,  69  wounded,  and  2 
missing.  During  the  attack  which  followed  the  springing  of  the  mine  on 
the  30th  of  July,  the  regiment  lost  6  killed,  14  wounded,  and  37  missing, 
Captain  John  S.  Young  and  Lieutenant  John  G.  Busch  being  among  the 
killed.  Withdrawing  from  in  front  of  Petersburg,  it  marched  with  its 
corps  to  the  Weldon  railroad,  and  in  the  action  of  the  19th  of  August  on 
this  road  the  regiment  lost  1  killed,  2  wounded,  and  2  missing.  Partici 
pating  in  the  movement  on  the  right  flank  of  the  rebel  army,  on  the  30th 
of  September,  in  the  engagement  near  Poplar  Spring  Church,  it  lost  7  in 
wounded  and  12  missing.  The  regiment  remained  in  camp  from  the  30th 
of  September  to  October  27th,  near  "  Peeble's  House."  On  the  latter  date, 
in  the  advance  on  the  "Boydton  Plank  Road,"  it  lost  7  wounded  and  7 


THE  SECOND  INFANTRY.  319 

missing.  On  the  28th  it  returned  to  its  camping  ground  near  Peeble's 
House,  where  it  remained  on  the  31st  of  October  following.  On  the  25th 
of  March,  1865,  the  regiment  participated  in  the  affair  at  Fort  Steadman, 
sustaining  a  heavy  loss,  and  on  the  3d  of  April  was  engaged  in  the  capture 
of  Petersburg.  f 

The  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Tribune,  in  writing  regarding  the 
stampede  from  Bull  Run,  says : 

"  I  was  told  that  a  few  regiments,  beside  the  three  faithful  ones  of 
Blenker's  brigade,  had  come  in  in  fair  order  ;  and  that  they  were  the  2d 
and  3d  Michigan  and  the  Massachusetts  1st,  of  Richardson's  brigade.  I 
should  be  glad  if  it  were  so." 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  correspondent  lived  long  enough  to  be  made 

flad,  on  being  fully  satisfied  of  the  fact  that  he  had  been  correctly  in- 
)rmed  of  that  well-established  truth  regarding  the  conduct  of  Richard 
son's  brigade  referred  to,  and  which  was  so  well  understood  and  made  so 
generally  known  immediately  following  the  battle,  by  the  issue  of  a  general 
order  by  McDowell,  in  which  it  was  stated  that  Richardson's  brigade  were 
the  last  troops  to  leave  the  field. 

The  following  is  the  official  order  relative  to  the  part  taken  at  Williams- 
burg  by  Berry's  brigade,  composed  of  the  2d,  3d,  and  5th  Michigan : 

HEADQUARTERS  3D  BRIGADE,  KEARNEY'S  DIVISION, 

ON  WILLIAMSBURG  BATTLE-FIELD,  May  8,  1862. 
Special  Orders: 

The  commander  of  the  brigade  takes  great  pleasure  in  making  this 
official  communication  to  his  command :  That  they,  by  heroic  fortitude,  on 
Monday  last,  by  making  a  forced  march  through  mud  and  rain,  each 
vying  with  the  other  to  see  who  could  most  cheerfully  stand  the  hardships 
the  time  called  for,  making  thereby  a  march  that  others  shrank  from, 
coming  into  a  fight  at  double-quick,  made  doubtful  to  our  side  by  the  over 
whelming  mass  of  the  enemy  poured  upon  our  centre ;  by  a  rapid  deploy 
and  quick  formation,  and  by  coolness,  precision,  and  energy,  beat  back  the 
enemy,  recapturing  our  lost  position  and  artillery,  and  also  by  a  heroic 
charge,  took  a  stronghold  of  the  enemy,  and  thereby  dislodged  him  and 
drove  him  on  the  plain  below  his  well-chosen  position,  have  done  them 
selves  great  honor,  have  honored  the  States  of  Michigan  and  New  York, 
and  have  won  a  name  in  history  that  the  most  ambitious  might  be  proud  of. 

Our  loss  of  brave  comrades  has  indeed  been  large.  We  mourn  the  de 
parted.  "Green  be  the  turf  above  them."  They  have  a  place  in  our 
heart's  memory,  and  in  the  history  of  our  common  country. 

Soldiers!  you* have  won  by  your  bravery  the  hearts  of  all  your  com 
manders — brigade,  division,  corps,  and  even  those  higher  in  command. 

Soldiers,  I  thank  you;  my  superiors  thank  you;  your  country  thanks 
you,  and  will  remember  you 'in  history. 

Our  labors  are  not  yet  over ;  the  insolent  rebels  that  have  endeavored 
to  destroy,  and  have  laid  to  ruin  and  waste  portions  of  the  best  Govern 
ment  and  the  finest  land  of  earth,  are  still  in  force,  and  to  be  conquered  in 
our  fights.  I  have  pledged  you,  men  of  the  3d  brigade,  in  all  future  trials, 
I  know  my  men ;  they  are  not  pledged  in  vain. 

Commanders  of  regiments  will  have  this  order  read  at  the  head  of  their 
respective  regiments  this  afternoon. 

R.  G.  BERRY, 
Brigadier-General,  Commanding  3d  Brigade. 

Official :  EDWIN  M.  SMITH,  A.  A.  A.  G. 


320  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Extracts  from  correspondence  of  New  York  Tribune  in  relation  to  the 
battle  of  Williamsburg : 

"  The  2d  Michigan  took  into  action  only  sixty  men,  the  rest  being  left 
behind,  exhausted  with  the  quick  march  through  the  mud  and  rain.  Yet 
they  lost  one  out  of  every  five  engaged.  The  regiment  was  in  the  hottest 
of  the  fighf.  By  the  confessions  of  prisoners,  800  of  Berry's  men  (mostly 
Michigan)  drove  back  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  1,600  rebels. 

"There  were  four  companies  of  the  2d  Michigan  heavily  engaged  at  Wil 
liamsburg,  two  in  command  of  Captain  William  Humphrey  and  two  com 
manded  by  Captain  W.  J.  Handy.  The  other  companies  of  the  regiment 
were  partially  engaged.  The  regiment  lost  in  the  action  17  killed,  38 
wounded,  and  4  missing. 

"In  the  rifle-pits  in  front  of  the  5th  Michigan,  sixty-three  dead  rebels 
were  found,  every  one  of  them  killed  by  the  bayonet. 

"  On  June  30th  the  enemy  had  advanced  about  noon.  The  Union  troops 
had  fallen  back  about  two  miles  and  taken  a  position  near  Charles  City 
Cross-roads  or  White  Oak  Swamp.  The  battle  commenced  about  1  o'clock. 
The  2d,  in  command  of  Major  Dillman,  was  engaged  from  half-past  4  P.  M. 
until  an  hour  after  dark,  being  under  a  continuous  fire  of  musketry  during 
the  whole  of  that  time,  but  having  the  cover  of  the  woods  and  of  a  tempo 
rary  breastwork  of  logs,  rails,  and  sods  hastily  thrown  together,  the  loss  of 
the  regiment  was  comparatively  light.  The  enemy  charged  three  times  in 
heavy  columns  on  the  position  held  by  the  division  to  which  the  2d  belong 
ed.  They  advanced  under  a  heavy  fire  from  a  long  line  of  infantry  and  six 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  were  most  gallantly  repulsed  each  time,  being  com 
pelled  to  retire,  under  a  heavy  and  murderous  fire,  under  cover  of  the  woods 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  field,  leaving  the  open  space  between  the  two 
lines  literally  piled  with  the  dead  and  wounded. 

"  Down  to  the  time  our  troops  fell  back  in  the  night  the  enemy  were  busy, 
close  up  to  our  line,  carrying  away  the  dead  and  wounded.  The  wounded 
were  continually  calling  out  the  number  of  their  regiments  and  the  States 
from  whence  they  came,  in  order  that  they  might  be  found  by  their  friends. 
In  this  way  it  was  ascertained  that  at  least  twenty-one  regiments  had  been 
engaged  with  Kearney's  division  during  the  afternoon. 

"  On  July  1st,  at  2  A.  M.,  the  pickets  were  ordered  in,  and  the  retreat 
again  commenced.  At  5  A.  M.  the  regiment  reached  Maxwell's  Landing, 
on  the  James  river,  and  was  soon  after  marched,  with  its  brigade,  to  the 
right  and  front  of  the  line  then  being  formed  to  meet  a  threatened  attack 
of  the  enemy.  On  reaching  the  position  indicated  the  brigade  was  placed 
in  position  to  support  our  batteries,  then  playing  with  terrible  effect  on  the 
enemy's  advancing  columns  or  replying  to  the  fierce  fire  kept  up  from  his 
batteries.  The  2d  remained  in  this  position  until  12  M.,  when  it  was  drawn 
back  under  shelter  of  Malvern  Hill.  During  the  whole  of  that  time  the 
shot  and  shell  from  the  enemy's  guns  came  sweeping  through  the  Union 
ranks  dealing  out  death  in  every  direction.  At  midnight  the  regiment  again 
commenced  the  march  down  the  river,  and  reached  the  encampment  near 
Harrison's  Landing  next  morning  at  about  9  A.  M. 

"  On  the  retreat  to  Harrison's  Landing,  and  in  the  various  engagements 
occurring  on  the  march,  the  gallant  conduct  of  Sergeants  Sheldon,  company 
C,  Tulloch,  company  H,  McGee,  company  I,  Higgins  and  Delano,  compa 
ny  E ;  Corporals  Sannard,  company  F,  Fuller,  company  D,  and  Thurlby, 
company  B ;  Privates  Henry  H.  Harrington,  company  B,  and  Philander 
Wai  worth,  company  D,  are  specially  noticed  in  the  report  of  the  command 
ing  officer  of  the  regiment.  In  the  battles  of  Charles  City  Cross-roads  and 


THE  SECOND  INFANTRY.  321 

Malvern  Hill  Philander  Walworth,  of  company  D,  who  had  been  wounded 
on  a  scout  on  the  19th  June,  with  his  leg  swollen  and  stiff,  refused  to  leave 
the  ranks,  and  was  constantly  in  his  place  gallantly  doing  his  duty." 

The  regiment  is  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  operations  at  Knoxville 
on  November  24th,  1863,  in  the  "  Rebellion  Record  "  as  follows : 

"November  24th. — Skirmishing  commenced  early  and  briskly  on  our  left 
front  this  morning.  The  rebels  had  gained  a  hill  and  thrown  up  rifle-pits 
near  the  round  house  during  the  night.  The  48th  Pennsylvania  and  21st 
Massachusetts,  during  the  morning,  charged  the  pits  and  driving  the  rebels 
out  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  covered  the  trenches,  and  returned  to  their 
own  with  a  loss  of  two  killed  and  four  wounded.  On  our  left,  for  some 
hours,  the  fire  of  the  sharpshooters  was  quite  hot  from  a  house  above  and 
the  rebel  trenches.  The  2d  Michigan  charged  there  also  in  the  most  gallant 
manner  and  drove  the  rebels  back,  a  fierce  and  bloody  engagement  ensued 
with  great  loss  on  both  sides,  our  boys  remaining  in  possession  of  the  works, 
which  they  obliterated  and  fell  back." 

The  regiment  also  lost  heavily  at  the  charge  following  the  springing  of 
the  mine  July  30th.  It  belonged  to  Wilcox's  division.  In  the  Annual 
Cyclopaedia  is  the  following  notice  of  its  division  and  corps : 

"  At  length  the  9th  corps  was  reformed  after  a  fatal  delay,  and 
with  Gen.  Potter's  division  on  the  right,  Ledlie's  in  the  centre,  and  Wil 
cox's  on  the  left,  under  cover  of  the  fire  of  two  guns,  began  the  charge.  At 
every  step  the  fire  of  the  enemy  in  front  and  on  each  flank  concentrated 
with  greater  fury  upon  them,  and  ploughed  their  ranks  with  slaughter. 
The  charge  was  checked  on  the  side  of  the  crest,  there  was  a  halt,  and 
finally,  the  whole  line  wavering  under  terrible  odds,  recoiled  to  the  fort." 

Lieut.  Edward  A.  Sherman  was  wounded  before  Petersburg  June  18th, 
1864,  and  died  of  his  wounds  August  18th  following. 

Lieut.  Nelson  Fletcher  was  killed  in  action  near  Ox  Ford,  North  Anna 
river,  May  24th,  1864. 

Lieut.  George  S.  Williams,  wounded  at  Cold  Harbor  June  3d,  1864,  died 
of  his  wounds  June  loth  following. 

In  General  Wilcox's  report  of  the  attack  made  by  the  rebels  upon  Fort 
Steadman  on  our  line  of  works  before  Petersburg,  March  25th,  he  says  of 
that  affair,  and  regarding  the  defence  of  Battery  No.  9,  also  in  the  line  of 
the  Union  works,  and  near  the  fort  mentioned : 

"At  a  quarter  past  4  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  March,  1865, 
the  enemy  attacked  the  entrenchments  held  by  the  3d  brigade  of  this  divi 
sion,  (1st  and  9th  corps.)  The  brigade  picket  officer,  Captain  Burch,  3d 
Maryland,  reports  that  he  visited  the  picket  line  at  4  o'clock  of  that  morn 
ing,  and  saw  that  the  men  were  on  the  alert.  After  visiting  the  line  he  re 
turned  to  his  headquarters  in  front  of  Fort  Steadman  and  Battery  No.  11. 
He  states  that  in  a  few  minutes  after  his  return  a  man  on  the  lookout  gave 
notice  that  the  enemy  were  approaching ;  at  the  same  time  the  men  on  the 
post  fired  their  pieces.  One  column  moved  towards  the  right  of  Battery 
No.  10 ;  a  small  column  moved  towards  a  point  between  Fort  Steadman  and 
Battery  No.  11 ;  a  third  column  moved  direct  towards  Steadman.  These 
columns  were  preceded  by  a  strong  storming  party,  which  broke  through 
the  pickets,  clubbing  their  muskets,  and  made  openings  in  the  abatis.  The 
trench  guards  made  sufficient  resistance  to  arouse  the  garrison  of  the  en 
closed  works  in  the  immediate  neighborhood ;  but  the  column  which  struck 
to  the  right  of  Battery  No.  10  quickly  succeeded  in  breaking  through  and 
effecting  an  entrance  to  that  battery,  which  is  entirely  open  in  the  rear. 
This  success  gave  them  at  once  a  great  advantage  over  Fort  Steadman,  as 

U 


322  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

the  ground  just  in  rear  of  Battery  No.  10  is  on  a  level  with  the  parapet  of 
the  fort. 

"  The  fort  had  also  a  comparatively  small  line  of  infantry  parapet,  par 
ticularly  was  this  the  case  in  front,  which  was  cut  up  with  embrasures  for 
artillery.  The  garrison  of  the  fort  consisted  of  a  detachment  of  the  14th 
New  York  heavy  artillery,  under  Major  Randall,  and  made  quite  a  spirited 
resistance;  but  were  finally  overpowered,  and  most  of  them  captured. 

"  The  commanding  officer  of  the  brigade,  Brevet  Brigadier-General  A.  B. 
McLaughlin,  had  reached  Battery  No.  11  from  his  headquarters  before  this, 
and  given  some  directions  about  the  disposition  of  the  troops  on  the  left 
flank. 

"  The  guns  and  even  the  mortars  in  both  Stead  man  and  Battery  No.  11 
were  used  against  the  enemy.  Detachments  of  the  1st  Connecticut  heavy 
artillery  at  the  mortars  behaved  very  handsomely.  General  McLaughlin 
was  captured  near  the  gorge  of  the  fort,  but  whether  after  the  enemy  had 
got  in,  or  while  they  were  attacking  is  unknown.  Captain  Swords,  ordnance 
officer  on  my  staff  and  division  staff-officer  of  the  day,  also  reached  Fort 
Steadman  from  these  headquarters  before  it  was  fully  in  the  enemy's  pos 
session,  and  was  captured  at  the  fort. 

"  The  right  column,  with  the  aid  of  troops  from  Steadman,  now  succeeded 
in  gaining  Battery  No.  11.  Their  left  column  turned  down  the  works  to 
their  left  towards  Battery  No.  9,  taking  the  57th  Massachusetts  in  the 
trenches  in  flank  and  rear,  capturing  a  part  of  them.  The  remainder  re 
tired  to  the  rear,  reassembled,  and  afterwards  did  good  work  as  skirmishers 
with  General  Hartranft's  troops.  The  2d  Michigan  fought  the  enemy  on 
this  flank,  from  their  bomb-proofs  and  traverses,  in  the  most  spirited  man 
ner,  until  they  were  drawn  in  by  order  of  their  brigade  commander  (Brevet 
Colonel  Ralph  Ely)  to  Battery  No.  9,  which,  though  small,  is  an  enclosed 
work. 

"  In  pursuance  of  my  orders,  Colonel  Ely  deployed  perpendicular  to  and 
to  the  rear  of  his  entrenchments,  a  portion  of  the  1st  Michigan  sharp-shooters 
as  skirmishers  promptly  taking  them  from  the  right  of  our  line  for  this  pur 
pose.  I  also  directed  him  to  press  the  enemy  on  his  left  as  much  as  possi 
ble.  Finding  themselves  opposed  in  this  direction,  the  enemy  halted  for 
more  of  their  troops  to  come  up. 

"  The  enemy's  skirmishers  now  came  down  the  hill  directly  to  the  rear  of 
Steadman,  and  moved  towards  my  headquarters,  the  Friend  House,  the 
Dunn  House  battery,  and  in  the  direction  of  Meade's  Station,  and  this  for 
a  time  rendered  my  communication  with  the  3d  brigade  long  and  circuitous. 
Meantime,  I  had  ordered  out  the  17th  Michigan,  acting  as  an  engineer 
regiment  attached  to  my  headquarters,  and  sent  word  to  the  commanding 
officers  of  the  200th  and  209th  Pennsylvania,  encamped  between  Meade's 
Station  and  Dunn  House  battery,  to  move  respectively,  one  to  the  Friend 
House,  and  the  other  in  front  of  the  Dunn  House  battery.  These  regiments 
promptly  appeared.  Brigadier-General  Hartranft,  commanding  the  3d 
division,  now  came  up  in  person,  and  I  requested  him  to  move  his  available 
force  direct  upon  the  fort.  He  promptly  and  gallantly  took  command  of 
the  two  regiments  already  out,  without  waiting  for  the  rest  of  his  command. 
I  ordered  the  17th  Michigan  to  deploy  as  skirmishers  on  his  right.  This 
regiment,  with  only  one  hundred  men  in  its  ranks,  under  command  of  Major 
Mathews,  moved  forward  at  the  same  time  with  General  Hartranft's  line, 
capturing  most  of  the  enemy's  skirmishers  in  their  front,  about  twenty-five 
in  number,  and  inclining  to  the  right,  connected  with  the  skirmishers  of 
Ely's  brigade.  While  Hartranft  was  operating  in  rear  of  Steadman  the 


THE  THIRD  INFANTRY.  323 

enemy's  force,  which  had  moved  towards  Battery  No.  9  and  halted,  was 
reinforced  by  Ransom's  brigade,  and  opened  an  attack  upon  that  battery. 
This  attack  was  handsomely  repulsed  by  my  skirmishers  and  troops  of  the 
2d  brigade  in  Battery  No.  9,  assisted  by  artillery,  particularly  one  piece 
of  Romer's  battery,  under  Major  Romer  himself.  The  enemy  attempted  to 
retreat  back  to  their  own  entrenchments  when  they  were  charged  by  de 
tachments  of  the  2d  Michigan,  who  captured  some  prisoners.  Troops  of 
the  20th  and  2d  Michigan  also  threw  themselves  into  the  picket  line  of  the 
2d  brigade,  and  poured  such  a  fire  on  the  flank  of  the  enemy  that  over  300 
threw  down  their  arms  and  surrendered  themselves  on  the  spot." 

After  several  other  sharp  engagements  the  enemy  were  repulsed  on  both 
flanks  by  troops  of  Wilcox's  division,  and  much  demoralized  by  the  artil 
lery  fire,  broke  in  small  detachments  from  Steadman  back  to  their  own 
lines,  pursued  by  the  Union  troops.  The  17th  Michigan,  on  the  extreme 
right  of  the  division,  dashed  forward  and  gained  the  trenches  held  by  the 
enemy,  taking  many  prisoners. 

The  2d  brigade  was  commanded  by  Col.  Ralph  Ely,  8th  Michigan,  in 
which  were  the  1st  Michigan  sharp-shooters,  2d  and  20th  Michigan  infantry. 

The  17th  Michigan  was  on  detail  at  division  headquarters  as  engineer 
regiment. 

THE  THIRD  INFANTRY. 

The  3d  infantry,  raised  at  Grand  Rapids,  was  patriotic  and  prompt,  and 
in  command  of  Colonel  Daniel  McConnell,  who  had  organized  the  regi 
ment,  took  the  field  soon  after  the  2d  regiment,  in  time  to  participate  with 
the  brigade  (Richardson's)  in  the  engagement  with  the  rebels  at  Black 
burn's  Ford.  It  afterwards  belonged  to  Berry's  celebrated  brigade,  of 
Kearney's  division,  and  passed  through  the  battles  of  the  disastrous  Penin 
sula  campaign.  It  fought  at  Williamsburg,  May  5th ;  at  Fair  Oaks,  May 
30th  ;  at  Glendalale,  or  Charles  City  Cross-roads,  June  30th ;  at  Malvern 
Hill,  July  1st;  being  particularly  distinguished  at  Fair  Oaks,  while  in  com 
mand  of  Colonel  8.  G.  Champlin,  where  its  losses  were  40  killed,  124 
wounded,  and  15  missing.  Among  the  wounded  was  Colonel  Champlin,  and 
among  the  killed  Captain  Samuel  A.  Judd. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  A.  Stevens,  commanding  the  regiment  after  Col 
onel  Champlin  was  wounded,  makes  mention  in  his  report  of  the  part  taken 
by  the  3d  in  this  engagement  as  follows : 

"At  about  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  an  order  was  received  to  take  our  position  in 
rear  of  the  redoubt  on  our  right,  which  wras  immediately  complied  with. 
We  remained  in  this  position  but  a  short  time,  when  we  took  up  the  line  of 
march  across  the  fields  and  parallel  with  the  Williamsburg  road,  hastening 
as  rapidly  as  possible  towards  the  front,  where  our  troops  had  for  some 
time  previously  been  actively  engaged.  The  distance  being  about  one 
mile  and  a  half  from  the  redoubt  to  the  scene  of  action,  was  soon  passed 
over,  when  Colonel  Champlin  received  orders  to  lead  his  regiment  at  once 
into  action,  deploying  at  the  same  time  in  line  of  battle  upon  the  left  of 
the  road,  our  right  resting  upon  an  abatis,  while  the  left  was  thrown  for 
ward  at  a  double-quick  into  a  thicket  of  pines. 

"  The  engagement  now  became  general,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest  diffi 
culty  that  our  corps  of  sharp-shooters,  under  command  of  Captain  Judd, 
could  penetrate  this  mass  of  fallen  timber  and  dislodge  the  enemy  from 
their  strong  position ;  but  the  steady  and  cool  behavior  of  our  men,  and 
with  the  telling  effect  of  the  deadly  aim  of  their  rifles,  soon  compelled 


324  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

them  to  fall  back,  while  our  regiment  pressed  forward,  charging  through 
the  fallen  timber  and  driving  the  enemy  beyond  the  fence  in  rear  of  the 
camp  of  General  Palmer's  brigade,  some  eighty  rods  distant,  when  they 
again  formed  and  made  another  stand.  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  brave 
Colonel  Champlin  received  a  severe  wound,  which  prevented  him  from 
taking  further  part  in  the  action. 

"  I  also  beg  leave  to  call  your  attention  to  the  gallant  Captain  Judd,  who 
fell  while  bravely  leading  our  sharp-shooters  in  the  early  part  of  the  action. 
He  was  one  of  the  'bravest  of  the  brave,'  and  his  loss  will  be  deeply  re 
gretted  by  the  regiment  and  all  who  knew  him." 

Prince  De  Joinville,  having  watched  the  determined  and  persistent  fight 
ing  of  the  Michigan  troops  at  Fair  Oaks,  says  in  his  able  report  of  the 
operations  of  McClellan's  army  on  the  Peninsula  of  Berry's  brigade  : 

"  Meanwhile  Heintzelman  rushes  to  the  rescue  with  his  two  divisions. 
As  at  Williamsburg,  Kearney  arrives  in  good  time  to  re-establish  the  fight. 
Berry's  brigade  of  this  division,  composed  of  Michigan  regiments,  (2d,  3d, 
arid  5th  infantry,)  and  an  Irish  battalion,  advanced  firm  as  a  wall  into  the 
midst  of  the  disordered  mass  which  wanders  over  the  battle-field,  and  does 
more  by  its  example  than  the  most  powerful  reinforcements.  About  a  mile 
of  ground  has  been  lost,  fifteen  pieces  of  cannon,  the  camp  of  the  division 
of  the  advanced  guard,  that  of  Gen.  Casey,  but  now  we  hold  our  own." 

The  3d  was  in  the  engagement  at  Groveton  (or  Bull  Run)  August  29th, 
losing  twenty  killed  and  a  large  number  missing,  and  at  Chantilly  on  Sep 
tember  1st. 

This  regiment,  in  command  of  Col.  Byron  M.  Pierce,  on  the  1st  of  No 
vember,  left  Edward's  Ferry,  Maryland,  and,  marching  by  Warrenton,  en 
camped  at  Falmouth  November  23d.  Crossing  the  Rappahannock  on  the 
13th  of  December,  it  was  under  fire  three  days  at  the  first  battle  of  Fred- 
ericksburg,  sustaining  a  loss  of  nine  in  wounded. 

The  regiment  was  also  specially  engaged  at  Chancellorsville,  being  in  the 
3d  brigade,  1st  division,  (Birney's,)  3d  corps,  (Sickles',)  one  of  the  divisions 
which  formed  part  of  the  troops  composing  the  reconnoissance  in  force  made 
by  Gen.  Sickles  to  ascertain  the  position  of  Stonewall  Jackson,  who  was 
threatening  an  attack  on  the  extreme  right  of  our  army.  In  this  movement 
Gen.  Sickles  became  cut  off  from  his  communications,  which  were  after 
wards  regained  by  a  desperate  night  attack.  Colonel  B.  R.  Pierce,  then 
commanding  the  regiment,  in  his  report  mentions  the  affair  as  follows : 

"  April  28,  1863,  we  broke  camp  and  once  more  moved  towards  the  Rap 
pahannock,  crossed  it  at  United  States  Ford  May  1st,  and  moved  up  near 
the  Chancellorsville  House  and  went  into  position,  supporting  the  first  line 
of  battle.  On  the  2d  we  were  moved  to  the  front  and  drove  the  enemy  four 
miles,  but  soon  found  that  he  had  turned  the  right  flank  of  the  llth  corps 
and  that  we  were  nearly  cut  off,  but  fell  back  to  near  our  position  of  the 
morning  before,  and  there  charged  the  woods  at  10  P.  M.  and  opened  com 
munication  with  the  main  army.  At  daylight  of  the  3d  we  were  fired  into 
by  the  enemy,  and  after  a  long  and  severe  struggle  were  forced  back  one 
mile  to  a  new  position,  which  we  held  until  the  morning  of  the  6th,  when 
we  recrossed  the  river  and  occupied  our  old  camps,  our  whole  loss  in  this 
movement  was  sixty-three  killed,  wounded,  and  missing." 

The  attack  on  the  morning  of  the  3d  was  most  desperate ;  the  infantry 
of  the  enemy  were  advanced  in  overwhelming  numbers  for  the  purpose  of 
crushing  the  Federal  line,  but  were  checked  by  the  forces  of  Sickles  and 
Slocuin.  The  3d  lost  in  this  hard-fought  battle  sixty-three  in  killed,  wound 
ed,  and  missing.  Among  the  killed  was  Capt.  Joseph  Mason. 


THE  THIRD  INFANTRY.  325 

The  regiment  was  engaged  at  Gettysburg  July  2d,  3d,  and  4th,  and  sus 
tained  its  share  of  the  desperate  rebel  attack  upon  the  3d  corps  near  "  Round 
Top."  Its  losses  in  the  three  days  were  forty-one  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  1863,  the  3d,  in  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  M.  B. 
Houghton  and  then  serving  in  the  2d  brigade,  3d  division,  2d  corps,  moved 
forward  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  Kelly's  Ford,  on  the  Rappahan- 
nock,  and  thence  marched  to  Brandy  Station,  on  the  Orange  and  Alexan 
dria  railroad,  where  it  went  into  camp.  On  the  26th  the  regiment  took  part 
in  the  Mine  Run  campaign,  engaging  the  enemy  on  the  27th  at  Locust 
Grove  and  on  the  30th  at  Mine  Run.  Having  fallen  back  with  the  army, 
it  again  arrived  at  its  camp  at  Brandy  Station  on  the  2d  of  December,  hav 
ing  lost  during  the  movement  thirty-one  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  On 
the  23d  of  December  one  hundred  and  eighty  of  the  regiment  re-enlisted  as 
veteran  volunteers.  Returning  to  this  State,  these  veterans  were  given  the 
usual  furlough  of  thirty  days,  at  the  expiration  of  which  they  returned  to 
the  regiment.  Crossing  the  Rapidan  at  Ely's  Ford  on  the  morning  of  the 
4th  of  May,  1864,  the  regiment  advanced  and  encamped  at  Chancellors- 
ville.  On  the  three  following  days  the  regiment  participated  in  the  battles 
of  the  Wilderness,  sustaining  a  heavy  loss,  including  Capts.  Andrew  Nick- 
erson  and  Milton  Leonard,  killed  on  the  6th.  It  was  also  engaged  at  Todd's 
Tavern  on  the  8th.  On  the  12th,  at  Spottsylvania,  it  participated  in  the 
successful  charge  of  the  2d  corps,  capturing  a  number  of  prisoners  and  two 
rebel  battle  flags.  Prior  to  this  engagement  the  3d  was  consolidated  tem 
porarily  with  the  5th  infantry.  The  regiment  also  took  part  in  the  engage 
ment  on  the  North  Anna  river ;  thence  it  marched  to  the  Pamunkey,  which 
it  crossed  on  the  27th  and  advanced  toward  Cold  Harbor,  and  took  part  in 
the  fight  at  that  place  on  June  7th.  In  addition  to  the  engagements  men 
tioned,  the  3d  also  participated  in  a  number  of  minor  actions  and  skirmishes. 
Its  loss  during  the  month  of  May  was  31  killed,  119  wounded,  and  29  miss 
ing.  On  the  9th  of  June,  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  the  regiment,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  the  re-enlisted  men  and  such  as  had  joined  since  the  date  of  origi 
nal  organization  and  certain  designated  officers,  were  ordered  to  proceed  to 
this  State  for  the  purpose  of  being  discharged.  The  remaining  officers  and 
men  were  formed  into  a  battalion  of  four  companies  and  attached  to  the  5th 
Michigan  infantry.  The  order  consolidating  these  regiments  was  confirmed 
by  special  orders  of  the  War  Department  issued  on  the  13th  of  June,  1864. 
On  the  20th  day  of  June  the  organization,  which  had  been  one  of  the  first 
in  the  field,  was  formally  mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service. 

The  career  of  this  regiment  was  brilliant  throughout  the  war,  and,  while 
it  maintained  its  reputation  for  bravery  and  effective  service  in  all  other 
engagements,  Fair  Oaks,  Chancellorsville,  and  Gettysburg  stand  out  promi 
nently  in  its  glorious  record. 

The  regiment  having  been  mustered  out  of  service  on  the  20th  of  June, 
orders  were  issued  from  the  Adjutant-General's  office  of  the  State  to  reor 
ganize  the  regiment.  Col.  M.  B.  Houghton,  of  the  old  regiment,  was  au 
thorized  to  proceed  with  this  duty,  and  the  camp  was  fixed  at  Grand  Rapids. 
The  regiment  left  for  the  field  in  Tennessee  on  the  20th  October  following, 
proceeding  to  Nashville,  and  from  thence  to  Decatur,  Alabama.  On  the 
23d  of  November,  while  stationed  there,  its  advance  picket  on  the  Moulton 
and  Courtland  road  was  driven  in,  when  five  companies  moved  out  and 
encountered  a  small  force  of  the  enemy,  driving  it  back  without  loss.  On 
the  25th  the  regiment  moved  towards  Murfreesboro',  Tennessee,  arriving 
there  on  the  27th,  and  was  ordered  to  duty  at  Fort  Rosecrans.  While  Gen. 


326  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Milroy  was  engaged  at  the  Cedars,  with  the  principal  part  of  Forrest's  com 
mand,  Faulkner's  brigade  of  mounted  infantry,  on  the  7th  of  December, 
made  a  dash  on  the  picket  line  at  Murfreesboro',  driving  in  the  pickets,  and 
gaining  possession  of  the  town,  when  four  companies  of  the  regiment,  toge 
ther  with  four  companies  of  the  181st  Ohio,  with  a  section  of  artillery,  after 
a  spirited  engagement  of  an  hour,  repulsed  the  enemy,  re-establishing  the 
picket  line,  drove  him  for  nearly  two  miles,  when  the  command  was  with 
drawn  and  returned  to  the  fort.  On  the  9th,  while  the  regiment  was  on  a 
foraging  expedition,  it  came  up  with  the  rear  guard  of  the  enemy,  consist 
ing  of  the  7th  and  12th  Kentucky  mounted  infantry,  taking  five  prisoners. 
On  the  15th  it  marched  to  the  relief  of  a  supply  train  which  had  been  at 
tacked  on  the  way  from  Stevenson,  Ala.,  and  on  approaching  the  point  a 
skirmish  took  place,  when  the  force  retired,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded 
on  the  ground. 

Although  going  into  service  late  in  the  war,  with  but  little  opportunity 
offered  to  make  its  record,  this  regiment  fully  demonstrated  its  reliable  fight 
ing  qualities  and  acquitted  itself  with  credit,  maintaining  to  the  fullest  ex 
tent,  when  occasion  offered,  the  gallant  reputation  of  the  old  3d. 

THE  FOURTH  INFANTRY. 

The  4th  infantry  went  to  the  field  with  great  dispatch,  in  command  of 
the  lamented  Colonel  Woodbury,  who  had  recruited  and  organized  it  at 
Adrian.  The  regiment  was  in  the  first  Bull  Run  engagement,  and  retired 
from  that  field  in  good  order,  covering  the  retreat  of  the  Union  army  from 
that  disastrous  affair.  It  went  to  the  Peninsula  with  General  McClellau, 
and  was  the  first  regiment  to  open  fire  upon  the  rebels  at  New  Bridge,  May 
24,  1862 — the  commencement  of  what  are  known  as  the  seven  days'  battles, 
when  five  companies  of  the  regiment  crossed  the  Chicahominy  a  short  dis 
tance  above  New  Bridge,  wading  the  stream  under  a  heavy  fire.  The  gal 
lantry  of  the  regiment  was  made  at  the  time  the  subject  of  a  dispatch  to 
the  War  Department  from  General  McClellan,  which  mentioned  the  affair 
as  follows:  "Three  skirmishes  to-day.  We  drove  the  rebels  from  Mechan- 
icsville  seven  miles  from  New  Bridge.  The  4th  Michigan  about  finished 
the  Louisiana  Tigers.  Fifty  prisoners  and  fifty  killed  and  wounded."  The 
4th,  in  common  with  the  other  Michigan  regiments,  maintained  the  honor 
of  our  State,  and  nobly  acquitted  itself  in  all  the  engagements  of  the  Penin 
sula  campaign,  but  probably  in  none  more  so  than  in  the  sanguinary  con 
flict  at  Malvern  Hill,  where  it  became  conspicuously  and  specially  notice 
able  in  resisting  the  numerous  and  desperate  charges  of  the  rebels  on  its 
lines,  the  men  fighting  until  all  their  cartridges  were  expended,  then  using 
those  taken  from  the  boxes  of  their  fallen  comrades.  On  that  field  fell  its 
brave  commander,  Colonel  Woodbury,  while  at  the  head  of  his  regiment. 
His  military  career  had  been  as  bright  as  the  record  of  his  regiment,  and  had 
he  been  spared,  his  services  would  have  placed  him  high  in  rank  and  fame, 
as  he  was  gifted  with  all  the  requisites  to  render  success  certain.  It  also 
lost  two  other  meritorious  officers,  Captains  Du  Puy  and  Rose,  while  Cap 
tain  Spalding  and  Lieutenants  Gordon  and  Earle  were  wounded,  and  from 
June  26th  to  July  1st,  both  inclusive,  the  aggregate  loss  in  the  regiment 
was  53  killed,  144  wounded,  and  49  missing.  In  a  report  made  by  Captain 
John  F.  Randolph  immediately  following  the  engagement,  he  says: 

"The  enemy  commenced  the  attack  about  2  P.  M.}  and  at  4  o'clock  the 
action  became  general.  The  regiment  held  its  ground  against  fearful  odds 
until  its  ammunition  was  expended,  when  it  fell  back,  contesting  every  foot 


THE  FOURTH  INFANTRY.  327 

of  the  ground  until  relieved  by  the  2d  New  Jersey.  At  evening  the  action 
closed,  and  we  again  held  our  first  line.  Our  loss  was  heavy  in  both 
officers  and  men.  It  was  here  Captain  Richard  Du  Puy  fell,  while  gal 
lantly  leading  his  men. 

"  On  the  following  morning  our  position  was  again  changed,  and  about  3 
P.  M.  the  enemy  appeared  in  our  front  in  heavy  force.  We  were  ordered 
to  advance,  and"  in  a  few  moments  came  within  range  of  the  enemy,  when 
we  opened  a  destructive  fire.  Colonel  Woodbury  was  everywhere  present, 
and  by  his  example  and  courage  inspired  every  one  with  renewed  vigor. 
About  half  an  hour  after  the  action  commenced  he  was  mortally  wounded, 
the  ball  penetrating  the  head  just  above  the  right  eye.  While  being  borne 
from  the  field  his  last  words  were :  '  Good-bye,  boys/  Captain  A.  M.  Rose 
was  also  killed  about  the  same  time." 

At  Shepherdstown  Ford,  September  21,  it  forded  the  Potomac  in  face  of 
a  battery,  killed  and  drove  off  the  enemy,  and  captured  the  guns.  The 
regiment  was  also  in  the  battles  at  Fredericksburg,  December  loth  and 
14th,  where  its  casualties  were  9  killed,  41  wounded,  and  1  missing. 

On  the  30th  and  31st  of  December  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  a  recon- 
noissance  to  Morrisville,  making  a  march  of  thirty-three  miles  on  the  latter 
day.  It  was  engaged  in  a  movement  of  the  20th  of  January,  1863,  but, 
marching  only  a  few  miles,  returned  to  camp  near  Falmouth,  where  it  re 
mained  until  May  1st.  May  4th  it  participated  in  the  battle  of  Chancel- 
lorsville,  with  a  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  of  30. 

Following  the  regiment  to  Gettysburg,  we  find  it  prominently  engaged  on 
that  important  and  bloody  battle-field,  bearing  a  part  of  the  brunt  with 
the  5th  corps,  and  sustaining  a  loss  of  26  killed,  66  wounded,  and  79 
missing.  Among  the  killed  was  its  noble  commander,  Colonel  H.  H.  Jef 
fords,  a  gallant  and  patriotic  officer,  who  was  killed  by  a  rebel  bayonet 
while  rescuing  the  colors  of  his  regiment  from  traitorous  hands,  and  among 
the  wounded  were  Captains  French,  Robinson,  and  McLean,  and  Lieu 
tenants  Brown,  Vreeland,  Barrett,  Westfall,  and  Seage. 

After  the  death  of  Colonel  Jeffords,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lombard  as 
sumed  command  of  the  regiment. 

In  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  the  4th  being  in  the  2d  brigade,  1st 
division,  (Griffin's,)  of  the  5th  corps,  became  heavily  engaged  with  loss. 
Greeley  says : 

"At  noon  General  Griffin,  whose  advance  had  been  driven  in,  was 
ordered  to  push  forward  the  1st  division  of  the  5th  corps  to  the  right  and 
left  of  the  turnpike  and  feel  the  enemy.  An  advance  of  less  than  a  mile, 
stretching  across  the  turnpike,  brought  them  in  contact  with  the  enemy, 
under  Lieutenant-General  Ewell,  posted  on  a  wooded  declivity.  A  sharp 
engagement  ensued  for  an  hour,  when  the  pressure  of  the  enemy  could  no 
longer  be  resisted.  General  Griffin's  division  was  driven  back,  leaving  two 
pieces  of  artillery  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy." 

In  this  engagement  fell  Colonel  Lombard  and  Captain  W.  H.  Loveland, 
the  former  while  gallantly  leading  his  regiment,  and  the  latter  while 
bravely  doing  his  duty.  The  Colonel  died  next  day,  and  Captain  Love- 
land  on  the  31st  of  the  same  month,  both  efficient  and  courageous  officers. 

Malvern  Hill,  Gettysburg,  and  the  Wilderness  will  never  be  forgotten 
by  the  survivors  of  the  4th  Michigan. 

On  the  night  of  the  7th  the  command  moved  towards  Spottsylvania,  ar 
riving  at  Laurel  Hill  on  the  morning  of  the  8th.  It  here  became  engaged 
with  the  enemy,  and  again  on  the  9th.  On  the  10th  it  assisted  in  a  charge 
upon  and  capture  of  the  enemy's  rifle  pits,  losing  20  killed  and  wounded. 


328  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

On  the  llth  and  12th  the  regiment  was  in  the  advanced  lines  of  the  corps, 
and  on  the  loth  and  14th  was  engaged  as  skirmishers.  On  the  evening  of 
the  latter  date  the  command  moved  to  the  left  of  the  army  near  Spottsyl- 
vauia  Court-house,  and  remaining  there  until  the  19th,  it  then  took  part  in 
the  movement  to  the  North  Anna  river,  which  it  crossed  on  the  24th  near 
Jericho  Mills,  the  regiment  participating  in  the  engagement  at  this  place. 
On  the  night  of  the  26th  the  regiment  recrossed  the  North  Anna  river  and 
marched  to  Hanovertown,  crossing  the  Pamunkey  river  on  the  28th.  On 
the  29th,  30th,  and  31st  of  May,  and  1st  of  June,  it  was  engaged  as  skir 
mishers,  and  on  the  3d  it  participated  in  the  capture  of  the  enemy's  line  of 
works  near  Bethesda  Church.  On  the  5th  the  regiment  marched  to  Bot 
tom's  Bridge,  and  on  the  14th  crossed  the  James  river  at  Wilcox's  Land 
ing,  whence  it  proceeded  to  the  lines  in  front  of  Petersburg,  where  it  arrived 
on  the  16th.  On  the  next  day  the  regiment  was  engaged  as  skirmishers, 
and  on  the  19th  participated  in  the  engagement  of  that  date,  losing  eight 
killed  and  wounded. 

The  term  of  the  regiment  having  expired  on  the  19th  of  June,  1864,  it 
returned  to  the  State  on  the  26th,  and  on  the  28th  the  companies  were  mus 
tered  out  of  service.  A  portion  of  the  regiment  remained  in  service  on  duty 
with  the  1st  infantry,  and  served  with  it  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when 
they  joined  the  new  organization. 

The  regiment  was  reorganized  under  orders  of  July  26,  1864,  Col.  J.  W. 
Hall,  late  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  regiment,  taking  command  of  its  camp 
at  Adrian.  On  the  22d  of  October  following  it  left  Adrian,  and  arrived  at 
Decatur,  Ala.,  on  the  28th,  in  time  to  participate  in  the  defence  of  that  town, 
which  had  been  attacked  by  the  rebel  army  under  Hood.  In  this  engage 
ment  it  lost  five  in  killed  and  wounded,  establishing  a  reputation  in  the  field 
worthy  of  the  brave  old  regiment. 

General  Meade  at  Chancellorsville  directed  General  Griffin  to  send  two 
regiments  to  hold  an  important  point.  The  General  reported  to  him  that 
he  had  sent  them.  General  Meade  asked,  "  Can  they  hold  it  ?"  Griffin 
replied,  "  General,  they  are  Michigan  men."  Meade  insisting  on  being 
assured,  said  emphatically,  "  Can  they  hold  it  ?"  Griffin  quickly  and  em 
phatically  answered,  "  General,  they  can  hold  it  against  hell !"  They  were 
the  4th  and  16th  Michigan. 

THE  FIFTH  INFANTRY. 

The  5th  infantry,  usually  designated  the  "  Fighting  Fifth,"  left  Detroit 
for  Virginia  on  the  llth  of  September,  1861,  commanded  by  Colonel  Henry 
D.  Terry,  and  first  commenced  to  battle  for  the  Union  and  freedom  at  Wil- 
liamsburg,  on  May  5th  following,  while  serving  in  Berry's  brigade  of  Kear 
ney's  division.  In  this  engagement  the  regiment  behaved  with  great  gal 
lantry,  and  was  eminently  efficient ;  but  sustaining  a  loss,  in  a  force  of  500, 
of  34  killed  and  119  wounded,  including  among  the  killed  Lieut.  James 
Gunning,  and  among  the  wounded  Lieutenant-Colonel  S.  E.  Beach.  On 
May  31st  it  went  into  the  action  at  Fair  Oaks  with  a  force  of  about  300, 
losing  30  killed,  116  wounded,  and  5  missing,  Captain  L.  B.  Quackenbush 
and  Lieutenant  Charles  H.  Hutchins  being  among  the  killed,  and  Lieut. 
Charles  S.  Traverse  mortally  wounded,  and  died  on  the  22d  July  following. 
It  was  again  engaged  on  the  Chicahominy  June  25th,  at  Peach  Orchard  on 
the  29th,  and  at  Charles  City  Cross-roads  on  the  30th,  where  it  lost  51  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  Among  the  killed  was  Lieutenant  W.  T. 
Johnson,  and  among  the  wounded  Major  John  D.  Fairbanks,  commanding 


THE  FIFTH  INFANTRY.  329 

the  regiment,  who  died  of  his  wound  in  Washington  on  the  5th  of  July  fol 
lowing,  regarded  as  a  brave  and  exemplary  officer.  It  had  also  a  part  in 
the  action  at  Malvern  Hill  with  slight  loss ;  and  was  employed  at  Manassas 
August  28th,  29th,  and  30th,  and  at  Chantilly  on  September  1st.  It  was 
engaged  heavily  at  Fredericksburg  on  the  13th  of  December  following,  with 
a  strength  of  only  330,  where  it  lost  10  killed  and  73  wounded ;  among 
the  former  being  its  commanding  officer,  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  Gilluly, 
a  most  gallant  and  worthy  officer.  On  the  15th  it  recrossed  the  Rappahan- 
nock  and  encamped  near  Falmouth.  On  the  20th  of  January,  1863,  the 
regiment  took  part  in  the  movement  of  that  date,  marching  to  Bank's  Ford, 
but  without  crossing  the  river,  returned  to  its  old  camp  and  went  into  winter 
quarters. 

The  5th  under  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  E.  T.  Sherlock,  was  en 
gaged  at  the  Cedars,  May  2,  1863,  and  at  Chancellor's  on  the  3d,  where  it 
formed  a  part  of  the  division  of  the  3d  corps,  which  attacked  and  cut  off 
the  rear  of  Stonewall  Jackson's  forces  in  his  movement  threatening  the  de 
struction  of  the  right  flank  of  the  Union  army.  It  also  participated  in  the 
desperate  and  dashing  midnight  charge,  which  stands  without  a  parallel  in 
the  war,  made  for  the  purpose  of  opening  the  communication  with  the 
Union  army  which  had  been  lost  in  the  movement.  In  this  charge  Stone 
wall  Jackson  fell. 

Next  morning  the  5th  together  with  the  3d  Michigan  charged  and  drove 
a  brigade  of  rebels,  taking  a  number  of  prisoners,  and  holding  the  enemy 
in  check  until  the  division  formed  on  a  second  line.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Sherlock  fell  in  the  engagement  of  the  3d,  a  brave  and  meritorious  officer, 
and  the  aggregate  loss  of  the  regiment  in  both  battles  was  7  killed,  43 
wounded,  and  31  missing.  Major  Pulford  and  Lieutenants  Colton  and 
Hanlon  were  among  the  wounded. 

At  Gettysburg,  on  July  2d,  the  regiment,  then  commanded  by  Col.  Pul 
ford,  after  marching  ten  miles  in  three  hours  during  the  day,  at  4  P.  M.  be 
came  heavily  engaged  with  the  enemy  in  defending  Sickles'  advanced  posi 
tion,  the  men  using  the  cartridges  of  their  fallen  comrades.  Its  casualties 
were  great,  losing  in  one  hour  105.  Among  the  killed  were  Captain  Gen 
erous  and  Lieutenant  Phelan,  two  valuable  officers.  In  the  list  of  wounded 
were  Colonel  Pulford,  Major  Mathews,  and  Lieutenants  Colville,  Pierce, 
Rouse,  Braden,  Hurlbut,  and  Stevens. 

On  the  3d  of  July  it  assisted  in  repelling  the  final  charge  on  Cemetery 
Hill.  During  both  days  its  losses  were  19  killed,  86  wounded,  and  4  miss 
ing. 

The  5th  was  encamped,  on  the  1st  of  November,  1863,  near  Bealton  Sta 
tion,  on  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad.  On  the  7th  it  crossed  the 
Rappahannock  at  Kelly's  Ford,  and  bivouacked  near  Brandy  Station  on 
the  12th,  occupying  winter  quarters  which  the  rebel  forces  had  abandoned. 
Participating  in  the  movement  of  the  army  to  Mine  Run,  the  regiment 
crossed  the  Rapidan  on  the  26th,  and  on  the  27th  was  actively  engaged  at 
Locust  Grove,  losing  a  number  in  killed  and  wounded,  Lieut.  Daniel  B. 
Wyker  being  among  the  killed.  On  the  29th  the  regiment  arrived  in  front 
of  the  enemy's  position  at  Mine  Run,  and  on  the  30th  supported  a  battery 
for  36  hours.  Falling  back  with  the  army,  the  regiment  reached  its  former 
camp,  near  Brandy  Station,  on  the  30th  of  December. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  1864,  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Colonel  Pulford, 
entered  upon  the  great  campaign  of  the  war.  It  crossed  the  Rapidan  at 
an  early  hour  on  the  4th,  and  at  4  P.  M.  reached  the  old  battle-field  at 
Chancellorsville,  having  accomplished  a  distance  of  thirty-four  miles  in 


330  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

seventeen  hours,  the  men  each  carrying  the  weight  of  five  days'  rations  and 
sixty  rounds  of  cartridges.  On  the  5th  the  tenemy  were  met  on  the  road 
leading  to  Orange  Court-house.  The  regiment  participated  in  the  despe 
rate  struggle  which  ensued,  sustaining,  in  this  and  the  following  day,  a  se 
vere  loss  in  killed  and  wounded.  Captain  George  TV.  Eose  was  here  mor 
tally  wounded,  and  died  of  his  wounds  on  the  20th.  On  the  6th,  in 
command  of  Captains  TValkenshaw  and  Shook,  each  commanding  a  wing, 
Colonel  Pulford  and  Major  Mathews  being  wounded  on  the  day  previous, 
it  shared  in  a  successful  charge  on  the  enemy's  works,  Sergeant  Joseph 
Kemp  capturing  a  stand  of  rebel  colors.  In  this  charge  Captain  Wilber- 
force  Hurlburt,  while  leading  his  company,  was  shot  through  the  head  and 
instantly  killed. 

On  the  17th,  the  enemy  having  retreated,  the  regiment  followed  in  pur 
suit,  overtaking  them  at  noon  on  the  8th.  A  portion  of  the  regiment  was 
deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  the  whole  command  was  under  a  heavy  artil 
lery  fire  during  the  remainder  of  the  day  and  until  noon  of  the  10th.  On 
the  llth  the  regiment  was  again  engaged,  suffering  severely  from  the  fire 
of  the  enemy's  musketry  and  artillery.  On  the  12th,  the  5th  (with  which 
the  remnant  of  the  3d  Michigan  infantry  had  been  temporarily  consoli 
dated,)  participated  in  the  charge  made  on  the  enemy's  works  on  the  right, 
at  Spottsylvania  Court-house.  The  command  captured  in  this  charge  two 
stand  of  rebel  colors,  one  taken  by  William  Renwick,  company  D,  and  the 
other  by  Corporal  Benjamin  Morse,  of  company  E.  Both  were  members 
of  the  3d  infantry. 

After  various  forced  marches  the  regiment  arrived  in  front  of  the  enemy's 
position,  on  the  North  Anna  river,  on  the  23d,  and  assisted  in  taking  their 
works  on  the  north  bank  of  that  stream,  capturing  a  number  of  prisoners, 
and  driving  the  rebel  forces  into  and  across  the  river.  It  engaged  on  the 
24th  in  strengthening  the  works  erected,  the  command  holding  their  position 
under  a  heavy  fire.  During  the  afternoon  the  regiment  crossed  the  river 
in  the  face  of  a  very  heavy  fire  of  shot  and  shell,  and  again  compelled  the 
enemy  to  retire  before  them.  Here  Lieutenant  Samuel  Pearce  was  killed. 
At  an  early  hour  on  the  27th  it  recrossed  the  North  Anna,  forming  part  of 
the  force  that  effectually  covered  the  movements  of  its  corps,  and  at  11  A. 
M.  marched  toward  the  Pamunkey  river,  which  it  crossed  at  4  P.  M.  of  the 
same  day,  having  marched  fifteen  miles  in  five  hours.  On  the  29th,  30th, 
and  31st,  strong  breastworks  were  thrown  up,  the  men  working  day  and 
night,  although  living  on  scanty  rations  and  almost  worn  out  with  the 
rapid  marching  and  fatigues  of  the  campaign.  On  the  latter  date  the 
regiment  took  part  in  a  charge  upon  and  capture  of  a  strong  line  of  rebel 
works.  It  reached  the  position  at  Cold  Harbor  on  the  5th,  and  imme 
diately  commenced  the  construction  of  breastworks.  The  3d  Michigan 
infantry  was  at  this  point  on  the  10th,  permanently  consolidated  with  the 
5th. 

Leaving  Cold  Harbor  on  the  12th,  and  crossing  the  Chicahominy  at 
Long  Bridge,  the  command  reached  Charles  City  Court-house  on  the  13th, 
and  on  the  14th  crossed  the  James  river,  arriving  in  front  of  Petersburg  at 
10  P.  M.  of  the  15th.  On  the  16th  it  threw  up  intrenchments  during  the 
day,  and  at  evening  (again  in  command  of  Colonel  Pulford)  was  heavily 
engaged  with  the  enemy,  assisting  in  taking  one  of  their  lines  of  works. 
On  the  18th  the  regiment  again  participated  in  a  successful  charge  on  the 
enemy's  lines,  holding  their  position  on  the  19th  and  20th  under  a  heavy 
fire.  Crossing  the  Suffolk  railroad  on  the  21st,  the  regiment  moved  on  the 
enemy's  right  and  engaged  as  skirmishers.  The  rebels  flanking  its  posi- 


THE  FIFTH  INFANTRY.  331 

tion,  it  was  obliged  to  retire  with  some  loss.  It,  however,  advanced  later 
in  the  day  and  retook  its  position. 

October  27th  it  marched  to  the  Boydton  plank  road,  and  participated  in 
the  attack  made  on  the  enemy's  right,  sustaining  a  small  loss  in  officers  and 
men,  including  among  the  killed  Adjutant  J.  F.  McGinly  and  Lieutenant 
S.  A.  Boyd.  The  regiment  captured  a  large  number  of  prisoners  in  this 
battle.  Having  returned  to  its  old  position  in  front  of  Petersburg,  on  the 
31st  of  October  it  received  orders  to  garrison  Fort  Davis,  on  the  Jerusalem 
plank  road.  The  casualties  in  the  engagements  in  which  the  regiment 
participated  during  the  year  were :  At  Kelly's  Ford,  1  wTounded  ;  Locust 
Grove  1  killed,  15  wounded,  2  missing — total,  18  ;  Mine  Run,  3  wounded  ; 
Wilderness,  38  killed,  167  wounded,  16  missing — total  221 ;  Spottsylvania 
Court-house,  6  killed,  60  wounded,  9  missing — total,  75 ;  North  Anna  river, 
1  killed,  9  wounded,  1  missing — total,  11  ;  Tolopotamy  Creek,  2  killed,  4 
wounded,  11  missing — total,  17  ;  before  Petersburg,  15  killed,  52  wounded, 
19  missing — total,  86;  Deep  Bottom,  12  wounded;  Boydton  Plank  Road, 
9  killed,  52  wounded,  43  missing — total,  105 ;  being  an  aggregate  of  73 
killed,  365  wounded,  and  101  missing,  and  a  total  of  549. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1865,  the  regiment  participated  in  the  attack  on 
the  enemy's  works  near  Hatcher's  Run,  where  it  assisted  in  driving  him 
from  his  first  line  of  works,  after  a  heavy  engagement  of  four  hours.  Re 
maining  at  that  point  until  the  29th,  it  moved  about  six  miles  to  the  left, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  30th  the  regiment  wyas  deployed  as  skirmishers 
and  became  engaged  with  the  enemy's  pickets,  and  after  driving  them  within 
their  main  line  of  works,  near  Fort  Harney,  fire  was  opened  on  the  regiment 
from  three  batteries,  but  it  succeeded  in  holding  its  ground  until  the  5th 
corps  got  into  position,  when  the  line  was  maintained.  On  the  2d  the  regi 
ment,  with  the  1st  Massachusetts  heavy  artillery,  made  a  demonstration  on 
the  enemy's  works  for  the  purpose  of  developing  his  position  and  strength. 
This  being  accomplished  with  but  small  loss,  the  command  held  its  position 
during  the  night,  and  the  next  morning  the  regiment,  with  its  corps,  parti 
cipated  in  the  general  assault  on  the  enemy's  fortifications,  which  resulted 
in  carrying  his  entire  line  of  works  and  the  capture  of  Petersburg,  and  is  re 
ported  to  have  been  the  first  regiment  to  raise  its  colors  on  the  works.  In 
following  up  the  retreat  of  that  part  of  the  enemy  which  took  the  line  of 
the  South  Side  railroad,  the  regiment  was  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  on 
the  4th  and  5th  pressing  his  rear  guard  closely.  On  the  6th  he  made  a 
stand  at  Sailor's  creek  to  protect  the  crossing  of  his  baggage,  when  the  bri 
gade  made  a  charge,  capturing  173  wagons,  the  regiment  taking  a  stand 
of  colors  and  145  prisoners.  The  enemy  being  followed  up  closely  by  the 
brigade,  on  the  7th  and  8th,  the  regiment  acting  as  flankers  and  skirmish 
ers,  became  engaged  at  New  Store,  and  on  the  9th  was  in  the  front  in  line 
of  battle  at  Glover  Hill  at  the  surrender  of  Lee. 

This  regiment  was  continually  "  pitching  in"  whenever  opportunity  offered, 
and  had  space  permitted  it  would  have  been  interesting  to  have  traced  its 
entire  career  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  as  its  fighting  record  from  Wil- 
liamsburg  to  Appomattox  Court-house  is  most  glorious  and  brilliant. 

The  following  letter  of  Gen.  Berry,  on  Michigan  troops  and  Michigan, 
was  written  to  a  friend  in  Washington : 

"  To  all  my  sick  and  wounded  in  hospital  you  chance  to  visit  give  my 
warmest  regards  for  their  welfare.  May  they  speedily  recover.  So  gallant 
a  set  of  men  should  not  suffer  for  want  of  anything.  I  trust  they  will  be 
amply  provided  for,  as  you  intimate  they  are.  A  nobler  set  of  men  never 


332  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

lived.  Any  man  can  win  fights  with  such  material.  I  have  received  ten 
times  more  credit  than  I  am  entitled  to  for  the  part  performed  by  my  poor 
self  in  the  late  bloody  battle.  Such  troops  as  I  lead  are  bound  to  conquer, 
no  matter  who  leads  them. 

"  Please  give  my  compliments  to  all  those  Michigan  men  in  Washington 
who  take  such  interest  in  this  brigade.  Say  to  them  that  they  are  fortu 
nate  to  hail  from  such  a  State  that  has  such  gallant  sons.  God  bless  the 
State  and  people  of  Michigan  for  the  part  it  and  they  have  taken  to  crush 
out  this  most  unholy  of  all  rebellions. 

"  Truly,  your  sincere  friend, 

"H.  G.  BERRY, 
"  Brigadier-  General  in  command  of  Brigade." 

The  brigade  referred  to  was  composed  of  the  2d,  3d,  and  5th  Michigan 
infantry  and  the  1st  and  37th  New  York  infantry,  and  this  letter  was  writ 
ten  immediately  following  the  last  battle  on  the  Peninsula. 

The  following  letter  is  from  Gen.  Phillip  Kearney : 

HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  DIVISION, 

HEINTZELMAN'S  CORPS,  May  10,  1862. 
His  Excellency  AUSTIN  BLAIR,  Governor  of  Michigan  : 

SIR  : — It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  address  you  in  order  to  bring  to  your 
immediate  notice  the  noble  and  brave  manner  with  which  the  troops  of 
your  State  in  my  division  conducted  themselves  in  the  engagement  before 
Williamsburg  on  the  5th  instant.  The  2d,  under  Col.  Poe,  and  the  5th, 
under  Col.  Terry,  behaved  in  the  most  handsome  manner.  I  have  the  honor 
to  transmit  herewith  the  reports  of  the  colonels  of  these  regiments,  together 
with  that  of  their  general,  Gen.  Berry,  commanding  brigade,  and  also  a 
copy  of  one  sent  in  by  myself  to  headquarters.  I  also  send  you  a  copy  of 
the  killed  and  wounded.  Col.  Poe  served  more  immediately  under  my  own 
command,  and  the  gallantry  and  soldierly  qualities  he  displayed  rendered 
him  particularly  conspicuous.  Col.  Terry's  regiment  (5th)  took  a  rifle-pit 
of  much  strength  after  a  severe  contest  and  held  possession  until  the  close 
of  the  action. 

Very  respectfully,  PHILLIP  KEARNEY. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  last  letter  written  by  Col.  Sherlock,  and 
was  completed  when  the  movement  commenced  which  terminated  in  the 
battle  of  Chancellorsville,  and  in  which  he  fell  gallantly  leading  his  regi 
ment : 

WEDNESDAY  MORNING,  April  29,  1863. 

On  the  march. 

^  MY  DEAR  PARENTS  :— We  left  our  old  camp  yesterday  afternoon  at  4 
o'clock  in  a  rain  storm.  Last  night,  about  10  o'clock,  we  halted  in  a  pine 
grove  below  Fredericksburg,  and  about  a  mile  from  the  river.  It  appears 
that  Hooker  is  going  to  attack  the  enemy  in  his  strongholds  and  on  his  right 
and  left  flanks.  There  appears  to  be  no  disposition  to  attack  the  enemy's 
centre,  which  is  in  the  city.  There  is  great  surmising  in  the  army  as  to  the 
probabilities  of  Hooker's  success ;  a  great  many  shake  their  heads ;  but 
there  is  one  conclusion  we  have  all  come  to,  and  that  is,  that  Hooker  will 
light  and  the  loss  of  life  will  be  awful,  for  Hooker  has  to  make  a  reputa 
tion.  This  morning  is  very  foggy.  Got  to  stop ;  order  to  move.  You  can 
see  Mary's  letter.  God  bless  you  all. 

EDWARD. 


THE  SIXTH  INFANTRY.  333 

THE  SIXTH  INFANTRY. 

The  peculiar  regiment  of  Michigan  was  the  6th  infantry,  afterwards  or 
ganized  as  heavy  artillery.  This  splendid  and  gallant  regiment  was  pecu 
liar  by  reason  of  its  entire  isolation,  almost  amounting  to  exile,  from  the 
rest  of  the  Michigan  troops  during  the  whole  term  of  its  faithful  service. 
It  left  the  State  in  August,  1861,  commanded  by  Col.  F.  W.  Curtenius, 
under  whose  direction  it  was  raised  and  organized,  to  join  the  army  in  the 
field,  but  was  detained  at  Baltimore,  where  it  remained  on  duty  most  of  the 
following  winter ;  thence  sailed  to  Ship  Island,  Mississippi,  and  in  April, 
1862,  left  that  place  for  New  Orleans,  constituting  a  part  of  Gen.  Butler's 
force,  and  was  one  of  the  first  regiments  to  occupy  the  city  on  its  surrender. 
Serving  during  its  whole  term  in  the  extreme  South,  it  suffered  much  from 
the  complaints  incident  to  that  climate,  losing  more  men  by  disease  than 
any  other  regiment  from  this  State. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  at  SewelFs  Point,  Virginia,  March  5th ;  at 
Port  Jackson,  Louisiana,  April  25th  ;  at  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  May  20th  ; 
at  Grand  Gulf,  Mississippi,  May  27th ;  and  at  Amite  river,  Mississippi,  on 
the  20th  of  June  following. 

The  battles  of  Baton  Rouge  and  Port  Hudson,  prominent  in  the  history 
of  the  rebellion,  are  among  the  most  conspicuous  in  which  the  6th  was  en 
gaged,  and  were  important  in  their  results,  being  most  decided  victories, 
securing  to  the  Union  arms  strong  positions  on  the  line  of  the  Mississippi 
river,  and  which  were  held  during  the  war.  At  Baton  Rouge,  August  5th, 
1862,  while  that  place  was  being  heavily  attacked  by  the  rebel  forces  in 
very  superior  numbers  under  Breckinridge,  the  regiment,  then  in  command 
of  Capt.  Charles  E.  Clark,  received  and  repulsed  the  principal  attack  made 
on  that  day  by  the  troops  led  by  General  Clark,  of  Mississippi,  against  the 
right  wing  of  the  Union  forces,  which,  if  successful,  would  have  caused  the 
loss  of  a  large  part  of  our  artillery  and  given  the  enemy  a  most  advantage 
ous  position,  and  might  have  led  to  very  damaging  results. 

The  Union  forces  were  commanded  by  General  Thomas  Williams,  U.  S. 
A.,  a  native  of  Detroit,  and  was  killed  during  the  engagement,  immediately 
after  saying  to  the  21st  Indiana,  "  Boys,  your  field  officers  are  all  gone.  I 
will  lead  you."  His  force  consisted  of  seven  regiments  of  infantry,  viz : 
6th  Michigan,  30th  Massachusetts,  7th  Vermont,  14th  Maine,  21st  Indiana, 
4th  Wisconsin,  and  9th  Connecticut ;  Nims  2d  Massachusetts  battery,  Ev 
erett's  6th  Massachusetts  battery,  Manning's  4th  Massachusetts  battery, 
and  a  section  of  a  battery  taken  by  the  21st  Indiana,  and  attached  to  that 
regiment,  under  command  of  Lieut.  Brown. 

The  enemy's  force  consisted  of  the  4th  and  30th  Louisiana,  two  Mississippi 
regiments,  the  3d,  4th,  5th,  6th,  7th,  and  8th  Kentucky,  two  Tennessee  regi 
ments,  and  one  Alabama  regiment,  with  thirteen  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a 
large  guerilla  force.  Their  attacking  force  numbered  fully  6,000  while  the 
Union  force  engaged  was  not  over  2,000. 

In  this  engagement  the  regiment  fought  by  detachments,  one  commanded 
by  Captain  John  Cordon,  one  on  picket,  under  Captain  Garret  J.  Spitzer, 
and  the  other  commanded  by  Captain  Harrison  Soule. 

The  importance  of  the  repulse  was  acknowledged  by  General  Butler  in  a 
congratulatory  order  issued  soon  after  the  affair,  in  which  the  regiment  was 
highly  complimented  for  its  gallant  and  valuable  services,  conspicuous 
bravery,  and  most  determined  fighting. 

Following  the  battle  of  Baton  Rouge  the  regiment  was  engaged  at  Bayou 
Teche,  January  14th,  and  at  Ponchetoola,  La.,  May  16,  1863. 


334  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

The  regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  Thomas  S.  Clark,  formed  part  of  the 
force  of  General  Banks  which  invested  Fort  Hudson,  and  which  compelled 
its  surrender.  Col.  Clark,  in  a  report,  thus  mentions  the  part  taken  by  his 
regiment  on  that  occasion : 

"  On  the  23d  of  May,  1863,  arriving  before  that  stronghold,  the  regiment 
was  placed  in  the  most  advanced  position,  and  maintained  it  until  the  sur 
render,  on  the  9th  of  July.  During  the  siege  of  this  formidable  place,  it 
participated  in  three  desperate  assaults  upon  its  works.  In  the  assault  of 
the  27th  of  May  the  regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  Clark,  led  the  division 
of  General  T.  W.  Sherman,  and  lost  more  than  one-third  of  the  men  it  had 
engaged,  including  Lieut.  Fred.  T.  Clark,  who  fell  while  gallantly  leading 
company  D  to  the  charge.  In  this  affair  Captain  Montgomery  led  a  forlorn 
hope  of  200  volunteers  belonging  to  the  regiment.  An  assault  was  made 
on  the  14th  of  June,  when  the  6th,  then  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Bacon,  advanced  by  detachments.  The  leading  detachment,  commanded 
by  Captain  John  Cordon,  one  by  Captain  Stark  following,  with  the  balance 
of  the  regiment  bringing  up  the  rear.  On  the  29th  of  June,  the  regiment, 
then  commanded  by  Captain  Cordon,  again  advanced  to  the  assault,  when 
thirty-five  of  the  regiment,  composing  a  forlorn  hope,  assailed  the  enemy's 
works  at  the  point  known  as  the  Citadel.  The  party  succeeded  in  gaining 
the  ditch,  but  were  overpowered  and  driven  back,  with  a  loss  of  8  killed 
and  9  wounded.  Among  the  killed  was  Sergeant  Madison  O.  Walker,  who 
led  the  detachment." 

In  this  desperate  undertaking,  Private  Charles  Dustin,  company  F,  from 
Dundee,  Mich.,  got  over  the  ditch  and  into  the  enemy's  works,  bringing 
out  a  rebel  captain  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  whom  he  delivered  up  to 
the  commanding  officer  of  the  regiment. 

The  conduct  of  the  6th  was  so  gallant  and  efficient  during  the  siege  that 
it  received  the  thanks  of  General  Banks ;  and  on  the  10th  of  July  it  was 
transferred  to  the  artillery  arm  of  the  service  on  account  of  its  faithful  and 
valuable  service. 

This  regiment  was  stationed  at  Port  Hudson,  La.,  until  the  llth  of  March, 
1864,  when  the  requisite  number  having  been  mustered  in  as  Veteran  Vol 
unteers  to  preserve  the  organization,  it  started  for  Michigan.  The  regiment 
arrived  at  Kalamazoo,  where  it  was  furloughed  for  thirty  days.  Having 
again  assembled  at  Kalamazoo,  it  returned  to  Port  Hudson,  where  it  ar 
rived  on  the  llth  of  May,  with  a  very  large  number  of  recruits,  enlisted  while 
in  Michigan.  On  the  6th  of  June  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Morganzia, 
to  serve  as  infantry,  where  it  remained  until  the  24th  of  June.  From  Mor 
ganzia  it  proceeded  to  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  where  it  served  with  the  engineer 
brigade.  Leaving  Vicksburg,  July  23d,  it  moved  to  the  mouth  of  the 
White  River,  and  thence  to  St.  Charles,  Ark.,  where  it  was  attached  to  a 
regiment  of  infantry.  A  detachment  of  the  regiment,  while  on  a  transport 
en  route  from  Vicksburg  to  the  White  River,  was  attacked  by  a  rebel  bat 
tery,  losing  two  killed  and  a  number  wounded.  Remaining  but  a  short 
time  at  St.  Charles,  the  regiment  again  returned  to  Morganzia,  where  for  a 
time  it  was  employed  as  engineers,  but  soon  after  its  arrival  it  was  ordered 
to  report  to  the  chief  of  artillery,  and  again  returned  to  duty  as  heavy  artil 
lery.  The  regiment  was  present  at  the  bombardment  and  surrender  of  Fort 
Morgan,  Ala.,  but  arrived  too  late  to  participate. 

Almost  the  entire  service  of  this  regiment  during  the  war  was  rendered 
in  the  extreme  Southern  States,  and  on  the  1st  of  November,  1864,  it  was 
stationed  in  Alabama,  and  garrisoned,  with  its  headquarters  and  compa 
nies  A,  B,  D,  G,  and  K,  at  Fort  Morgan,  and  Fort  Gaines,  Dauphine 


THE  SIXTH  INFANTRY.  335 

Island,  Mobile  Bay,  with  companies  C,  E,  F,  H,  and  I.  Companies  B,  C, 
E,  F,  and  H  were  detached  on  the  23d  of  December,  and  joined  an  expe 
dition  under  Major-General  Gordon  Granger,  to  operate  from  Pensacola 
against  Mobile,  and  were  temporarily  attached,  as  infantry,  to  the  brigade 
of  General  Bertram,  which  led  the  advance,  and  so  remained  until  the 
campaign  was  advanced  from  Mobile  Point  and  Pensacola,  on  the  27th  of 
January,  1865,  when  Bertram's  command  made  a  heavy  demonstration  on 
Mobile,  the  whole  command  being  recalled  at  night  and  hurriedly  trans 
ferred  to  the  advancing  force  from  the  East,  the  detached  companies  of  this 
regiment  being  ordered  to  their  former  stations  in  Forts  Morgan  and  Gaines. 
On  the  31st  of  March  companies  A  and  K  were  detached  from  the  com 
mand  at  Fort  Morgan,  and  ordered  to  the  front,  to  report  to  Gen.  Granger, 
and  were  each  equipped  with  a  battery  of  10-inch  mortars,  and  on  their 
arrival  at  the  front  were  ordered  into  position  under  the  guns  of  Spanish 
Fort;  there  they  did  very  fine  execution  at  a  range  of  1,400  yards.  After 
the  fort  was  taken,  these  companies  were  ordered  to  man  and  turn  the  heavy 
captured  guns,  consisting  of  7-inch  Brooks'  rifled  and  100-pound  Parrotts, 
on  the  rebel  Forts  Huger  and  Tracy,  and  with  them  performed  good  ser 
vice  until  all  the  enemy's  works  within  range  were  reduced,  and  Mobile 
surrendered. 

On  the  9th  of  July  following  the  regiment  took  steamers  for  New  Orleans, 
and  on  the  20th  of  August  was  mustered  out  of  service. 

In  General  Butler's  order  is  found  the  following  paragraphs  : 

"The  commanding  General  has  carefully  revised  the  official  reports  of 
the  action  of  August  5th,  at  Baton  Rouge,  to  collect  the  evidence  of  the 
gallant  deeds  and  meritorious  services  of  those  engaged  in  that  brilliant 
victory. 

"  The  name  of  the  lamented  and  gallant  General  Williams  has  already 
passed  into  history. 

"The  6th  Michigan  fought  rather  by  detachments  than  as  a  regiment, 
but  deserves  the  fullest  commendation  for  the  gallant  behavior  of  its  offi 
cers  and  men.  Companies  A,  B,  and  F,  under  command  of  Captain  Cor 
don,  receive  special  mention  for  the  coolness  and  courage  with  which  they 
supported  and  retook  Brown's  battery,  routing  the  4th  Louisiana  and  cap 
turing  their  colors,  which  the  regiment  has  leave  to  send  to  its  native 
State. 

"Captain  Charles  E.  Clark,  acting  Lieutenant-Colonel  6th  Michigan, 
prevented  the  enemy  from  flanking  our  right,  bringing  his  command  at 
the  critical  moment  to  the  support  of  Kim's  battery.  Lieutenant  Howell, 
company  F,  6th  Michigan,  and  Lieutenant  A.  T.  Ralph,  acting  adjutant, 
for  iutrepedity ;  Captain  Spitzey,  6th  Michigan,  in  command  of  the  com 
pany  of  pickets,  who  handsomely  held  in  check  the  enemy's  advance ;  the 
fearless  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Howell,  company  F,  and  Sergeant  Thayer, 
company  A,  6th  Michigan  regiment,  after  they  were  wounded,  in  support 
ing  Lieutenant  Brown's  battery. 

"  Captain  Soule  and  Lieutenant  Fassett,  company  I,  6th  Michigan,  as 
skirmishers, .were  wounded,  and  deserve  special  notice  for  the  steadiness  of 
their  command,  which  lost  heavily  in  killed  and  wounded." 

Lieutenant  G.  Weitzel,  (afterwards  Major-General,)  then  Chief  Engineer 
Department  of  the  Gulf,  and  present  with  the  troops  in  the  engagement, 
says  in  his  official  report :  "  Three  companies  of  the  6th  Michigan  covered 
themselves  with  glory  in  recovering  from  a  large  force  two  guns,  posted  on 
the  right  of  the  Magnolia  Cemetery,  which  temporarily  were  left  by  our 


336  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

forces.     These  same  three  companies  captured  the  colors  of  the  4th  Louis 
iana,  but  only  after  they  had  shot  down  four  successive  color-bearers." 

NOTE. — Mr.  Greeley,  in  his  reliable  "  American  Conflict,"  says  of  the  operations  at 
Port  Hudson,  May  27,  1863  :  "  Never  was  fighting  more  heroic  than  that  of  our  army, 
assailing  nearly  equal  numbers  behind  strong  defences,  approached  only  through  almost 
impassable  abatis,  swept  by  rebel  shell  and  grape.  If  valor  could  have  triumphed  over 
such  odds,  they  would  have  carried  the  works  ;  but  only  abject  cowardice  or  pitiable 
imbecility  couli  have  lost  such  a  position  to  so  small  an  army;  and  the  rebels  also 
fought  well." 

In  the  valuable  work,  the  "  American  Encyclopedia,"  is  found  the  following  notice  of 
the  same  affair:  "  At  2  o'clock  A.  M.  (27th)  an  assault  was  commenced  on  the  works 
on  the  centre  and  left  of  the  centre  by  the  divisions  under  General  Augur  and  Brig. 
General  Sherman,  (T.  W.)  The  enemy  was  driven  into  his  works  and  the  Federal 
troops  moved  up  to  the  fortifications,  holding  the  opposite  side  of  the  parapet  with  the 
enemy." 

At  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson  the  6th  was  under  the  command  of  General  T.  W.  Sher 
man,  so  prominently  engaged  on  May  28th,  and  which  consisted  of  the  6th  Michigan  H. 
Artillery,  2nd  (Duryea's)  Zouaves,  128th  and  147th  regiments  N.  Y.  Infantry,  with  the 
26th  Conn.  Infantry,  and  21st  Indiana  and  2nd  Vermont  Batteries. 

An  officer  serving  at  the  time  with  the  rebel  army  in  Port  Hudson,  in  his  diary  says 
of  that  day's  work  :  "  About  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  attack  was  made  in  the 
woods  on  Co).  Steadman's  (rebel)  centre,  and  upon  the  line  of  fortifications  on  General 
Beall's  right.  The  latter  attack,  that  of  Sherman's  brigade,  was  the  most  imposing  in 
appearance.  Emerging  from  the  woods  at  the  distance  of  about  four  hundred  yards 
from  our  breastworks,  the  Zouave  regiment  charged  in  line  of  battle  across  an  open 
field.  The  gay  colors  of  their  uniforms  contrasted  brilliantly  with  the  green  and  som 
bre  shades  of  the  trees  and  field,  making  a  fine  mark  for  our  fire.  As  soon  as  they  ap 
peared  in  sight  our  artillery  opened  on  them  with  spherical  case,  many  of  them  burst 
ing  right  in  their  ranks,  but  the  gaps  were  quickly  closed  up,  and  they  came  on  in 
splendid  style.  As  they  lessened  the  distance,  our  gunners  substituted  grape  for  shrap 
nel!,  and  when  they  finally  came  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  our  guns  were 
double-charged  with  canister,  and  the  infantry  receiving  the  order  at  the  same  time  to 
fire,  the  field  was  swept  with  a  storm  of  musket  balls  and  grape-shot. 

"The  advancing  line  of  Zouaves  wavered  and  then  halted,  while  they  were  dropping 
from  the  ranks,  mown  down  by  our  deadly  fire,  which  now  became  an  incessant  rattle 
of  musketry,  intermingled  with  rapid  discharges  of  canister  from  the  guns. 

"  The  Zouaves,  after  wavering  for  a  while  in  indecision,  finally  broke  and  scattered, 
most  of  the  men  throwing  themselves  flat  on  the  ground  behind  stumps,  logs  and  ine 
qualities  of  the  ground  where  they  now  commenced  sharp-shooting.  *  *  * 

"As  soon  as  the  Zouaves  broke,  Sherman's  brigade  came  out  of  the  woods  in  column, 
and  played  to  the  right  and  left  in  line  of  battle,  as  prettily  as  if  they  were  on  drill, 
Our  artillerists  again  had  recourse  to  shell  and  shrapnell,  and  the  infantry  opened  on 
this  advance  sooner  than  before.  Their  charge  was  a  good  one,  and  had  the  advantage 
of  the  Zouave  line  of  Sharp-shooters,  some  of  whom  were  within  a  hundred  yards  of 
our  works,  and  whose  Minie  balls  were  whistling  over  our  parapet. 

"  But  our  men,  though  opposed  by  an  enemy  ten  times  their  number,  kept  up  a  with 
ering  fire,  and  after  the  brigade  had  approached  a  little  nearer  than  the  Zouaves  had 
done,  it  finally  hesitated  and  wavered.  At  this  sure  precursor  to  a  repulse,  our  boys 
sent  up  a  shout  of  triumph  for  the  victory  they  now  saw  certain.  The  enemy's  officers 
and  many  of  the  men  ran  ahead  of  the  line  and  urged  the  others  on,  but  in  vain  ;  their 
confidence  in  themselves  was  gone.  Some  of  them,  in  the  hopes  of  inspiring  others, 
started  a  cheer,  but  it  died  away  in  a  weakly  strain,  and,  the  rear  rank  giving  way,  the 
front  rank  turned  also,  and  the  whole,  force  made  for  the  woods  to  the  sound  of  our 
ringing  cheers.  At  the  woods  they  rallied  and  reforming  their  line  under  our  artillery 
fire  they  again  charged.  It  was  useless  ;  we  knew  that  troops  we  had  once  driven  back 
so  far  would  not  succeed  on  a  second  trial  under  similar  circumstances.  After  coming 
within  fifty  or  sixty  yards  of  where  they  first  broke,  they  wavered  again  and  speedily 
broke  and  ran  thoroughly  defeated." 

THE  SEVENTH  INFANTRY. 

The  7th  Michigan— the  gallant  forlorn-hope  regiment  at  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg — was  recruited  and  organized  under  the  direction  of  Col- 


THE  SEVENTH  INFANTRY.  337 

onel  Ira  R.  Grosvenor,  at  Monroe,  and  leaving  that  point  for  the  field  on 
the  5th  of  September,  1861,  first  encountered  the  enemy  in  the  affair  at 
Ball's  Bluff,  Va.,  October  21st  following,  where,  in  command  of  that  offi 
cer,  it  gained  credit  even  in  that  disastrous  engagement.  It  afterwards 
moved  with  McClellan  to  the  Peninsula,  and  endured  the  hardships  and 
disappointments  of  that  barren  campaign,  participating  in  common  in  its 
victories  and  defeats,  but  always  with  much  credit,  and  had  the  honor  to 
serve  in  the  rear-guard  of  the  army  on  the  retreat  to  Harrison's  Landing. 

It  also  took  part  in  the  Maryland  actions.  At  the  battle  of  Antietam 
it  is  reported  to  have  lost  more  than  half  its  force  engaged,  including  Cap 
tain  Allen  H.  Zaeharias,  who  died  of  his  wounds  on  January  1st  following, 
and  among  the  killed  were  Captain  J.  H.  Turrill,  Lieutenant  J.  P.  Eber- 
hard,  and  Lieutenant  John  A.  Clark. 

But  one  of  the  great  feats  of  the  war,  than  which  none  will  appear 
brighter  in  history,  was  reserved  for  the  7th  at  Fredericksburg,  on  Decem 
ber  11,  1862,  when  Burnside  concluded  to  cross  the  Rappahannock  and 
attack  the  rebels  in  that  stronghold.  The  upper  pontoon  had  been  laid 
part  of  the  way  by  the  engineers  during  the  night  of  the  10th.  Daylight 
exposed  them  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  sharp-shooters,  which  drove  them 
off.  Volunteers  were  called  for  to  cross  the  river  and  gain  a  position  to 
protect  the  laying  of  the  bridge.  Immediately  the  7th  Michigan,  under 
the  gallant  Baxter,  rushed  to  the  boats,  crossed  the  stream  in  full  view  of 
both  armies,  under  a  most  terrific  fire  from  the  enemy's  sharp-shooters, 
losing  heavily,  but  vigorously  charging  the  rebels  on  the  opposite  bank, 
drove  them  from  their  rifle-pits,  taking  a  number  of  prisoners  and  holding 
the  ground.  Colonel  Baxter,  having  fallen  severely  wounded,  recrossed 
the  river,  while  the  regiment,  with  the  19th  and  20th  Massachusetts,  which 
had  crossed  by  the  second  trip  of  the  boats,  dashed  up  the  hill  into  the 
city,  driving  the  enemy  from  house  to  house,  and  from  stronghold  to  strong 
hold,  capturing  nearly  as  many  prisoners  as  the  regiment  numbered,  and 
inflicting  a  severe  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  while  their  own  loss  was 
also  heavy,  including  among  the  killed  Lieutenant  Franklin  Emery, 
of  the  7th  Michigan.  The  river  thus  protected,  the  laying  of  the  pontoons 
was  speedily  accomplished,  on  which  Burnside  crossed  a  portion  of  his 
army. 

Engaging  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  Pennsylvania  campaign, 
this  regiment  underwent  the  laborious  and  forced  marches  by  which  it  was 
marked, 'rendered  more  arduous  by  the  intense  heat  of  the  weather.  On 
the  27th  of  June  the  regiment  was  detailed  as  wagon  guard  at  7.45  A.  M., 
marched  by  a  circuitous  route  to  near  Urbana,  Md.,  where  it  halted  at  3 
A.  M.,  on  the  28th,  a  distance  said  by  citizens  to  have  been  thirty-seven 
miles ;  on  the  28th  it  marched  six  miles  to  Monocacy.  On  the  29th  it 
marched  at  9  A.  M.,  and  reached  Uniontown  at  9  P.  M.,  thirty-miles  in 
twelve  hours ;  thus,  in  three  days,  marching  seventy-five  miles.  The  regi 
ment  arrived  on  the  field  at  Gettysburg  on  the  2d  of  July  and  was  imme 
diately  sent  to  the  front  on  Cemetery  Hill,  having  fourteen  officers  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty-one  men.  It  occupied  the  same  position  until  the  close 
of  the  battle  on  the  3d.  The  loss  of  the  regiment  at  Gettysburg  was  twenty- 
one  killed  and  forty-four  wounded.  Among  the  killed  were  Lieut.  Colonel 
Amos  E.  Steele,  commanding  the  regiment,  and  Lieut.  Albert  Slafter,  both 
gallant  officers. 

Entering  on  the  campaign  of  1864,  it  is  found  in  command  of  Major  S. 
W.  Curtis,  crossing  the  Rapidan  at  Ely's  Ford  on  May  4th  and  on  the  5th 
becoming  engaged  at  the  Wilderness,  with  small  loss.  On  the  6th  it  lost 


338  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

eight  killed,  thirty-eight  wounded,  and  eight  missing.  On  the  8th  it  moved 
to  the  left,  near  Po  river,  and  on  the  9th  crossed.  On  the  10th  it  was  ex 
posed  to  a  severe  fire  from  sharp-shooters,  losing  four  wounded,  and  on  the 
same  day,  in  an  assault  on  the  enemy's  works  on  the  right,  at  Spottsylvania 
Court-house,  it  lost  five  killed  and  eight  wounded.  On  the  llth  it  lost  three 
wounded.  On  the  12th  the  7th  took  part  in  Hancock's  charge  on  the  left 
of  the  enemy's  line,  in  which  its  casualties  were  eleven  wounded.  On  the 
13th  it  lost  three  killed  and  ten  wounded.  Withdrawing  with  the  army 
from  in  front  of  the  enemy's  works  at  Spottsylvania  Court-house,  the  regi 
ment  arrived  at  the  North  Anna  river  on  the  23d,  and  was  engaged  as  skir 
mishers  on  the  24th  at  Chesterfield  Ford,  where  the  regiment  lost  one  killed 
and  three  wounded,  including  Lieut.  Charles  Oakley  mortally,  who  died  on 
the  next  day.  On  the  26th  it  was  employed  in  the  rear  guard  of  the  army, 
in  the  flank  movement  of  the  latter  across  the  Pamunkey  river,  arriving  at 
the  Tolopotamy  creek  on  the  28th.  On  the  30th  and  31st  of  May  and  1st 
of  June  it  was  engaged  as  skirmishers,  with  a  loss  of  six  killed  and  nine 
wounded.  On  the  1st  the  regiment  again  served  as  rear  guard  for  the  army 
in  the  movement  to  Cold  Harbor,  and  on  the  3d,  in  a  charge  on  the  enemy's 
works,  lost  two  killed  and  fourteen  wounded.  From  the  3d  to  the  10th  its 
casualties  were  one  killed  and  twelve  wounded.  It  crossed  the  James  river 
with  the  army  and  arrived  in  front  of  Petersburg  on  the  evening  of  the  15th. 
From  this  date  to  the  25th  of  July  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  labor  on 
the  fortifications  and  on  picket,  losing  three  killed  and  twenty  wounded. 
The  regiment,  like  the  other  Michigan  regiments  in  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,  had  gone  gallantly  through  the  forced  marches  and  hardships  of  the 
campaign,  and  now,  with  equal  fortitude,  it  endured  with  them  the  labors 
in  the  trenches  before  Petersburg.  On  the  27th  the  7th,  with  its  corps, 
crossed  the  James  river  at  Deep  Bottom,  but  on  the  29th  returned  to  its 
former  position  before  Petersburg,  having  lost  during  the  movement  two 
men  wounded.  It  remained  here  employed  in  fatigue  and  picket  duty  until 
August  12th,  when  it  again  moved  to  Deep  Bottom,  and  on  the  14th  and 
17th  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Strawberry  Plains  and  Flussier's  Mill, 
losing  three  killed  and  eleven  wounded ;  Lieut.  Harty  S.  Felt  mortally,  who 
died  on  the  24th  following.  On  the  20th  the  regiment  returned  to 
near  Petersburg.  On  the  25th  it  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Ream's  Sta 
tion,  on  the  Weldon  railroad ;  its  casualties  in  this  action  being  one  killed, 
four  wounded,  and  eight  missing. 

Passing  through  the  various  campaigns  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  ac 
quitting  itself  nobly  in  every  battle  in  which  it  became  engaged,  the  regi 
ment  is  found  on  the  26th  of  October,  1864,  in  the  hottest  of  the  fight  at 
Hatcher's  Run,  near  Burgess'  Farm  and  Boydton  Plank  Road,  where  its 
corps,  the  2d,  was  heavily  engaged,  and  in  which  the  7th  Michigan,  then 
only  eighty-five  strong  took  twenty  officers  and  four  hundred  and  eighty  men 
prisoners,  while  Sergeant  Alonzo  Smith,  (afterwards  first  lieutenant,)  cap 
tured  the  colors  of  the  26th  North  Carolina  infantry,  for  which  he  was  pre 
sented  with  a  medal  of  honor  by  the  Secretary  of  War.  Through  some 
misunderstanding  the  7th  was  left  on  the  line  after  the  Union  troops  were 
withdrawn,  and  remained  in  that  condition  until  the  morning  of  the  28th, 
when  Col.  Lapointe,  then  in  command,  finding  that  his  regiment  had  been 
left  alone  on  the  field,  formed  his  men  and  explained  to  them  their  perilous 
situation,  telling  them  to  stand  by  him  and  they  could  find  their  way  out. 
They  commenced  at  once  their  dangerous  undertaking,  marching  12  miles 
through  the  country  held  by  the  enemy,  gallantly  fighting  their  way  at 
almost  every  step,  pursued  and  harassed  constantly  by  cavalry  threatening 


THE  SEVENTH  INFANTRY.  339 

to  cut  them  off,  but  they  arrived  safe  within  our  lines  at  sundown  of  the 
same  day.  Gen.  Hancock,  their  corps  commander,  complimented  the  regi 
ment  highly  on  the  occasion,  and  characterized  the  undertaking  as  one  of 
the  most  praiseworthy  and  daring  of  the  war. 

On  April  2d,  1865,  the  regiment,  together  with  details  from  the  1st  Min 
nesota  and  19th  Massachusetts,  charged  the  enemy's  works  at  Cat  Tail 
Creek,  capturing  two  forts  and  three  guns,  then  sweeping  down  the  line, 
captured  five  other  forts,  well  defended  by  infantry,  and  during  the  day 
taking  about  five  hundred  prisoners  and  several  horses.  The  regiment  is 
reported  to  have  been  the  first  to  break  the  rebel  lines  in  front  of  the  2d 
corps.  After  marching  with  the  division  to  the  rear  of  Petersburg,  the 
regiment  was  deployed  as  skirmishers  up  the  South  Side  railroad,  in  ad 
vance  of  the  division,  taking  many  prisoners  and  contrabands,  and  cap 
turing  great  numbers  of  horses  and  mules.  On  April  3d  it  marched  ten 
miles,  continuing  the  march  on  the  4th  and  5th ;  on  the  6th  it  received 
orders  to  report  to  General  Smith,  and  was  put  in  the  advance  of  the  skir 
mish  line  of  the  3d  brigade,  taking  a  number  of  prisoners  during  the  day, 
and  at  9  P.  M.  rejoined  the  division,  having  marched  about  thirty  miles. 
On  the  morning  of  the  7th  it  marched  with  its  brigade,  until  near  High 
Bridge,  in  the  vicinity  of  Farmville,  when,  together  with  the  59th  New 
York,  it  was  deployed  as  skirmishers  to  cover  the  front  and  flanks  of  the 
brigade,  and  moving  on  the  enemy,  it  participated  in  capturing  many  pris 
oners,  advancing  to  within  half  a  mile  of  Farmville,  when  the  enemy, 
throwing  a  heavy  column  of  infantry  and  cavalry  on  the  right  and  rear  of 
the  skirmish  line,  its  connection  with  the  brigade  was  cut  off;  but  as  soon 
as  the  advance  on  its  rear  was  discovered,  the  skirmish  line  was  faced  to 
the  rear,  and  charged  the  advancing  force  ;  but  the  enemy  being  superior 
in  numbers,  the  line  was  repulsed,  the  regiment  losing  three  officers  and 
thirty-four  men  prisoners,  including  one  officer  severely  wounded.  In  the 
afternoon  the  regiment  was  relieved  from  the  front,  and  rejoined  its  brigade. 
On  the  8th  the  march  was  continued  until  12  P.  M.,  and  on  the  9th 
marched  about  five  miles,  when  General  Lee's  army  surrendered. 

There  was  found  in  the  pocket-book  of  Captain  Zacharias  a  note,  dated 
Fair  Oaks,  June  28,  1862,  and  is  as  follows  : 

"Allen  Howard  Zacharias  was  born  May  15,  1833,  in  Clear  Spring, 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  and  removed  with  his  father  to  Monroe 
county,  Michigan,  in  1841.  Graduated  A.B.  from  the  University  of 
Michigan,  June,  1860.  Went  to  Mississippi  in  September,  and  became  a 
professor,  and  in  February,  1861,  principal  of  the  State  Military  Institute, 
at  Brandon,  in  that  State.  Resigned  his  position  in  May,  and  returned  to 
Michigan,  when,  from  a  solemn  sense  of  duty,  enlisted  as  a  corporal,  and 
was  promoted  first  lieutenant  June  25th,  and  to  a  captaincy  March  10, 
1862 ;  was  with  the  regiment  at  Yorktown,  West  Point,  and  Fair  Oaks, 
May  31st  and  June  1st." 

Upon  the  other  side  of  the  paper  was  found  the  following : 

"  FRIEND  :  If  you  find  my  body  lifeless  upon  the  field,  bury  it  decently, 
mark  its  resting  place,  and  inform  my  friends  in  the  regiment  and  my 
father.  Do  this,  and  you  shall  be  liberally  rewarded,  and  have  the  grati 
tude  of  my  friends. 

(Signed)  A.  H.  ZACHARIAS, 

"Captain,  Company  K,  7th  Michigan.'' 

He  did  not  fall  on  the  retreat  to  James  river,  but  fell  in  Maryland,  the 
place  of  his  nativity,  and  near  the  spot  on  which  he  first  saw  the  light.  In 


340  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

his  hand,  while  laying  on  the  bloody  field,  was  found  an  old  envelope, 
written  over  as  follows  : 

"  To  Peter  K.  Zacharias,  Monroe,  Michigan : 

"DEAR  PARENT,  BROTHERS,  AND  SISTERS:  I  am  wounded — mortally, 
I  think.  The  fight  rages  around  me.  I  have  done  my  duty  ;  this  is  my 
consolation.  I  hope  to  meet  you  all  again.  I  left  not  the  line  until  nearly 
all  had  fallen,  and  colors  gone.  I  am  getting  weak ;  my  arms  are  free,  but 
below  my  chest  all  is  numb.  The  enemy  trotting  over  me ;  the  numbness 
up  to  my  heart.  Good-bye,  all. 

''Your  son,  ALLEN." 

He  was  found  and  conveyed  to  a  field  hospital,  and  the  scrap  sent  to  his 
friends  by  a  kind-hearted  private  of  the  4th  Maine  battery.  Being  so  near 
the  place  of  his  nativity,  he  was  soon  found  by  friends — Mr.  Joseph  B. 
Loose,  of  Hagerstown  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Zacharias,  his  uncle,  from  Frederick ; 
Rev.  J.  S.  Loose,  of  Greencastle,  Penna.,  and  conveyed  to  the  house  of  Mr. 
Loose,  of  Hagerstown,  where  he  was  joined  the  next  day  by  his  sister 
Kate,  who  was  visiting  in  Reading,  Penna.,  and  in  a  short  time  by  his 
father.  But  they  could  not  save  him.  His  body  was  brought  home  to 
Michigan  for  interment,  and  on  the  3d  of  January  was  placed  by  the  side 
of  his  mother,  in  the  cemetery  of  the  German  Reform  Church  in  Ida,  Mon 
roe  county,  Michigan. 

Lieutenant  John  J.  Brown  died  at  Alexandria,  October  2,  1863,  of 
wounds  received  on  picket,  September  18,  1863. 

THE  EIGHTH  INFANTRY. 

The  8th  infantry,  recruited  by  Col.  \V.  M.  Fenton,  of  Flint,  might  well 
be  designated  as  the  wandering  or  itinerant  regiment  of  Michigan,  leaving 
the  State  on  the  27th  of  September,  1861,  commanded  by  that  officer,  for  the 
field  in  Virginia.  It  embarked  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  as  part  of  the  expedition 
to  Hilton  Head,  under  Gen.  T.  W.  Sherman.  Down  to  November  1,  1862, 
it  had  been  engaged  in  nine  battles,  occurring  in  four  different  States,  South 
Carolina,  Georgia,  Virginia,  and  Maryland,  and  afterwards  served  in  the 
various  campaigns  of  the  9th  corps  in  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  and,  down  to  the 
close  of  the  war,  in  Virginia.  This  brave  and  patriotic  regiment  com 
menced  its  battles  at  Port  Royal,  S.  C.,  November  7,  1861,  and  was  engaged 
most  creditably  in  several  others  from  that  time  to  April  16,  1862,  when 
it  became  specially  noted  in  the  spirited  engagement  on  the  reconnoisance 
made  from  on  board  the  steamer  Honduras  by  Col.  Fenton,  at  Wilmington 
Island,  Ga.,  on  that  day,  where,  after  landing  from  the  boats,  it  encountered 
the  13th  Georgia,  about  800  strong,  armed  with  Enfield  rifles,  and  drove 
them  from  the  field  in  confusion,  with  loss,  and  leaving  their  dead  on  the 
ground.  The  object  of  the  reconnoisance  having  been  effected,  the  regi 
ment,  about  dark,  re-embarked  on  board  the  steamer.  Its  loss,  out  of  a 
force  of  300  men,  were  10  killed  and  35  wounded.  Here  fell  two  gallant 
officers,  Adjutant  N.  Minor  Pratt,  killed  instantly,  and  Lieutenant  Fred 
erick  M.  Badger,  who  died  of  his  wounds  at  Beaufort,  S.  C.,  three  days  after 
the  battle. 

On  June  16th  following  it  was  most  signally  distinguished  in  the  assault 
made  upon  the  enemy's  works  at  Secessionville,  on  James  Island,  S.  C.,  by 
a  command  of  General  Hunter's  forces,  under  General  B.enham.  The  direct 
attack  was  made  by  General  Stevens  with  the  brigade  led  by  Col.  Fenton, 
and  composed  of  the  8th  Michigan,  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Frank 


THE  EIGHTH  INFANTRY.  341 

Graves,  7th  Connecticut,  and  28th  Massachusetts,  and  the  brigade  of  Col. 
Leisure,  comprising  the  79th  New  York  Highlanders,  46th  New  York,  100th 
Pennsylvania,  and  four  detached  companies  of  artillery.  At  first  break  of 
day  the  entire  command  was  in  motion,  with  strict  orders  to  maintain  most 
perfect  silence,  and  to  rely  exclusively  on  the  bayonet — to  resort  to  firing 
only  in  case  of  manifest  necessity.  The  force  pressed  forward,  surprising 
and  capturing  the  enemy's  pickets  and  advanced  promptly  in  line  of  battle 
without  firing  a  gun  to  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  works, 
when  it  received  his  fire  of  grape  and  canister,  in  advancing  over  the 
narrow  strip  of  dry  land,  not  over  two  hundred  yards  wide,  between  the 
marshes,  being  the  only  route  by  which  the  works  could  be  reached,  and 
that  obstructed  by  an  almost  insuperable  abatis,  while  the  works  were  pro 
tected  by  a  ditch  seven  feet  deep,  and  having  a  parapet  nine  feet  high. 

The  8th  Michigan  being  in  the  direct  advance,  immediately  supported 
by  the  Highlanders,  was  completely  swept  by  grape  and  canister  at  close 
range  from  six  guns  on  the  works,  as  well  as  by  their  musketry.  Under 
this  dreadful  and  destructive  fire,  and  in  defiance  of  these  formidable  de 
fences,  parties  composed  of  officers  and  men  from  the  8th  Michigan  and 
79th  New  York  succeeded  in  gaining  the  parapet,  but  were  shot  down  in 
the  act;  and,  finally  the  assaulting  force  finding  it  impossible  to  carry  the 
works  had  to  withdraw.  In  Col.  Teuton's  report,  covering  the  part  taken 
by  his  brigade  in  the  affair,  is  found  the  following : 

"  The  order  not  to  fire,  but  use  the  bayonet,  was  obeyed,  and  the  advance 
companies  reached  the  parapet  of  the  works  at  the  angle  on  our  right  and 
front,  engaging  the  enemy  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  During  our  advance 
the  enemy  opened  upon  our  lines  an  exceedingly  destructive  fire  of  grape, 
canister,  and  musketry,  and  yet  the  regiment  pushed  on  as  veterans,  divided 
only  to  the  right  and  left  by  a  sweeping  torrent  from  the  enemy's  main  gun 
in  front.  The  enemy's  fire  proved  so  galling  and  destructive  that  our  men 
on  the  parapet  were  obliged  to  retire  under  its  cover.  The  field  was  fur 
rowed  across  with  cotton  ridges,  and  many  of  the  men  lay  there  loading  and 
firing  as  deliberately  as  though  on  their  hunting  grounds  at  home." 

This  was  one  of  the  most  dashing  assaults  of  the  war,  but  made  at  a  dis 
tressing  sacrifice  of  life,  the  8th  Michigan  losing  185  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing  out  of  534,  including  12  out  of  22  officers.  Captains  Simeon  C. 
Gould  and  Benjamin  B.  Church  here  fell  mortally  wounded,  while  bravely 
doing  their  duty;  officers  possessing  great  courage  and  true  patriotism. 

After  the  engagement  at  James  Island,  the  9th  corps  joined  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  in  the  Pope  campaign,  and  the  8th  was  in  the  battles  at  Bull 
Kun,  August  29th  and  30th,  and  at  Chantilly  on  September  1st,  losing 
heavily,  including  Lieut.  W.  A.  Brown  among  the  severely  wounded,  of  the 
1st,  causing  his  death  during  that  month. 

Immediately  following  these  engagements  the  8th,  with  its  corps,  entered 
upon  the  Maryland  campaign,  and  was  conspicuously  a  participant  in  these 
important  affairs. 

The  regiment  took  a  part  in  the  campaigns  of  the  9th  corps  in  Mississippi 
and  East  Tennessee  in  1863,  and  participated  in  the  advance  of  General 
Sherman  on  Jackson,  Miss.,  becoming  engaged  at  that  place  on  the  10th 
and  16th  of  June,  but  without  serious  loss. 

From  the  1st  to  the  14th  of  November,  1863,  the  8th  infantry  was  en 
camped  at  Lenoir  Station,  East  Tennessee.  The  rebels,  under  General 
Longstreet,  having  commenced  their  advance  on  Knoxville,  the.  8th,  wTith 
other  forces,  were  ordered  on  the  14th  to  Hough's  Ferry,  on  the  Holston 
river,  but  during  the  night  returned  to  Lenoir  Station,  and  on  the  16th 


342  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

commenced  the  retreat  to  Knoxville.  Being  rapidly  followed  by  the  enemy, 
a  stand  was  made  at  Campbell's  Station.  A  brisk  engagement  ensued,  in 
which  the  loss  of  the  regiment  was  eleven  in  wounded.  The  pursuit  of  the 
rebels  was  here  checked,  but  during  the  night  the  retreat  was  continued, 
the  regiment  arriving  at  Knoxville  on  the  morning  of  the  17th.  During 
the  retreat  to  Knoxville,  and  the  siege  of  that  place,  which  was  immediately 
commenced  by  the  rebel  forces,  the  regiment  endured  many  hardships  and 
privations,  suffering  especially  from  want  of  sufficient  food  and  proper 
clothing.  The  8th,  during  the  entire  siege,  occupied  the  front  line  of  works. 
On  the  29th  of  November  the  regiment  assisted  to  repel  the  assault  of  the 
rebels  on  Fort  Sanders,  the  enemy  being  driven  off  with  large  loss.  On  the 
5th  of  December  the  rebels  withdrew  from  in  front  of  Knoxville,  and  the 
8th  engaged  in  the  pursuit  as  far  as  Rutledge,  but  on  the  16th  returned  to 
Blain's  Cross-roads,  where  it  encamped. 

On  the  4th  of  May  the  regiment  commenced  the  campaign  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  in  its  advance  on  Richmond,  crossing  the  Rapidan  at  Ger- 
mania  Ford  on  the  5th.  The  8th  was  prominently  engaged  during  the 
advance  in  the  Wilderness,  and  lost  many  brave  men.  On  the  6th  its  casu 
alties  were  ninety-nine  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  including  its  com 
mander  Colonel  Frank  Graves,  a  gallant  young  officer  of  much  promise, 
who  fell  by  wounds  while  commanding  his  regiment,  and  was  brutally  mur 
dered  by  rebels  because  he  would  not  submit  to  indignity  and  robbery  at 
their  hands.  On  the  8th  the  regiment,  then  commanded  by  Colonel  Ralph 
Ely,  marched  through  Chaucellorsville  to  Spottsylvauia  Court-house,  and 
on  the  12th  participated  in  the  heavy  assault  oil  the  enemy's  entrenchments 
at  that  point,  losing  forty-nine  officers  and  men,  among  the  killed  being 
Lieutenant  Edgar  A.  Nye.  In  the  attack  on  the  rebel  lines  at  Bethesda 
Church,  near  Cold  Harbor  on  June  3d,  it  was  hotly  engaged,  and  lost  an 
aggregate  of  fifty-two,  including  among  the  killed  Major  W.  E.  Lewis.  The 
regiment  took  part  in  the  attacks  on  the  works  before  Petersburg  on  the 
17th  and  18th  of  June,  losing  forty-nine,  Lieutenant  Thomas  Campbell 
being  among  the  killed  of  the  17th.  These  three  officers  who  lost  their 
lives  in  the  battles  of  their  country  were  highly  esteemed  in  their  regiment 
for  their  many  soldierly  qualities  and  moral  worth.  On  the  30th  of  July 
it  was  in  the  engagement  following  the  explosion  of  the  mine,  losing  thirteen 
in  killed  and  wounded.  On  the  19th  of  August  it  participated  in  the 
repulse  of  the  enemy's  assault  on  our  lines  at  the  Weldon  road,  sustaining 
a  loss  of  thirty  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  Here  fell  the  gallant  Major 
Belcher,  a  brave,  honest,  and  patriotic  soldier.  On  the  30th  it  crossed  the 
Weldon  road,  and  took  a  part  in  the  engagement  of  that  date,  near  Poplar 
Grove  Church,  sustaining  a  loss  of  eight  wounded. 

The  regiment,  while  in  command  of  Major  R.  N.  Doyle,  also  distinguished 
itself  most  conspicuously  on  the  2d  of  April,  1865,  in  front  of  Petersburg, 
when  it  engaged  in  the  assault  upon  the  enemy's  position  at  Port  Mahon, 
where  it  took  part  in  carrying  the  works  at  that  point,  and  is  claimed  to 
have  been  one  of  the  first  regiments  to  place  its  colors  on  that  rebel  strong 
hold,  and  was  among  the  first  troops  to  enter  Petersburg.  In  this  affair  it 
lost  Capt.  Henry  B.  Burritt,  who  was  killed  during  the  assault. 

The  following  is  the  report  of  Colonel  Fen  ton  of  the  operations  of  his 
regiment  at  Wilmington  Island,  where  it  was  specially  engaged  and  lost 
heavily :  and  in  reading  it,  as  well  as  the  various  other  official  reports 
contained  in  this  volume,  the  people  of  Michigan  cannot  but  be  proud  of 
the  record  which  was  made  by  their  troops  upon  the  battle-fields  of  the 
Union : 


THE  EIGHTH  INFANTRY.  343 

HEADQUARTERS  STH  REGIMENT  MICHIGAN  VOLS., 
(ON  BOARD  STEAMER  HONDURAS,) 

OFF  WILMINGTON  ISLAND,  GA.,  11  O'CLOCK  P.  M., 

April  16,  1862. 
Lieut.  W.  L.  M.  BURGER, 

Acting  Assistant  Adjutant  General,  Tybee  Island,  Ga. : 

SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  report  for  the  information  of  the  general  com 
manding — 

That  in  compliance  with  special  orders  No.  41  I  embarked  with  seven 
companies  of  the  8th  Michigan  regiment  as  an  escort  to  Lieut.  J.  H.  Wil 
son,  Topographical  Engineer,  on  a  reconnoissance  of  Wilmington  Island. 

Two  companies,  under  command  of  Captain  Pratt,  were  landed  at  Scri- 
vens'  Plantation,  with  orders  from  Lieut.  Wilson  to  skirt  Turner's  creek  on 
the  left.  The  other  five  companies  were  landed  at  Gibson's  Plantation. 
Two  of  these  companies  were  ordered  to  skirt  Turner's  creek,  on  the  right ; 
a  third  was  to  take  the  road  to  the  right,  towards  the  ferry  at  Caston's  Bluff, 
to  protect  a  boat  party  up  Oatland  creek,  and  the  remainder  to  secure  the 
landing. 

After  one  company  of  the  five  was  landed  Lieut.  Wilson  proceeded  in  a 
boat  to  Turner's  creek. 

Owing  to  the  small  number  of  boats  and  the  distance  from  the  steamer, 
which  was  grounded,  some  delay  occurred  in  the  disembarcation.  I  directed 
Lieut.  Col.  Graves  to  follow7  with  the  second  company  and  to  skirt  Turner's 
creek,  but,  being  misdirected,  he  took  the  road  to  the  right  towards  Car 
son's  Bluff;  and  on  landing  with  the  remaining  companies  I  received  infor 
mation  that  the  enemy  were  in  force  at  Fleetwood  Plantation,  and  to  the 
left  of  the  road.  This  rendered  the  reconnoissance  of  Oatland  creek  with 
boats  useless,  and  I  ordered  the  companies  all  in ;  and,  stationing  the  re 
maining  companies  to  guard  against  an  attack  at  our  landing,  sent  out 
strong  pickets  on  both  roads. 

I  believe  the  advance  of  the  company  to  the  right  instead  of  along  Tur 
ner's  creek  saved  my  command,  as  it  sooner  enabled  me  to  post  the  men  to 
advantage  and  take  a  position  from  which  the  enemy's  approach  could  be 
observed.  The  enemy  proved  to  be  the  Georgia  loth,  about  800  strong, 
armed  with  Enfield  rifies.  As  they  approached,  about  4  o'clock  P.  M.,  with 
a  strong  body  of  skirmishers  in  the  skirting  of  woods  below  the  road,  the 
companies  I  had  stationed  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  road,  in  accordance 
with  my  instructions,  opened  fire.  I  immediately  sounded  the  charge  for 
advance  of  companies  in  the  rear  of  the  first  line.  The  first  line,  mistaking 
the  signal,  fell  back  to  the  next  cover.  A  constant  and  effective  fire  was 
kept  up  on  both  sides  from  cover  of  trees  and  bushes  for  an  hour  or  more. 
Lieut.  Wilson,  wrho  had  returned  with  the  boat  party,  here  proved  of  great 
service  to  me.  He  took  a  party,  at  my  request,  to  the  left,  and  I  ordered  a 
company  to  the  right  to  flank  the  enemy.  Both  operations  were  successful ; 
and  in  a  few  moments  the  enemy  retreated  in  confusion,  leaving  several 
dead  on  the  field,  followed  by  our  men  with  loud  cheers. 

It  being  now  about  sunset  I  recalled  our  troops,  and  giving  to  Lieut.  Wil 
son  the  command  of  pickets  stationed  to  guard  against  surprise,  formed  the 
companies  in  line  as  originally  posted,  sent  the  dead  and  wounded  in  boats 
to  the  ship,  and  gradually  and  very  quietly,  under  cover  of  night,  with 
drawing  the  men,  sent  them  on  board  as  fast  as  our  limited  transportation 
would  allow.  At  the  last  trip  of  the  boats  I  embarked,  accompanied  by 
Lieut,  Wilson,  Lieut.  Col.  Graves,  and  the  remainder  of  my  command,  (at 


344  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

about  10  o'clock  P.  INI.,)  and  immediately  brought  on  board  the  two  compa 
nies  left  at  Scrivens'  Plantation. 

After  the  enemy  retreated  we  were  unmolested.  It  is  due  to  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  command  to  say  that  generally  they  behaved  with  cool  and 
intrepid  courage. 

Adjutant  Pratt  fell  dead  near  my  side  gallantly  fighting,  musket  in  hand, 
and  cheering  on  the  men.  Our  loss,  I  regret  to  say,  was  comparatively 
heavy;  ten  killed  and  thirty-five  wounded  out  of  a  command  of  three  hun 
dred  men.  Among  the  wounded  is  acting  Lieut.  Badger,  of  company  C, 
who  was  in  charge  of  the  advance  picket,  and  exhibited  undaunted  courage. 
He  with  one  of  his  men  was  made  prisoner;  both  escaped  and  were  brought 
in  when  the  enemy  retreated. 

The  captain  of  the  Honduras  is  deserving  of  great  credit  for  his  kind  at> 
tention  to  the  wounded  ;  indeed  he  afforded  us  every  facility  for  the  comfort 
of  officers  and  men  in  his  power. 

I  respectfully  refer  to  Lieut.  Wilson's  report,  (which  I  have  read,)  and 
it  contains  some  facts  not  embraced  in  this  report ;  among  others  in  relation 
to  the  men  detailed  in  charge  of  the  field-piece  on  board  ship,  who  were 
vigilant  and  attentive. 

Herewith  is  transmitted  a  list  of  casualties. 

I  am,  &c.,  WM.  M.  FENTON, 

Colonel  Sth  Regiment  Michigan  Volunteers. 

In  an  order  issued  immediately  following  the  engagement  by  General 
Stevens,  he  says : 

"  You  were  ordered  not  to  fire,  but  to  push  forward  and  use  the  bayonet. 
You  obeyed  the  order.  You  formed  in  line  under  a  terrible  fire  of  grape, 
canister,  and  musketry.  You  pushed  to  the  ditch  and  abatis  of  the  work 
from  right  to  left.  Parties  from  the  leading  regiments  of  your  two  brigades, 
the  Sth  Michigan  and  79th  Highlanders,  mounted  and  were  shot  down  on 
the  parapet,  officers  and  men.  These  two  regiments  covered  themselves  with 
glory,  and  their  fearful  casualties  show  the  hot  work  in  which  you  were 
engaged." 

Mr.  Greeley,  in  his  "  American  Conflict,"  says : 

"  Stevens  had  these  in  position  at  3.30  A.  M.  at  our  outer  picket  line 
within  rifle  range  of  the  enemy  and  advanced  at  4 — the  morning  being  dark 
and  cloudy — so  swiftly  and  noiselessly  that  he  captured  most  of  the  rebel 
pickets  and  was  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  main  defences  not  having 
fired  a  shot,  when  Lamar  opened  on  him  with  grape  and  canister,  ploughing 
bloody  lines  through  the  storming  party,  and  destroying  its  compactness,  if 
not  impairing  the  momentum  of  its  charge.  The  8th  Michigan — Col.  Fen- 
ton's  own — was  in  the  direct  advance,  supported  by  the  Highlanders,  with 
the  residue  of  both  brigades  ready  and  eager  to  do  and  dare  all  that  men 
might ;  and  if  well  directed  valor  could  have  carried  the  enemy's  works  by 
direct  assault  they  would  have  done  it." 

The  gallant  conduct  of  Major  Belcher  (then  a  lieutenant)  at  the  battle 
of  South  Mountain  is  noticed  by  General  J.  D.  Cox,  commanding  the  Kan- 
awha  division,  in  his  report  of  the  part  taken  by  his  division  in  that  engage 
ment,  as  follows : 

"  I  cannot  close  this  report  without  speaking  of  the  meritorious  conduct 
of  First  Lieut.  H.  Belcher,  of  the  Sth  Michigan,  a  regiment  belonging  to 
another  division.  His  regiment  having  suffered  severely  on  the  right,  and 
being  partly  thrown  into  confusion,  he  rallied  about  one  hundred  men  and 
led  them  up  to  the  front.  Being  separated  from  the  brigade  to  which  he 


THE  NINTH  INFANTRY.  345 

belonged  he  reported  to  me  for  duty,  and  asked  a  position  where  he  might 
be  of  use  till  his  proper  place  could  be  ascertained.  He  was  assigned  a  post 
on  the  left  and  subsequently  in  support  of  the  advanced  section  of  Simmons' 
battery,  in  both  of  which  places  he  and  his  men  performed  their  duty  ad 
mirably,  and  after  the  repulse  of  the  enemy  in  the  evening  he  carried  his 
command  to  their  proper  brigade." 

THE  NINTH  INFANTRY. 

The  most  prominent  events  in  the  history  of  the  9th  infantry,  (organized 
and  taken  to  the  field  by  Colonel  W.  W.  Duffield,)  to  which  its  members 
will  refer  with  justifiable  exultation,  are  its  brilliant  defence  of  Murfrees- 
boro,  Term.,  on  July  13,  1862,  and  the  part  borne  by  it  in  the  great  battle 
of  Stone  River,  1863.  This  defence  of  Murfreesboro  was  made  against  a 
powerful  cavalry  force,  led  by  the  able  and  notorious  General  N.  B.  For 
rest,  said  to  have  been  one  of  the  most  capable  cavalry  commanders  in  the 
rebel  army. 

The  Union  forces  at  Murfreesboro  at  the  time  referred  to  were,  on  the 
morning  of  the  attack,  in  the  immediate  command  of  Brigadier-General 
Thomas  L.  Crittenden.  Colonel  Duffield,  who  had  been  formerly  in  com 
mand,  having  only  returned  from  a  leave  of  absence  the  night  previous,  had 
not  assumed  command,  but  was  with  his  regiment,  and  was  severely  wounded 
early  in  the  engagement.  Five  companies — A,  C,  E,  G,  and  K — of  the 
9th,  under  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Parkhurst,  and  numbering  two 
hundred  and  fifty  men,  were  at  the  time  encamped  in  Murfreesboro.  A 
Minnesota  regiment  and  a  Kentucky  battery  were  encamped  on  the  east 
bank  of  Stone  river,  a  distance  of  more  than  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the 
camp  of  the  9th.  These  troops  comprised  all  the  Union  forces  in  and 
around  Murfreesboro.  At  4  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  the  regi 
ment  was  aroused  by  the  camp  guard,  and  had  barely  got  into  position 
when  it  was  charged  most  furiously  by  over  two  thousand  rebel  cavalry. 
A  desperate  engagement  ensued,  at  one  time  assuming  the  phase  of  a  hand- 
to-hand  fight,  but,  after  a  struggle  of  more  than  half  an  hour's  duration, 
the  enemy  was  repulsed,  broke,  and  fled  in  the  wildest  confusion,  followed 
in  close  pursuit  by  a  company  of  the  9th,  acting  as  skirmishers,  under  com 
mand  of  Captain  C.  V.  De  Land.  He  soon  after  rallied,  however,  and 
charged  a  second  time,  but  without  success.  Perceiving  the  weakness  of 
the  Union  troops,  and  relying  upon  their  superior  numbers,  they  did  not 
abandon  the  attack,  but  for  more  than  eight  hours  kept  up  irregular  skir 
mishes  and  assaults  that  were  harassing  and  exhausting. 

Simultaneously  with  the  attack  upon  the  camp,  company  D  of  the  regi 
ment,  in  the  immediate  command  of  Lieutenant  Wright,  acting  as  provost 
guard  in  the  town  of  Murfreesboro,  was  attacked  in  their  quarters,  in  the 
Court-house,  by  a  large  force  of  Georgia  cavalry.  The  company  defended 
their  position  with  desperate  fighting,  and  held  it  for  two  and  a  half  hours, 
killing  and  wounding  a  large  number  of  the  enemy,  until  the  lower  part  of 
the  building  was  set  on  fire  and  nearly  consumed,  when  they  were  com 
pelled  to  surrender. 

Meanwhile,  Colonel  Parkhurst  had  repeatedly  applied  to  Colonel  Lester, 
in  command  of  the  Minnesota  regiment,  for  reinforcements,  but  without 
success,  that  officer  (subsequently  dismissed  for  cowardice  on  the  occasion) 
definitely  refusing  to  aid  his  comrades  in  their  desperate  situation. 

It  becoming  evident  that  no  assistance  was  possible,  and  the  disparity 
between  the  strength  of  his  own  and  the  assailing  forces  rendering  all  hope 

V  * 


346  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

of  escape  or  permanent  success  in  repelling  assaults  impossible,  Colonel 
Parkhurst  surrendered  his  command,  which  had  been  reduced  to  one 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  men.  The  courage  and  the  skill  of  the  resist 
ance  they  had  encountered  was  acknowledged  by  the  rebels,  and  their  loss 
in  the  affair  far  exceeded  that  of  the  gallant  defenders  of  Murfreesboro. 
This  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  of  the  minor  events  of  the  war,  and  must 
be  classed  amongst  those  rare  manifestations  of  courage  truly  Spartan.  The 
loss  of  the  regiment  was  Lieutenant  Alpheus  Chase  and  thirteen  killed  and 
seventy-eight  wounded. 

Colonel  Duffield,  in  his  report  of  the  affair  at  Murfreesboro,  says : 

"The  attack  was  made  at  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  by  Brig 
adier-General  N.  B.  Forrest,  with  over  three  thousand  cavalry.  A  Texan 
and  Georgia  regiment,  about  eight  hundred  strong,  attacked  the  detach 
ment  of  the  9th  Michigan.  So  fierce  and  impetuous  was  their  attack  that 
our  men  were  forced  nearly  to  the  centre  of  their  camp,  falling  back 
steadily  and  in  order,  with  their  faces  to  the  foe.  But  upon  reaching  the 
centre  of  our  camp,  their  line  was  brought  to  a  halt,  and  after  twenty  min 
utes  of  nearly  hand-to-hand  fighting,  the  enemy  broke  and  fled  in  the 
wildest  confusion." 

In  the  important  five  days'  battle  of  Stone  River  the  9th,  in  command  of 
General  Parkhurst,  acted  as  a  select  guard  for  Major-General  George  H. 
Thomas,  and  its  duties  were  mainly  those  of  a  provost  guard.  On  the  second 
day  of  the  fight,  however,  it  rendered  services  which  were  vital  to  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland.  The  rebel  charge  upon  the  right  wing,  in  command  of 
General  McCook,  of  Rosecrans'  army,  resulted  in  its  utter  defeat  and  rout, 
followed  by  demoralization  which  seriously  threatened  the  safety  of  the  en 
tire  line.  The  defeated  troops  commenced  a  most  disorderly  movement 
towards  Nashville,  but  at  the  bridge  over  Overall's  creek  Col.  Parkhurst 
stationed  the  9th,  intercepted  the  fugitives,  rallied  and  reformed  them  in 
line,  strengthened  his  position  with  artillery  and  cavalry,  and  succeeded  in 
checking  the  rebel  pursuit  and  in  driving  off  their  cavalry  by  a  series  of 
skillful  and  daring  charges.  The  scattered  organizations  were  then  re 
formed,  and  the  damage  of  the  morning  partially  repaired.  Had  it  not  been 
for  this  important  service  the  stampede  of  McCook's  command  would  un 
questionably  have  affected  the  whole  army,  and  might  have  disastrously 
influenced  the  course  of  the  battle  and  changed  the  complexion  of  the  war. 
AS  it  was  it  nullified  many  of  the  worst  results  of  a  serious  check  and  paved 
the  way  for  the  triumphs  of  the  next  three  days.  In  all  its  engagements 
the  9th  never  served  the  "  old  flag"  more  faithfully  or  effectively  than  on 
that  wintry  day  when  it  stemmed  the  tide  of  defeat  at  Overall's  creek  and 
despoiled  disaster  of  its  worst  results.  The  regiment  being  still  on  the  same 
duty  at  the  battle  of  Chicamauga  performed  most  valuable  service.  It  was 
also  engaged  at  Mission  Ridge  on  the  25th  of  November. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  1864,  the  9th,  in  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Wm.  Wil 
kinson,  marched  from  Chattanooga  with  the  headquarters  of  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland  and  participated  with  that  army  in  the  campaign  in  Geor 
gia,  being  present  at  the  actions  of  Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Resaca,  Dallas, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  the  other  engagements  of  the  campaign  preceding 
and  including  the  siege  of  Atlanta.  It  also  accompanied  the  army  in  the 
march  around  Atlanta  to  Jonesboro',  and  aided  in  destroying  the  railroad 
from  that  place  and  in  the  performance  of  other  duties.  It  entered  Atlanta 
on  its  evacuation  by  the  rebel  army,  and  was  engaged  in  provost  duty  until 
that  city  was  evacuated  by  our  forces.  The  regiment  then  returned  to 
Chattanooga. 


THE  TENTH  INFANTRY.  347 

The  regiment  on  November  1st  was  at  Marietta,  Georgia,  en  route  from 
Atlanta  to  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  by  rail,  having  left  the  former  place  the 
day  previous.  On  the  6th  it  reached  Chattanooga,  where  it  remained  in 
camp  doing  guard  duty  at  the  headquarters  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumber 
land,  also  picket  duty  for  that  post  until  the  27th  of  March,  1865,  when, 
Gen.  Thomas  having  removed  his  headquarters  to  Nashville,  it  was  ordered 
to  that  point,  and  on  the  29th  arrived  there  by  rail,  and  was  assigned  to 
duty  guarding  the  military  prison,  and  also  at  General  Thomas's  head 
quarters.  The  regiment  continued  at  Nashville  performing  the  same  gen 
eral  service  until  September  15th,  when  it  was  mustered  out. 

Lieut.  Charles  F.  Fox  was  killed  in  action  at  Mumfordsville,  Kentucky, 
September  2d,  1862. 

THE  TENTH  INFANTRY. 

The  10th  infantry,  organized  at  Flint  by  Col.  Charles  M.  Lum,  first  met 
the  enemy  in  battle  near  Corinth,  Miss.  Among  the  most  marked  events 
in  the  history  of  this  splendid  regiment  were  the  affair  at  Buzzard's  Roost, 
Georgia,  February  25th,  1864;  the  battle  of  Jonesboro',  September  1st, 
1864,  and  the  engagement  at  Bentonville,  March  19th  and  20th,  1865. 

The  regiment  having  re-enlisted  as  veterans  at  Rossville,  Georgia,  Feb 
ruary  6th,  the  men  were  anxiously  awaiting  their  veteran  furloughs  of  thirty 
days  to  enable  them  to  return  to  their  homes,  when,  on  the  23d  of  February, 
the  emergencies  of  the  service  required  a  movement  of  the  14th  corps,  to 
which  the  regiment  belonged,  in  the  direction  of  Dalton  ;  and  an  order  was 
received  by  Lieut.  Col.  Dickerson,  then  commanding  the  regiment,  from 
brigade  headquarters  to  prepare  for  an  immediate  movement,  with  sixty 
rounds  of  ammunition  and  three  days'  rations,  and  at  8  A.  M.  on  that  day 
commenced  moving.  After  marching  as  far  as  Ringold,  fourteen  miles,  the 
regiment  bivouacked  and  remained  until  daylight  the  following  morning, 
and  then  moved  through  Hooker's  Gap,  in  White  Oak  Ridge,  coming  up 
with  the  main  force  (which  had  moved  out  on  the  22d)  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  north  of  Tunnel!  Hill,  when  the  brigade  to  which  the  10th  belonged 
formed  in  line  of  battle  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  army  and  to  the  left  of 
the  road  leading  to  Tunnell  Hill. 

The  enemy  lay  encamped  in  considerable  force  about  one  mile  south  of 
Tunnell  Hill.  The  brigade  moved  through  the  woods  on  the  left  of  the 
town  in  such  a  direction  as  to  strike  the  enemy  on  his  right  flank,  while  the 
main  force  moved  up  directly  in  front  and  opened  with  artillery  on  his  in 
trenched  camp.  As  the  brigade  came  out  of  the  woods  in  sight  of  the  rebel 
camp  their  rear  guard  was  seen  moving  hurriedly  towards  Dalton,  when  a 
force  of  cavalry  was  immediately  sent  in  pursuit,  while  the  10th  formed  in 
column  of  companies  and  followed.  About  2  P.  M.  the  force  came  in  sight 
of  Buzzard's  Roost,  where  the  enemy  had  taken  up  a  very  strong  position. 
The  Union  force  formed  in  line  of  battle,  when  the  enemy  opened  an  artil 
lery  fire,  which  was  immediately  replied  to,  and  a  line  of  skirmishers  kept 
up  a  brisk  fire.  This  position  wras  held  until  dark,  when  the  line  fell  back 
a  short  distance  and  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

On  the  morning  of  the  25th  orders  were  received  by  Colonel  Dickerson  to 
take  a  position  with  his  regiment  on  the  left  of  the  60th  Illinois  (which  was 
in  the  same  brigade)  on  the  top  of  one  of  the  spurs  of  the  mountain  and 
conform  to  the  movements  of  that  regiment.  After  occupying  this  position 
for  a  short  time  the  regiment  moved  forward  and  took  possession  of  the  top 
of  another  spur,  from  which  could  be  seen  the  enemy  in  his  fortified  posi- 


348  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

tioo.  At  this  time  a  brisk  fire  was  being  kept  up  by  both  skirmish  lines. 
About  3  P.  M.  the  division  to  which  the  10th  belonged  commenced  a  for 
ward  movement,  when  the  enemy  opened  a  most  galling  infantry  fire  from 
the  top  of  Rocky  Face  in  front,  while  two  or  more  batteries  on  the  right 
and  front  threw  shot  and  shell  raking  the  ravines  and  sweeping  the  tops  of 
the  spurs.  The  regiment  advanced  coolly  and  steadily  over  the  spurs  and 
through  the  ravines  until  its  colors  were  flying  defiantly  almost  in  the  face 
of  the  enemy.  Halting  just  under  the  crest  of  one  of  these  spurs  the  men 
were  directed  to  lie  down  and  load  and  fire  at  will.  In  consequence  of  the 
elevated  position  of  the  enemy  on  the  right  and  left  his  fire  was  most  galling 
and  murderous,  and  to  which  the  regiment  was  very  much  exposed  for 
nearly  thirty  minutes.  Colonel  Dickerson  not  receiving  any  orders,  and 
seeing  no  troops  advancing  to  his  support,  was  compelled  to  fall  back  a 
short  distance  to  a  gulley,  where  the  60th  Illinois  had  already  reached. 
Here  a  halt  was  made  for  a  short  time  and  then  fell  back  on  the  double- 
quick.  In  coming  out  of  the  ravine  Col.  Dickerson  was  knocked  down  by 
a  mass  of  earth  thrown  against  him  by  a  shell ;  partially  recovering  from 
the  shock,  and  while  moving  towards  his  regiment,  he  was  wounded  in  the 
heel  by  a  musket  ball,  and  being  unable  to  travel  fast  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.  The  regiment  lost  in  this  affair  twenty-two  killed  and  fifty- 
six  wounded. 

The  loss  in  this  gallant  regiment  at  that  time  was  a  very  peculiar  and 
most  severe  hardship  and  was  much  regretted,  as  the  regiment  had  only 
re-enlisted  a  few  days  before,  and  the  friends  of  those  who  bravely  fell  had 
been  fondly  hoping  to  meet  them  on  the  return  of  the  regiment  to  the  State. 

The  10th,  returning  from  its  veteran  furlough  in  Michigan,  arrived  at 
Chattanooga  May  11,  1864,  and  on  the  following  day  left  there  to  partici 
pate  in  the  Georgia  campaign.  It  arrived  at  Resaca  on  the  16th.  March 
ing  on  the  16th  for  Rome,  it  arrived  in  front  of  that  place  on  the  17th,  and 
on  the  18th  participated  in  its  capture.  On  the  28th  it  took  position  in 
front  of  the  rebel  lines  at  Dallas.  June  1st  the  regiment  moved  to  the  left 
toward  Lost  Mountain,  and  after  several  changes  of  position,  reached  the 
base  of  Kenesaw  Mountain  on  the  19th.  On  the  27th  of  June  it  acted  in 
the  reserve  of  a  column  that  charged  the  rebel  lines.  Its  casualties  during 
the  month  of  June  were  two  killed  and  died  of  wounds,  and  twelve  wounded. 
On  the  3d  of  July  the  regiment  marched  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  who  had 
evacuated  the  position  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  on  the  17th  crossed  the 
Chattahoochie  river.  On  the  19th  it  advanced  to  near  Durant's  Mill,  on 
Peach  Tree  creek,  where  it  took  part  in  the  actions  of  that  date,  and  of  the 
day  following.  On  the  21st  it  participated  in  a  reconnoissance  toward 
Atlanta,  and  on  the  22d  had  position  in  front  of  that  place  on  the  right  of 
our  lines.  With  the  exception  of  the  reconnoissance  to  Sandtown  on  the 
28th  the  regiment  remained  in  front  of  Atlanta  during  the  remainder  of 
July.  Its  casualties  during  the  month  were  four  killed  and  eighteen 
wounded.  While  on  a  reconnoissance  on  the  29th  it  encountered  the  enemy 
and  captured  a  number  of  guns,  horses,  etc.  Being  cut  off  by  the  rebels,  it 
was  obliged  to  return  by  a  circuitous  route,  in  which  it  succeeded  without 


The  movement  of  General  Sherman  upon  Hood's  communications  near 
Atlanta,  which  culminated  in  the  important  battle  of  Jonesboro',  September 
1,  1864,  and  the  evacuation  of  Atlanta  by  the  rebels,  in  which  the  14th 
corps  took  a  most  prominent  part,  again  gave  the  10th  Michigan  a  most 
enviable  page  in  the  history  of  the  war.  The  regiment,  under  command  of 
Major  Burnett,  having  moved  with  its  corps  on  Jonesboro',  was  acting  as  a 


THE  TENTH  INFANTRY.  349 

support  to  a  charging  column,  which  became  broken  and  demoralized.  The 
six  left  companies  of  the  10th  moved  quickly  forward  and  took  their  places, 
bravely  carried  the  enemy's  works,  took  400  prisoners,  and  captured  a  stand 
of  colors.  In  this  daring  and  gallant  advance  fell  the  brave  Burnett,  with 
30  killed  and  47  wounded,  including  Lieut.  John  Knox  killed  and  Captain 
H.  H.  Nimms  mortally  wounded — a  heavy  loss — but  the  regiment  aided  very 
materially,  and  with  much  distinction  in  the  last  battle  of  the  great  Atlanta 
campaign  which  secured  to  the  Union  arms  one  of  the  most  important  points 
held  during  the  rebellion,  and  gave  the  death-blow  to  the  rebel  armies  in 
Georgia. 

The  10th,  commanded  by  Colonel  Lum,  was  with  Sherman  on  his  march 
to  the  sea,  and  at  Bentonville,  on  the  19th  and  20th  of  March,  1865,  again 
added  to  its  already  enviable  reputation  as  a  fighting  regiment.  Moving 
in  advance  of  its  corps  on  the  18th,  six  companies  being  deployed  as  skir 
mishers,  the  enemy  was  reached  about  noon,  and  a  severe  skirmish  ensued, 
when  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  take  position  at  the  junction  of  the  Smith- 
field  and  Goldsboro'  roads.  During  the  night  it  was  attacked,  but  suc 
ceeded  in  repulsing  the  enemy,  and  holding  its  position  until  relieved  by 
the  20th  corps  on  the  19th,  when  it  marched  rapidly  forward  and  formed 
on  the  right  of  the  second  line  of  battle.  About  4  P.  M.  the  enemy  moved 
up  in  heavy  masses,  driving  in  the  skirmishers,  and  advancing  to  within  a 
few  rods  of  the  first  line,  he  discharged  a  terrific  fire  along  his  whole  front, 
and  immediately  charged  the  works.  The  first  line,  in  which  was  the  14th 
Michigan,  replied  with  a  well-directed  and  effective  volley,  checking  the 
enemy's  advance,  and  before  he  could  recover  from  its  effects,  the  14th 
Michigan  jumped  over  its  works  and  charged,  driving  him  in  confusion 
from  the  field,  and  taking  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  The  regiment,  with 
the  remainder  of  the  brigade,  then  moved  forward  to  the  first  line,  and  in 
a  few  moments,  the  enemy  having  broken  through  the  first  division,  was 
discovered  coming  in  on  the  left  flank.  The  line  was  at  once  changed  to 
the  opposite  side  of  the  works,  and  after  pouring  a  volley  into  the  enemy's 
ranks,  charged  and  drove  him  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  in  great  confusion 
from  the  field,  taking  many  prisoners,  and  capturing  a  large  amount  of 
arms.  On  the  20th  the  regiment  skirmished  with  the  enemy  during  the 
entire  day  and  night ;  and  thus  ended  its  last  battle  for  Union  and  free 
dom. 

NOTE. — On  the  3d  of  January,  1863,  companies  A  and  D,  while  guarding  a  supply 
train  on  the  Murfreesboro'  road,  were  attacked  by  a  large  force  of  guerrilllas  and  repulsed 
them,  killing  15  and  taking  as  many  prisoners,  without  loss  to  themselves.  On  the  25th 
of  January,  a  squad  of  men,  guarding  a  construction  train,  were  captured  by  200  rebel 
cavalry.  Twenty-seven  men  of  the  10th.  being  on  duty  near,  went  forward  on  double- 
quick,  routed  the  rebels,  killing  and  wounding  a  large  number,  captured  a  lot  of  guns, 
horses,  etc.,  and  saved  the  train  which  had  been  set  on  fire.  April  10th,  a  detail  of  46 
men,  guarding  a  railroad  train,  were  attacked  by  three  or  four  hundred  guerrillas. 
Overpowered  by  numbers,  they  were  compelled  to  give  up  the  train  ;  but,  repulsing  the 
enemy's  pursuit  and  falling  back  a  short  distance,  they  were  reinforced  by  15  men  from 
a  neighboring  stockade,  returned  and  saved  a  portion  of  the  train,  which  had  been  set 
on  fire.  The  loss  in  this  affair  was  8  killed  and  12  wounded,  including  among  the  killed 
Lieutenant  Frank  M.  Vanderburg. 

First  Lieut,  and  Adjutant  Sylvester  D.  Cowles  was  killed  while  on  the  skirmish  line 
at  Farmington,  in  front  of  Corinth,  Miss.,  May  26,  1862. 

At  Kenesaw  Mountain,  June  27th,  the  10th  infantry,  was  in  General  Davis's  division 
(2d)  of  the  14th  corps,  a  notice  of  which  is  found  in  the  "  Annual  Cyclopedia,  1864,"  aa 
follows  :  "  For  the  second  and  more  important  attack  portions  of  General  Newton's 
division  of  the  4th  corps  and  of  General  Davis's  division  of  the  14th  corps  were  selected. 
At  a  given  signal  the  troops  rushed  forward  with  buoyant  courage,  charged  up  the  face 


350  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

of  the  mountain  amidst  a  murderous  fire  from  a  powerful  battery  on  the  summit,  and 
through  two  lines  of  abatis,  carried  a  line  of  rifle-pits  beyond  and  reached  the  works. 
The  colors  of  several  of  the  regiments  were  planted  before  the  latter,  and  some  of  the 
men  succeeded  in  mounting  the  ramparts,  but  the  deaths  of  Generals  Wagner  and  Har- 
ker,  and  the  wounding  of  General  McCook,  the  destructive  fire  of  both  musketry  and 
artillery  and  the  difficulty  of  deploying  such  long  columns  under  such  fire,  rendered  it 
necessary  to  recall  the  men.  General  Newton's  troops  returned  to  their  original  line, 
while  General  Davis's  2d  brigade  threw  up  works  between  those  they  had  carried  aud 
the  main  line  of  the  enemy,  and  there  remained." 


THE  ELEVENTH  INFANTRY. 

The  great  and  important  battles  of  Stone  Kiver  and  Chicamauga  will 
always  be  referred  to  by  the  llth  infantry  as  among  the  most  desperate  in 
which  it  was  engaged  during  its  gallant  career,  and  in  which  it  was  most 
eminently  distinguished,  and  lost  heavily.  Few  regiments  on  those  fields 
were  harder  pressed  or  defended  themselves  more  heroically,  and  the  mem 
bers  of  the  regiment  refer  to  their  services  on  these  occasions  with  justifiable 
pride.  At  Stone  River  the  regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  Wm.  L.  Stough- 
ton,  was  hotly  engaged  during  the  entire  battle,  being  in  Negley's  division 
of  Thomas's  corps,  which,  on  December  31st,  held  the  ground  near  the 
centre  of  the  Union  lines,  where  it  received  and  checked  the  onset  of  the 
rebel  forces,  which  came  sweeping  on  in  column  of  divisions  after  having 
driven  the  corps  of  McCook  from  its  position ;  and  is  acknowledged  to  have 
been  one  of  the  fiercest  assaults  of  the  day,  and  in  which  the  enemy  was 
dreadfully  punished.  The  llth  Michigan,  with  the  19th  Illinois,  charged 
in  advance,  and  drove  back  an  entire  rebel  division  ;  and,  after  the  retro- 
gade  movement  of  their  own  division,  these  regiments  made  another  dash 
to  the  front,  driving  the  enemy.  In  the  engagement  the  llth  lost  32  killed, 
79  wounded,  and  29  missing.  The  noble  stand  taken  by  Negley's  division, 
and  its  persistent  fighting  on  that  day,  undoubtedly  aided  much  in  prevent 
ing  a  most  disastrous  result. 

Colonel  Stoughton  in  his  official  report  of  the  part  taken  by  his  regiment 
in  the  engagement,  says : 

^  "On  the  morning  of  the  31st  of  December  heavy  firing  was  heard  to  our 
right  and  front,  and  apparently  rapidly  approaching  the  position  occupied 
by  the  2d  brigade.  The  regiment  was  immediately  formed  and  marched 
to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  near  brigade  headquarters.  The  skirmishing  soon 
after  indicated  the  approach  of  the  enemy  to  the  right  of  this  position,  and 
my  regiment  was  formed  in  line  of  battle,  under  cover  of  a  ledge  of  rocks, 
about  one  hundred  yards  in  this  direction.  The  skirmishing  continued 
with  much  spirit  for  nearly  an  hour,  when  a  heavy  roar  of  musketry  and 
artillery  announced  that  the  principal  attack  of  the  enemy  was  being  made 
on  our  left  and  rear,  I  immediately  gave  orders  to  change  front  on  first 
company,  which  was  promptly  executed  under  a  heavy  fire,  and  the  regi 
ment  advanced  in  line  of  battle  to  the  crest  of  the  hill,  from  which  Shoult's 
battery  had  just  been  driven,  and  poured  a  well  directed  and  effective  fire 
into  the  advancing  columns  of  the  enemy.  The  firing  continued  with 
spirit  and  energy  until  orders  came  to  retire.  The  fire  of  the  enemy  was 
apparently  concentrated  upon  this  point,  and  was  terrific.  Men  and  offi 
cers  fell  on  every  side.  The  regiment  fell  back  about  eighty  yards,  was 
again  formed,  and  delivered  its  fire  upon  the  enemy  as  he  advanced  over 
the  hill,  and  then  retired  to  the  cover  of  the  cedar  woods  in  our  rear.  Here 
some  confusion  was  at  first  manifested.  A  large  number  of  regiments  had 
fallen  back  to  this  place  for  shelter,  and  the  enemy's  infantry  and  artillery 


THE  ELEVENTH  INFANTRY.  351 

opened  upon  us  from  all  sides,  except  to  the  left,  towards  the  Murfrees- 
boro  pike.  Order,  however,  was  promptly  restored  by  our  division  and 
brigade  commanders,  and  my  regiment,  with  others,  moved  slowly  to  the 
rear,  keeping  up  a  steady  fire  upon  the  enemy.  When  nearer  the  cleared 
field  to  the  right  of  the  Murfreesboro  pike,  the  regiment  was  rallied,  and 
held  tne  ground  for  twenty  or  thirty  minutes ;  it  was  then  marched  about 
half  way  across  the  open  field,  when  orders  came  to  charge  back  into  the 
cedars.  My  regiment  promptly  obeyed  my  orders,  rallied  on  the  colors,  and 
charged  back  into  the  woods  with  great  gallantry,  checking  the  enemy  by 
the  sudden  and  impetuous  attack.  After  delivering  one  volley,  orders 
came  to  retire,  and  the  regiment  fell  back  in  good  order  to  the  left  of  the 
Murfreesboro  pike.  Here  closed  the  active  operations  of  the  day. 

"  On  the  2d  of  January  we  were  again  called  into  action.  In  the  after 
noon  of  that  day  we  were  posted  as  a  reserve,  in  an  open  field  in  the  rear 
of  our  batteries  on  the  right  of  the  left  wing  of  our  army.  Between  3  and 
4  o'clock  the  enemy  made  a  heavy  attack  with  artillery  and  infantry  on 
our  front.  My  command  was  kept  lying  upon  the  ground,  protected  by  a 
slight  hill,  for  about  half  an  hour.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  the 
enemy  had  driven  back  our  forces  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  one 
regiment  crossing  in  great  disorder,  and  rushing  through  our  ranks.  As 
soon  as  the  enemy  came  within  range,  my  regiment  with  the  others  of  this 
brigade,  rose  up,  delivered  its  fire,  and  charged  across  the  river.  In 
passing  the  river  my  line  of  battle  was  necessarily  broken,  and  I  led  the 
regiment  forward  to  a  fence  on  a  rise  of  ground,  and  reformed  the  line. 
Here  the  firing  continued  for  some  time  until  the  enemy  was  driven  from 
his  cover  and  retreated  through  the  woods.  My  regiment  was  then 
promptly  advanced  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  continued  to  fire  upon 
the  enemy  as  he  fled  in  disorder  across  the  open  field  in  front  to  his  line  of 
entrenchments.  At  this  time  the  ammunition  was  nearly  exhausted,  and 
my  regiment,  with  the  others  in  advance,  formed  in  line  of  battle,  threw 
out  skirmishers,  and  held  our  position  until  recalled  across  the  river.  The 
llth  was  among  the  first  that  crossed  Stone  river  and  assisted  in  capturing 
four  pieces  of  artillery,  abandoned  by  the  enemy  in  his  flight.  I  can 
not  speak  too  highly  of  the  conduct  of  the  troops  under  my  command. 
They  fought  with  the  bravery  and  coolness  of  veterans,  and  obeyed  my 
commands,  under  the  hottest  fire,  with  the  precision  of  the  parade  ground. 
The  officers  of  my  command  behaved  with  great  gallantry  and  firmness. 
Where  all  nobly  discharged  their  duty,  it  would,  perhaps,  be  unjust  to  dis 
criminate.  Lieutenants  Wilson  and  Flynn  were  killed  while  gallantly 
leading  their  companies.  Major  Smith  and  Lieutenants  Hall,  Briggs,  and 
Howard  were  wounded,  the  two  former  severely,  and  Lieutenant  Hall  is  a 
prisoner." 

At  Chicamauga  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Melvin 
Mudge,  was  then  in  the  brigade  of  Colonel  Stoughtou,  being  the  2d  bri 
gade,  2d  division,  14th  corps.  This  brigade  constituted  part  of  the  com 
mand  of  General  Thomas,  and  on  the  last  day  of  that  sanguinary  conflict 
held  one  of  the  most  important  points  on  his  line  of  defence  against  a 
largely  superior  force,  the  regiment  fighting  most  persistently,  successfully 
repelling  charge  after  charge  of  the  enemy,  losing  seven  killed,  (including 
Captain  Charles  W.  Newbern,)  seventy-six  wounded,  and  twenty-three 
missing,  and  was  one  of  the  last  regiments  to  retire  from  the  field  in  the 
darkness  of  that  fearful  night,  when  the  army  fell  back.  Next  morning 
Colonel  Stoughton  took  up  a  position  in  front  of  Rossville,  covering  the 
approach  to  the  battle-field,  and  held  it  during  that  day,  and  in  the  night 


352  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

fell  back  on  Chattanooga,  covering  the  rear  of  the  retiring  army.  In  the 
movement  Colonel  Stoughton  drew  off  his  artillery  by  hand,  to  escape  the 
notice  of  the  enemy.  He  remained  on  his  picket  line  until  past  4  A.  M., 
when,  hearing  the  enemy  stirring,  he  successfully  withdrew  his  pickets 
and  made  a  forced  march  to  Chattanooga  without  the  loss  of  a  man, 
thus  most  successfully  accomplishing  a  very  dangerous  and  important  duty, 
for  which  he  was  afterwards  complimented  personally  by  General  Thomas. 

After  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  in  November,  1863,  where  the  regi 
ment,  under  command  of  Major  Benjamin  G.  Bennett,  participated  in  the 
decisive  charge,  losing  its  gallant  commander  and  thirty-nine  in  killed  and 
wounded,  the  regiment,  being  in  the  2d  brigade,  1st  division,  14th  corps, 
moved  forward  on  the  Atlanta  campaign,  partaking  creditably  in  all  the 
important  battles.  On  July  4th  following,  it  took  a  part  in  the  successful 
charge  on  the  enemy's  works  near  Marietta,  losing  thirteen  in  killed  and 
wounded,  including  among  the  severely  wounded  Colonel  Stoughton,  who 
lost  a  leg.  It  was  engaged  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  on  the  20th  of  that 
month,  with  a  loss  of  eleven  killed  and  wounded,  and  on  the  7th  of  August 
it  was  in  the  charge  on  the  enemy's  works  in  front  of  Atlanta,  losing  Lieu 
tenant  Edward  Catlin  and  fifteen  men  killed  and  wounded. 

The  period  for  which  the  regiment  enlisted  having  expired,  it  was 
ordered  to  Chattanooga  on  the  27th  of  August.  The  rebel  General 
Wheeler  being  then  engaged  in  making  a  raid  into  Tennessee,  the  regiment, 
immediately  after  its  arrival  at  Chattanooga,  on  the  30th,  was  ordered  to 
join  the  column  in  pursuit,  and  marched  to  Murfreesboro,  and  thence  to 
Huntsville,  Ala.,  but  without  meeting  the  enemy.  It  returned  to  Chattan 
ooga  on  the  loth  of  September.  Leaving  here  two  commissioned  officers 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty  men — veterans  and  recruits  whose  term  had  not 
expired — the  regiment  started  for  Michigan  on  the  18th,  arriving  at  Stur- 
gis  on  the  25th.  On  the  30th  of  September  it  was  mustered  out  of  service. 


THE  TWELFTH  INFANTRY. 

The  bloody  battle  of  Shiloh,  April  6th  and  7th,  1862,  first  tried  the  metal 
of  the  12th  infantry,  and  substantially  established  its  reputation  as  a  fight 
ing  regiment.  Leaving  the  State,  in  command  of  Col.  Francis  Q.uinn,  on 
March  18th,  it  hurriedly  reached  Pittsburg  Landing  barely  in  time  to  par 
ticipate  in  that  important  engagement.  A  portion  of  the  regiment  was 
among  the  troops  that  first  discovered  and  engaged  the  enemy  in  his  ad 
vance  upon  the  Union  lines,  and  this  timely  discovery  and  their  persistent 
opposition  to  his  advance,  without  doubt,  saved  their  division  from  entire 
capture,  and  must  have  done  much  towards  saving  the  whole  army  from  a 
complete  surprise.  The  12th  was  in  Col.  Peabody's  brigade  of  Preutiss' 
division,  which  occupied  the  position  just  attacked  by  the  rebel  forces. 
During  the  night  preceding  the  battle  of  the  6th,  Col.  Peabody  had  been 
advised  by  Lieut.  Col.  Graves,  of  the  12th  Michigan,  of  the  approach  of 
the  enemy,  and  on  this  information  he  took  the  responsibility  to  order  from 
his  brigade  two  companies  of  the  12th  Michigan,  commanded  respectively 
by  Captains  Graves  and  Cravath,  and  two  companies  of  the  25th  Missouri 
as  a  reconnoissance,  the  whole  under  command  of  Major  Powell,  25th  Mis 
souri,  who,  about  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  met  the  advance 
troops  of  the  enemy  and  fought  them  until  daylight,  gradually  falling  back 
until  he  reached  the  12th  Michigan  and  25th  Missouri,  which  had  advanced 
some  distance  in  front  of  their  color  line.  These  two  regiments  fought  the 


THE  TWELFTH  INFANTRY.  353 

enemy  until  overpowered,  when  they  fell  back  to  their  color  line,  reformed 
again,  and  defended  their  line  until  again  overpowered,  when  they  retired 
to  a  third  position,  which  was  held  until  the  division  was  completely  sur 
rounded  and  a  large  portion  of  it  made  prisoners.  The  12th  escaped  cap 
ture,  maintaining  its  organization,  and  next  day  engaged  the  enemy,  losing 
in  both  days  266  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  including  among  the  mor 
tally  wounded  Lieutenant  Alex.  G.  Davis,  who  died  at  Cincinnati  on  the 
21st  of  April  following. 

It  also  participated  in  the  affair  at  luka  September  19th,  and  in  the  bat 
tle  at  Metamora  October  5th. 

The  regiment,  in  December  following,  was  guarding  the  Mississippi  rail 
road  from  Hickory  Valley  to  near  Bolivar,  Tennessee,  with  its  headquarters 
at  Middleburg.  On  the  24th  of  that  month  the  force  at  Middleburg,  con 
sisting  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  officers  and  men,  in  command  of  Colonel 
W.  H.  Graves,  were  attacked  by  a  large  force  of  Van  Dorn's  cavalry,  con 
sisting  of  three  brigades,  in  all  about  three  thousand  strong,  by  which  they 
were  surrounded  and  their  surrender  demanded.  About  10  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  day  of  the  attack  Lieut.  Col.  Dwight  May,  of  the  regiment, 
left  Middleburg  for  Bolivar,  distant  some  seven  miles,  and  when  about  two 
miles  from  Middleburg  he  saw  horsemen  approaching ;  as  he  neared  them 
he  observed  that  they  wore  the  blue  overcoat  of  our  army,  but  noticing  the 
peculiar  gait  of  their  horses  and  their  suspicious  movements,  he  halted  and 
was  adjusting  his  field  glass  to  scrutinize  them  more  closely,  when  the  ad 
vance  guard  fired  at  him  and  put  their  horses  to  their  utmost  speed  towards 
him  ;  they  were  then  only  about  twenty  rods  off.  He  immediately  wheeled 
his  horse  and  started  for  camp,  they  in  pursuit,  discharging  their  arms  at 
him  during  the  chase,  but  having  the  better  horse  he  succeeded  in  reaching 
the  camp  of  his  regiment  and  instantly  reported  the  circumstances  to  Col. 
Graves,  who  in  his  report  states: 

"The  advance  of  Gen.  Van  Dorn's  command  soon  made  its  appearance, 
and  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  in  by  a  lieutenant  colonel  of  staff,  which  I  met. 
The  officer  asked  who  is  in  command ;  I  answered  '  I  am ;'  whereupon  he  sur 
veyed  me  from  head  to  foot  (I  had  been  playing  ball  that  morning,  pants 
in  boots,  having  on  a  jacket  without  straps)  with  a  disdainful  air  and  said : 
'  Gen.  Van  Dorn  demands  a  surrender  of  you  and  the  whole  damned  thing 
immediately ;  we  don't  want  to  bother  with  you.'  It  was  my  intention  to 
have  asked  if  he  had  artillery,  but  his  important  demeanor  did  not  set  well 
as  may  be  imagined,  and  I  upon  the  spur  of  the  moment  replied,  give  my 
compliments  to  the  general  and  say  to  him,  I  have  no  doubt  he  can  whip 
us,  but  while  he  is  getting  a  meal  we  will  try  and  get  a  mouthful ;  he  then 
remarked,  ' that  is  what  you  say,  is  it?'  To  which  I  made  answer,  that  is 
what  I  say,  is  it ;  and  he  wheeled,  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  I  double- 
quicked  to  my  command,  which  was  located  in  a  depot  platform,  with  planks 
doubled  and  port-holes  cut,  and  a  block  or  rather  log-house  having  port 
holes.  The  enemy  advanced  until  I  fired  a  musket,  (which  was  the  signal 
when  my  men  were  to  fire,)  when  the  enemy  broke  up  in  confusion  and 
sought  log  buildings  and  ditches,  where  they  fought  us  for  two  hours  and 
twenty-five  minutes,  and  finally  left  us  '  monarchs  of  all  we  surveyed,'  in 
one  sense. 

"  The  whole  force  of  Gen.  Van  Dorn  was  between  five  and  six  thousand, 
about  one-half  of  which  fought  us,  the  balance  holding  the  horses.  They 
lost  (as  near  as  I  can  recollect)  135  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  among 
the  latter  three  officers  wounded,  one  mortally.  There  were  six  of  my  men 
wounded  through  the  port-holes,  one  killed,  and  thirteen  taken  prisoners, 

W 


354  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

mostly  on  picket  along  the  railroad.  Over  one  thousand  rounds  were  fired 
by  the  men  of  the  12th  during  the  action." 

For  this  gallant  and  successful  defence  of  Middleburg,  so  remarkable  for 
the  disparity  in  numbers,  the  regiment  (with  several  others  along  that  line 
of  railroad  that  had  successfully  defended  their  posts)  was  complimented 
for  bravery  by  General  Grant  in  general  orders,  and  declared  by  him  to  be 
deserving  of  the  thanks  of  the  army,  which  was  in  a  measure  dependent  for 
its  supplies  on  the  road  they  so  nobly  defended. 

Embarking  on  transports  at  Memphis  to  take  part  in  the  campaign 
against  Vicksburg  the  regiment  arrived  at  Chickasaw  Bayou,  near  the  rebel 
stronghold,  on  the  3d  of  June.  Disembarking  at  Sartalia,  on  the  Yazoo 
river,  the  regiment  marched  to  Mechanicsburg,  skirmishing  on  the  march 
with  the  rebel  cavalry.  From  thence  it  proceeded  to  Hayne's  Bluff  by  an 
exhausting  march,  during  which  a  number  of  men  fell  under  the  oppressive 
heat.  The  regiment  remained  at  Hayne's  and  Snyder's  Bluffs  until  the 
fall  of  Vicksburg,  July  4th.  It  embarked  on  the  28th,  in  command  of 
Lieut.  Col.  May,  for  Helena,  Ark.,  near  which  it  encamped  until  the  13th 
of  August,  when  it  marched  from  Helena  with  the  army,  and  on  the  llth 
of  September  went  into  camp  near  Little  Rock.  On  the  26th  and  27th  of 
October  the  regiment  moved  to  Benton,  Ark.  The  12th  continued  on  duty 
in  Arkansas,  in  command  of  Col.  May,  until  the  15th  of  February,  1865, 
when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service. 


THE  THIRTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

The  daring  bravery  of  the  13th  infantry,  raised  and  organized  by  Col. 
Charles  E.  Stuart,  of  Kalamazoo,  is  attested  by  its  persistent  fighting  and 
splendid  achievements  on  many  fields. 

This  regiment  left  Kalamazoo  on  the  12th  of  February,  1862,  under  com 
mand  of  Col.  Michael  Shoemaker.  Its  route  was  through  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee  via  Bowling  Green  and  Nashville.  It  reached  the  battle-field  at 
Pittsburg  Landing,  after  a  forced  march,  near  the  close  of  the  second  day's 
fight,  and  thenceforward,  until  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  was  engaged  in 
picket  and  fatigue  duty  with  the  forces  that  captured  that  post.  The  13th 
was  the  last  of  General  BuelPs  command  to  leave  northeastern  Alabama  on 
the  withdrawal  of  our  forces  from  that  region  in  August,  and  was  among 
the  troops  of  the  same  army  which  fell  back  upon  Louisville. 

On  the  10th  of  November,  1862,  this  regiment  marched  from  Silver 
Springs,  Tenn.,  and  formed  part  of  the  forces  that  drove  the  enemy  from 
Lebanon.  Proceeding  to  Nashville,  it  was  then  engaged  in  guarding  forage 
trains,  and  on  picket  duty,  from  the  25th  of  November  to  the  26th  of  De 
cember,  when  it  marched  with  the  army  under  General  Rosecrans  on  Mur- 
freesboro'.  It  was  deployed  as  skirmishers  on  the  29th  in  the  advance,  and 
suffered  some  loss.  It  participated  in  the  bloody  engagements  at  Stone  River, 
on  the  30th  and  31st  of  December,  and  1st,  2d,  and  3d  of  January,  the 
regiment  going  into  action  with  224  muskets,  and  losing  out  of  this  number 
25  killed  or  died  of  wounds,  62  wounded,  and  8  missing.  On  the  31st  of 
December  it  recaptured,  by  a  bayonet  charge,  two  guns  which  had  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

The  13th  was  particularly  distinguished  at  Stone  River,  under  Colonel 
Shoemaker,  and  at  Chicamauga,  under  the  command  of  Col.  J.  B.  Culver. 

In  a  recent  report,  Col.  Culver  says :  "  They  will  always  be  remembered 
with  pride  and  sorrow  by  every  member  of  the  13th.  Pride,  in  the  acknow- 


THE  THIRTEENTH  INFANTRY.  355 

ledged  gallantry  of  the  regiment,  and  sorrow,  for  our  brave  comrades  who 
fell  there."  He  says  further:  "At  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  the  13th  sup 
ported  the  6th  Ohio  Independent  Battery ;  and  early  on  the  morning  of 
the  memorable  31st  of  December,  1862,  our  brigade  was  detailed  by  verbal 
orders  of  General  Rosecrans,  and  directed  to  go  to  the  support  of  General 
R.  W.  Johnson,  of  McCook's  corps,  who  was  on  the  extreme  right  of  the 
line,  and  was  being  forced  back  by  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy. 
The  order  was  promptly  executed,  and  while  getting  into  position  we  were 
attacked  by  the  advancing  columns  of  the  rebel  General  Hanson's  division, 
which  we  stubbornly  resisted  for  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  when  three  of 
the  regiments  of  the  brigade  retired  in  disorder,  leaving  the  13th  to  protect 
the  battery.  Our  position  was  in  a  cotton-field,  without  protection.  We 
fell  back  about  300  yards  to  the  edge  of  a  cedar  thicket,  formed  on  the  left 
of  the  battery,  and  delivered  such  a  destructive  fire  that  an  entire  brigade 
of  the  enemy  were  held  in  check  for  over  thirty  minutes ;  but  we  were  again 
compelled  to  retire,  losing  one-third  of  the  entire  regiment  dead  or  wounded, 
together  with  two  guns  from  the  battery.  We  reformed  again  about  150 
yards  to  the  rear  of  the  second  position,  and  being  opportunely  supported 
by  the  gallant  51st  Illinois  infantry,  we  made  a  dashing  charge  with  the 
bayonet,  broke  and  routed  the  rebel  line,  recaptured  the  two  guns,  took  150 
prisoners,  and  defeated  the  purposes  of  the  enemy  on  this  part  of  the  field, 
namely,  getting  possession  of  the  Murfreesboro'  pike.  On  this  field  the 
13th  lost  Captain  Clement  C.  Webb. 

Colonel  Shoemaker,  in  his  report  of  the  part  taken  by  his  regiment  in  that 
great  struggle,  says : 

"  My  report  of  the  5th  having  been  made  in  great  haste,  was  necessarily- 
very  brief,  and  for  the  better  understanding  of  the  movements  of  this  regi 
ment  during  the  several  days  of  battle,  commencing  on  the  29th  and 
ending  on  the  3d  instant,  submit  the  following : — In  the  evening  of  the 
29th,  when  ordered  to  cross  the  river,  we  were  on  the  left,  the  51st  Indiana 
in  the  centre,  and  the  73d  Indiana  on  the  right.  My  regiment  commenced 
crossing  as  soon  as  our  skirmishers  were  fairly  on  the  other  side.  The  skir 
mishers  were  company  A,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Hanarsdale,  and  company 
F,  commanded  by  Lieut.  James  R.  Slayton.  They  drove  the  enemy  rapidly, 
the  regiment  following  quite  close  upon  them.  When  in  line  in  the  corn 
field,  after  receiving  the  3d  volley  from  the  enemy,  we  were  ordered  to  fix 
bayonets  and  prepare  to  receive  a  charge  of  cavalry.  As  my  regiment  was 
somewhat  in  advance  of  the  51st  Indiana,  and  my  right  covering  their  left, 
I  moved  my  regiment  to  the  left  and  rear,  so  as  to  connect  with  the  51st 
Indiana,  but  still  leaving  my  left  somewhat  in  advance,  and  in  such  a  posi 
tion  as  would  have  enabled  us  to  enfilade  any  force  which  might  charge  the 
centre.  Our  position  was  now  a  very  strong  one,  being  in  the  edge  of  the 
woods.  Here  we  remained  until  ordered  to  recross  the  river.  On  the  31st, 
being  in  reserve,  when  our  brigade  was  placed  in  position  on  the  extreme 
right  of  the  army,  we  occupied  an  open  field  in  the  rear  of  where  the  64th 
and  65th  regiments  of  Ohio  volunteers,  and  73d  regiment  of  Indiana  volun 
teers,  were  engaged  with  the  enemy.  When  the  battery  retired  we  were 
ordered  to  fall  back  to  the  position  we  held  when  the  enemy  advanced  upon 
us.  When  they  opened  fire  upon  us  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  had 
passed  by  on  our  right  to  the  rear,  and  we  did  not  see  them  again  until 
after  the  close  of  the  engagement.  My  regiment  was  in  line  during  the 
engagement,  and  delivered  their  fire  with  such  precision  and  rapidity  that 
the  whole  force  of  the  enemy  were  brought  to  a  stand  at  the  fence  in  our 
front,  and  held  there  for  at  least  twenty  minutes,  when  their  left,  which 


356  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

extended  considerably  beyond  our  right,  having  advanced  so  as  to  make  it 
apparent  that  they  would  soon  turn  my  right  flank,  I  gave  the  order  to 
retire ;  but  again  formed  the  regiment  within  twelve  or  fifteen  rods  of  the 
first  line;  but  broke  and  retreated  precipitately  when  charged  by  me. 
The  51st  Indiana  advanced  only  to  within  three  rods  of  our  first  line,  and 
then  threw  forward  skirmishers.  My  regiment  charged  past  the  first  line 
and  to  the  right,  down  to  near  the  fence,  and  full  thirty  rods  in  advance  of 
our  first  position,  overtaking  and  capturing  the  enemy  from  the  place  where 
the  guns  were  recaptured,  which  was  to  the  right  and  in  front  of  our  first  line 
of  battle,  to  the  houses  in  our  front,  and  into  the  cornfield  on  a  line  with 
the  houses.  The  artillery  ceased  firing  a  short  time  before  we  opened  upon 
the  enemy,  and  fell  back  out  of  sight,  with  all  but  the  guns  captured.  The 
enemy  broke  up  the  guns  of  the  dead  on  the  first  line  of  battle  while  they 
occupied  it.  A  lieutenant,  whom  we  captured,  informed  me  that  our  fire 
was  very  destructive,  and  that  their  loss  in  wounded  must  largely  exceed 
ours.  On  the  1st  inst.,  my  regiment  was  exposed  to  a  scattering  fire  all  day, 
but  was  not  actually  engaged.  At  night  we  were  ordered  to  the  extreme 
front  to  protect  the  6th  Ohio  battery,  and  lay  on  our  arms  all  night.  On 
the  2d  inst.,  while  supporting  our  battery,  my  regiment  was  exposed  to  a 
terrible  fire  from  the  artillery  of  the  enemy,  the  number  of  guns  playing 
upon  us  at  one  time  being,  as  stated  by  Capt.  Bradley,  eighteen.  Though 
necessarily  inactive,  my  regiment  steadily  maintained  its  position  for  over 
an  hour,  when  one  of  our  batteries  commenced  playing  upon  us  from  the 
rear.  I  then  withdrew  my  regiment  a  few  rods  to  the  left  to  a  less  exposed 
situation.  In  the  afternoon  we  crossed  Stone's  river  with  our  division,  and 
remained  there,  doing  duty  both  Friday  and  Saturday  night.  On  Sunday 
morning  we  recrossed  the  river  and  bivouacked  near  the  hospitals." 

Colonel  Harker,  commanding  the  brigade  in  which  the  13th  was  serving, 
in  his  report  says  of  the  regiment  at  Stone  river  : 

"The  13th  Michigan,  from  their  position,  fired  upon  the  enemy  with 
telling  effect,  and  having  caused  his  ranks  to  waver,  followed  up  the  advan 
tage  with  a  charge,  supported  by  the  51st  Illinois,  which  had  come  to  our 
relief.  They  completely  routed  the  enemy.  The  13th  Michigan  retook 
the  two  pieces  of  artillery  abandoned  by  our  battery,  and  captured  fifty- 
eight  prisoners.  For  this  act  of  gallantry  Colonel  Shoemaker  and  his  gal 
lant  regiment  are  deserving  of  much  praise." 

The  gallant  service  of  this  regiment  at  Stone  River,  on  December  31st, 
cannot  be  over-estimated,  as  it  was  pre-eminently  prominent  among  the 
brave  regiments  that  breasted  the  fearful  current  of  disaster  which  was 
sweeping  away  the  Federal  right,  fighting  desperately  in  turning  the  tide 
of  affairs  in  favor  of  the  Union  army,  and  during  the  following  days  of 
that  great  conflict  never  wavered  in  any  position  assigned  it,  and  when  the 
roll  of  the  regiment  was  called  at  the  close  of  the  five  days  of  this  san 
guinary  strife,  all  answered  to  their  names  except  the  dead  and  wounded. 

In  the  fearful  struggle  at  Chicamauga  this  noble  regiment,  under  com 
mand  of  Colonel  J.  B.  Culver,  displayed  again  its  brilliant  fighting  quali 
ties  in  the  efficient  service  rendered  on  the  18th  of  September,  while 
deployed  as  skirmishers,  near  Lee  and  Gordon's  Mills,  holding  a  position 
until  12  M.,  on  the  19th,  against  a  strong  line  of  the  enemy's  skirmishers, 
supported  by  a  section  of  artillery.  On  the  19th  it  rejoined  its  brigade  and 
division  some  distance  to  the  left  of  the  Mills,  executing  the  movement 
under  a  heavy  fire  of  the  enemy,  on  the  double-quick,  with  the  thermometer 
at  ninety  degrees  above.  Soon  after  the  regiment  charged  in  a  handsome 
and  gallant  manner,  checking  the  onset  of  the  rebels,  who  were  forcing 


THE  FOURTEENTH  INFANTRY.  357 

back  a  part  of  the  brigade.  In  this  charge  it  lost  heavily,  including  among 
the  killed  Captains  D.  B.  Hosmer  and  Clark  D.  Fox,  and  Lieutenant 
Charles  D.  Hall ;  all  fell  while  nobly  battling  with  treason  and  rebellion. 
In  the  engagement  the  regiment  went  in  with  217  officers  and  men,  and 
lost  14  killed,  68  wounded,  (of  whom  11  died,)  and  25  missing. 

This  regiment  was  serving  in  Georgia  on  the  1st  of  November,  1864,  and 
on  the  3d  was  at  Tilton,  when  it  received  orders  to  proceed  to  Romeo,  where 
it  remained  until  the  7th,  when  it  joined  the  army  of  General  Sherman,  at 
Kingston,  and  was  assigned  to  2d  brigade,  1st  division,  14th  corps,  and 
formed  a  part  of  the  general  army  that  "marched  down  to  the  sea."  The 
regiment,  with  its  brigade,  reached  Savannah  on  the  16th  of  December, 
and  was  on  duty  in  the  trenches  before  that  city  until  the  21st,  when  the 
enemy  evacuated  the  place.  On  January  17th,  1865,  the  regiment  moved 
forward  with  the  army  on  the  march  through  the  Caroliuas,  and  was 
engaged  at  Catawba  River,  S.  C.,  February  29th,  and  at  Averysboro,  N. 
C.,  March  16th,  and  again  at  Bentonville  on  the  19th,  where  it  fought  the 
enemy  the  entire  day,  sustaining  a  loss  of  110  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 
Amongst  the  'killed  was  its  commanding  officer,  Colonel  W.  G.  Eaton. 
Pending  the  negotiations  attending  the  surrender  of  Johnston's  army,  the 
regiment  was  stationed  on  the  Cape  Fear  river,  twenty-six  miles  south  of 
Raleigh,  and  on  the  30th  of  April  it  started,  with  the  army,  homeward, 
reaching  Richmond  on  the  7th  of  May,  and  Washington  on  the  19th,  and 
on  the  24th  participated  in  the  grand  review  of  General  Sherman's  army 
at  the  National  Capital. 

NOTE. — Greeley,  in  "The  American  Conflict,"  says  of  the  battle  of  Stone  River: 
"Brad ley's  6th  Ohio  Battery  at  one  time  lost  two  of  its  guns  ;  but  they  were  subse 
quently  recaptured  by  the  13th  Michigan."  There  was  connected  with  the  recapture 
of  these  guns  an  incident  worth  recording  of  Julius  Lillie,  Orderly  Sergeant  of  Company 
E.  Marker's  brigade,  except  the  13th  Michigan,  had  been  driven  off  the  field  with 
heavy  loss;  Bradley's  6th  Ohio  Battery,  attached  to  this  brigade,  retreated  with  a  loss 
of  two  guns.  The  13th  Michigan,  left  alone,  had  nobly  maintained  their  position  until 
they  had  lost  over  one-third  of  their  number,  and  were  about  being  surrounded.  Col. 
Shoemaker  then  ordered  them  to  retire,  but,  after  moving  them  a  few  rods  through 
quite  a  dense  undergrowth,  he  reformed  them  and  ordered  them  to  charge  the  advanc 
ing  enemy,  which  they  did,  every  man  shouting  and  yelling  like  so  many  born  devils. 
The  rebels,  ten  times  their  number,  not  being  able  to  see  their  strength  for  the  inter 
vening  thicket,  and  supposing  they  had  fallen  into  an  ambuscade,  broke  and  fled.  The 
13th  pursued  them  entirely  off  the  ground,  over  an  open  space,  into  a  woods  full  half  a 
mile  from  the  place  of  the  fight.  The  rebels  fired  as  they  retreated,  but  were  so  closely 
pursued  they  had  no  opportunity  to  form,  and  the  13th  took  over  fifty  prisoners,  be 
sides  recapturing  the  two  guns  belonging  to  Bradley's  battery.  As  the  regiment,  every 
man  on  the  full  run,  approached  the  guns,  several  men  sprung  forward  to  be  the  first 
to  reach  them,  but  Sergeant  Julius  Lillie  outstripped  all  competitors,  and  as  be  reached 
them  slapped  his  hand  on  one  of  the  guns  ;  at  that  moment  a  shot  from  one  of  the  re 
treating  rebels  struck  him  in  the  right  side,  and,  probably  from  the  position  in  which 
he  was  standing,  passing  along  without  cutting  the  inner  coating  of  his  intestines,  came 
out  about  eight  inches  from  its  entrance,  causing  of  course  an  ugly  wound.  This  was 
on  the  afternoon  of  Wednesday,  the  31st  day  of  December,  and  although  the  regiment 
was  under  fire  every  hour  of  daylight  from  this  time  until  Saturday  night,  and  slept 
every  night  on  their  arms  on  tho  battle  field,  yet  Lillie  refused  to  leave  his  command 
and  go  to  the  hospital,  but  remained  with  his  regiment  during  the  whole  period  and 
would  only  allow  himself  to  be  relieved  from  duty  after  the  enemy  had  evacuated  Mur- 
freesboro  and  victory  was  assured  to  our  forces. 

THE  FOURTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

The  14th  regiment  moved  from  Ypsilanti  on  the  17th  of  April,  1862,  in 
command  of  Colonel  Robert  P.  Sinclair,  of  Grand  Rapids,  under  whose 


358  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

direction  it  had  been  recruited,  and  joined  the  Western  army  at  Pittsburg 
Landing,  Tenn.  It  was  under  Pope  in  the  advance  on  Corinth,  and  was 
engaged  in  repeated  skirmishes  with  the  enemy  while  in  front  of  that 
stronghold.  In  November  and  December  of  that  year  it  was  stationed  at 
Stone  river,  in  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  M.  W.  Quackenbush.  On 
the  3d  of  January  following  it  participated  in  the  great  battle  at  that 
point,  having  marched  from  Nashville  during  the  night  previous,  through 
mud  and  rain,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles. 

On  the  21st  of  May,  1864,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  proceed  to 
Bridgeport,  Ala.,  and  thence  moved  by  forced  marches  to  Dallas,  Ga., 
where,  joining  the  army  under  General  Sherman  on  the  4th  of  June,  the 
regiment  participated  in  all  the  active  movements  of  the  campaign  until 
the  fall  of  Atlanta.  It  was  engaged  at  Kenesaw  Mountain  on  the  15th  of 
June,  and  on  the  5th  and  6th  of  July  it  charged  and  drove  the  rebels 
from  their  rifle-pits  at  the  Chattahoochie  river,  capturing  a  number  of  pris 
oners.  Its  casualties  in  the  latter  engagement  were  9  killed  and  35  wounded. 
On  the  7th  of  August  the  regiment  assisted  in  taking  two  lines  of  rebel 
works,  and  driving  the  enemy  from  the  field,  killing  and  wounding  a  num 
ber,  and  taking  92  prisoners,  suffering  a  loss  of  8  killed  and  27  wounded. 
In  this  affair  Lieutenant  Joseph  Kirk  was  mortally  wounded  and  died 
next  day. 

The  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  on  September  1,  1864 — the  last  of  Sher 
man's  great  and  brilliant  operations  around  Atlanta,  when  he  opened  the 
gate  of  his  great  highway  to  the  sea — and  the  important  engagement  at 
Bentonville,  N.  C.,  on  the  19th  and  20th  of  March,  1865 — his  last  contest 
with  the  enemy  on  that  remarkable  and  unequalled  campaign  which  aston 
ished  the  world — were  the  fields  on  which  the  14th  infantry  gained  much 
of  its  enviable  reputation,  by  very  prominently  distinguishing  itself  in 
glorious  achievements  which  added  much  to  the  success  of  these  important 
affairs.  The  regiment  was  in  the  14th  corps,  so  conspicuously  engaged  at 
Jonesboro,  and  during  that  bloody  conflict,  while  in  command  of  Col.  Henry 
R.  Mizner,  this  gallant  Michigan  regiment  charged  the  enemy  with  great 
enthusiasm,  at  fixed  bayonets,  first  at  quick,  and  then  at  double-quick,  and 
without  firing  a  gun  or  raising  a  shout  carried  the  rebel  works  in  its  front, 
filled  with  the  enemy,  capturing  Sweet's  rebel  battery  of  four  12-pounder 
Napoleon  guns,  shooting  and  bayoneting  the  artillerists  at  their  guns,  in  the 
act  of  firing,  and  taking  as  prisoner  General  D.  C.  Govan,  who  surren 
dered  his  command  to  Sergeant  Patrick  Irwin,  the  first  man  inside  the 
works.  Govan  had  in  his  possession  the  sword  of  Major  Cooledge,  16th  U. 
S.  infantry,  who  fell  at  Chicamauga.  In  the  command  surrendered  were 
Captain  Williams,  A.  A.  A.  G.,  Major  Weeks,  2d  Arkansas  infantry,  and 
three  hundred  enlisted  men.  During  the  charge  the  colors  of  the  1st 
Arkansas  infantry  were  captured  by  Lieutenant  Weatherspoon  and  Ser 
geant  Smith,  of  company  A,  who  killed  one  of  the  color-guard  while  in  the 
act  of  firing  upon  Weatherspoon.  Gaining  the  works,  the  colors  of  the 
regiment  were  gallantly  planted  on  them  by  Sergeant  Steiner,  and  were 
among  the  first  placed  on  that  rebel  stronghold.  After  passing  the  first 
line  of  works,  a  second  four-gun  battery  was  captured,  when  one  of  the 
guns  was  instantly  turned  upon  the  fleeing  enemy  by  Lieutenant  Giffbrd, 
and  a  fire  delivered  with  telling  effect. 

On  November  1st  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Lieut.-Colonel  George 
W.  Grummond,  broke  camp  at  Rome,  Ga.,  and  commenced  the  grand 
march  to  Savannah,  moving  via  Kingston  and  Atlanta,  and  thence  through 
Milledgeville,  destroying  many  miles  of  railroad ;  reaching  Savannah  on 


THE  FOURTEENTH  INFANTRY.  359 

the  16th,  it  lay  in  front  of  that  city  until  the  21st,  when  the  enemy 
evacuated  the  place.  At  that  point  the  regiment  remained  until  January 
20th  following,  when  it  moved  forward  with  the  army,  on  the  march  through 
the  Carolinas,  reaching  Sister's  Ferry  on  the  28th,  where  it  remained  ten 
days,  assisting  in  repairing  the  roads  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Savannah 
river,  which  had  become  impassable.  Having  crossed  the  river  on  the 
evening  of  February  6th,  the  march  through  South  Carolina  was  commenced 
on  the  8th.  Moving  on  what  is  called  the  Augusta  road,  and  proceeding 
onward,  crossed  the  Salkehatchie,  South  and  North  Edisto,  Broad,  Catawba, 
and  Big  Pedee  rivers,  arriving  at  Fayetteville,  N.  C.,  March  10th,  the  regi 
ment  having  lost  on  the  march  down  to  that  time  twenty-two  men,  captured 
while  foraging.  Beaching  Cape  Fear  river,  it  crossed  on  the  12th,  the 
enemy's  rear-guard  picketing  along  a  small  stream,  about  one  mile  distant, 
over  which  there  was  a  high  bridge,  the  plank  of  which  had  been  removed 
by  the  enemy.  On  approaching  that  point  it  was  found  to  be  held  on  the 
opposite  side  by  two  regiments  of  cavalry.  The  14th  Michigan  was  ordered 
to  push  forward  and  drive  the  enemy  from  his  position,  and  establish  his 
line  one  mile  in  advance.  The  night  being  very  dark,  the  men  were  obliged 
to  cross  in  single  file  on  the  timbers.  They  pushed  across  very  rapidly, 
however,  and  engaged  the  enemy,  driving  him  over  two  miles,  capturing 
his  camp  and  a  large  quantity  of  forage,  killing  one  and  taking  two  pris 
oners.  The  regiment  established  its  line,  and  remained  there  until  the  14th, 
when  it  was  relieved  by  the  advance  of  the  1st  division.  On  the  morning 
of  the  15th  the  march  was  resumed.  Skirmishing  with  the  enemy  was 
kept  up  the  entire  day,  and  until  10  o'clock  next  morning,  when  he  made 
a  decided  stand  near  Averysboro,  and  a  severe  battle  ensued.  The  1st 
brigade,  2d  division,  of  which  the  14th  Michigan  formed  a  part,  was  ordered 
immediately  to  the  front,  and  placed  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  line,  having 
to  cross  a  deep  and  wide  ravine  in  getting  into  position.  The  brigade  was 
formed  in  two  lines,  the  17th  New  York  and  14th  Michigan  composing  the 
first  line,  and  the  10th  Michigan  and  60th  Illinois  the  second.  The  first, 
advancing  under  a  severe  fire,  gallantly  carried  the  first  line  of  the  enemy's 
works,  taking  a  number  of  prisoners,  but  the  enemy,  becoming  heavily  re 
inforced,  and  after  repeated  attempts  to  carry  the  position,  strongly  sup 
ported  by  the  second  line,  the  men  behaving  exceedingly  well,  it  was  found 
impossible  to  dislodge  him,  the  brigade  holding  its  position  until  next 
morning,  when  the  enemy  abandoned  his  work,  the  regiment  losing  in  the 
engagement  twenty-two  killed  and  wounded,  including  two  officers  wounded. 

At  Bentonville  on  the  19th  and  20th  of  March,  1865,  the  regiment,  then 
in  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  George  W.  Grummond,  was  fiercely  assaulted  in 
hurriedly  constructed  works  by  a  largely  superior  force,  which  it  success 
fully  repulsed,  and  then  most  gallantly  charging  over  its  own  works  cap 
tured  most  of  the  assaulting  party ;  and  soon  afterwards,  on  ascertaining 
that  a  flanking  force  of  the  rebels  had  taken  possession  of  the  works  the  re 
giment  had  but  just  left,  it  was  instantly  faced  by  the  rear  rank,  charged, 
and  retook  the  works  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  During  these  charges  the 
regiment  took  19  officers  and  390  enlisted  men  prisoners,  together  with  the 
colors  of  the  54th  Virginia  and  65th  North  Carolina  regiments.  The  loss 
of  the  14th  in  this  engagement  was  23  in  killed  and  wounded  and  4  in 
prisoners. 

The  successes  of  the  14th  on  these  occasions  were  among  the  most  glorious 
in  the  Sherman  campaigns,  illustrating  most  forcibly  the  heroism  of  the 
regiment  and  placing  it  squarely  up  to  the  high  standard  of  Michigan 
troops. 


360  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

THE  FIFTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

The  15th,  in  command  of  Col.  J.  M.  Oliver,  by  whom  it  was  organized, 
first  met  the  rebels  at  Shiloh  on  the  6th  and  7th  of  April,  1862.  Arriving 
there  only  the  day  before  the  battle,  it  next  morning  became  hotly  engaged, 
and  was  thus  early  initiated  into  the  sad  realities  of  war,  and  at  a  great 
sacrifice,  losing  in  the  engagements  of  both  days  two  officers  and  thirty-one 
men  killed  and  one  officer  and  sixty-three  privates  wounded  and  seven  miss 
ing.  Capt.  George  A.  Strong  and  Lieut.  Mai v in  W.  Dresser,  two  officers 
of  much  merit,  being  among  the  killed  of  the  6th.  After  the  affair  at  Shi 
loh  the  regiment  composed  a  part  of  the  force  under  Gen.  Halleck  which 
compelled  the  rebels  to  abandon  Corinth.  The  15th  was  in  General  Rose- 
crans'  army  when  his  position  at  Corinth  was  assaulted  by  the  rebel  forces 
under  Price  in  October,  1862.  At  that  time  the  regiment,  under  command 
of  Lieut.  Col.  McDermott,  held  the  outpost  of  that  army  at  Chewalla,  on  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad,  and  about  ten  miles  from  Corinth,  where 
it  met  and  checked  the  advance  of  Price,  and  most  signally  made  its  mark 
as  a  most  reliable  and  brave  regiment.  On  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  Oc 
tober  the  pickets  of  the  15th  were  driven  in,  the  regiment  holding  the  ene 
my  in  check  during  the  day ;  in  the  evening  was  reinforced  by  the  14th 
Wisconsin  and  a  section  of  a  12-pounder  battery,  the  whole  force  in  com 
mand  of  Colonel  J.  M.  Oliver,  of  the  15th  Michigan.  The  command  fought 
during  the  2d  and  3d  against  overwhelming  numbers,  contesting  every  inch 
of  ground,  but  falling  back  gradually  upon  Corinth,  several  times  being 
completely  flanked  and  obliged  to  retire  on  the  double-quick,  with  the  en 
emy  on  both  flanks.  It  is  claimed  that  the  admirable  disposition  made  by 
Col.  Oliver  of  his  force  and  the  steadiness  and  gallantry  of  the  men  engaged 
delayed  an  army  of  40,000  (or  thereabout)  at  least  twenty-four  hours  in 
making  their  main  and  final  attack  upon  Corinth,  thus  enabling  General 
Rosecrans  to  make  the  disposition  of  his  forces  which  most  successfully  se 
cured  the  repulse  of  the  enemy  and  compelled  him  to  make  a  most  disas 
trous  retreat. 

November  2d,  1862,  the  15th  was  ordered  with  its  division  to  move  from 
Corinth,  where  it  had  been  stationed,  to  Wolf  Creek.  From  that  point  the 
regiment  proceeded  to  Grand  Junction  November  19th,  to  serve  as  garrison 
and  provost  guard.  It  was  also  employed  while  at  Grand  Junction  in 
guarding  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad  and  in  scouting  after  guer 
illas.  The  regiment  remained  at  Grand  Junction  and  at  La  Grange  until 
June  5th,  1863,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  with  the  1st  divi 
sion,  16th  corps,  to  which  it  had  been  attached  since  January  1st.  Arriv 
ing  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo,  June  llth,  the  15th  proceeded  up  the  river 
and  disembarked  at  Hayne's  Bluff.  Having  been  attached  temporarily  to 
the  9th  corps,  it  participated  with  it  in  the  advance  on  Jackson  on  the  4th 
of  July.  The  Big  Black  river  was  crossed  on  the  6th  (this  regiment  lead 
ing)  on  rafts  and  by  swimming,  and  until  the  arrival  of  the  national  forces 
before  Jackson  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  skirmishing  with  the  rebels. 
It  participated  in  the  movements  of  the  9th  corps  until  the  enemy  were 
driven  across  the  Pearl  river  on  the  17th.  Oil  the  23d  it  began  its  inarch 
back  to  the  Big  Black.  It  was  here  attached  to  the  2d  brigade,  4th  divi 
sion,  15th  army  corps.  The  15th  corps  having  been  ordered  to  reinforce 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  the  regiment  arrived  at  Memphis,  Tenn., 
October  8th,  and  at  Corinth,  Miss.,  on  the  17th.  On  the  following  day  it 
proceeded  to  luka,  where  it  remained  until  October  25th,  and  on  the  1st  of 
November  it  arrived  at  Florence,  Ala. 


THE  FIFTEENTH  INFANTRY.  361 

On  the  4th  of  May,  1864,  the  15th  arrived  at  Chattanooga  from  Michi 
gan,  where  it  had  been  on  veteran  furlough.  Being  encamped  at  Rossville, 
near  that  point,  it  moved  to  participate  in  the  Georgia  campaign,  taking 
part  in  the  engagements  that  occurred  during  the  movement  on  Resaca. 
On  the  17th  the  command  marched  to  Dallas  via  Adairsville.  Entrench 
ing  it  remained  in  its  works,  with  occasional  skirmishing,  until  the  1st  of 
June,  when  it  moved  to  near  New  Hope  Church,  and  on  the  5th  to  Ack- 
worth.  On  the  10th  the  regiment  marched  to  Big  Shanty,  and  on  the  15th 
moved  to  the  right  of  the  line,  and  with  its  brigade  supported  a  force  which 
attacked  and  drove  the  enemy  from  their  works.  Marching  on  the  19th, 
command  moved  to  the  right  of  the  railroad  facing  Ke.nesaw  Mountain, 
where  it  remained  un  il  the  25th.  Moving  to  Marietta  on  the  3d  of  July, 
the  regiment  marched  thence  on  the  4th,  and  on  the  8th  arrived  at  Nick- 
ajack  creek  and  entrenched  in  view  of  the  enemy's  works.  Marching  via 
Marietta  to  Rossville,  the  regiment  crossed  to  the  south  side  of  the  Chatta- 
hoochie  river  on  the  14th.  On  the  17th  it  moved  to  Cross  Keys,  and  on  the 
18th  marched  toward  Decatur,  going  into  line  of  battle,  though  not  becom 
ing  engaged.  On  the  20th  it  moved  forward  via  Decatur  several  miles,  and 
on  that  and  the  following  day  engaged  in  skirmishing  with  the  enemy. 

On  the  21st  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  F.  S.  Hutchinson, 
became  eminently  distinguished,  rendering  most  gallant  and  valuable  ser 
vice.  Early  on  the  morning  of  that  day  the  rebels  attacked  in  flank  and 
rear  the  17th  corps,  which  was  on  the  left  of  the  15th  corps,  driving  it  back 
with  much  loss.  About  1  o'clock  the  15th  Michigan  was  ordered  to  fill  a 
gap  on  the  extreme  left  of  its  corps,  about  one  mile  distant  from  the  position 
it  then  occupied.  The  regiment  moved  on  the  double-quick,  and  upon 
coming  into  lice  near  the  position  indicated  found  it  in  possession  of  the 
enemy ;  it,  however,  moved  gallantly  forward  in  line,  striking  the  enemy 
upon  the  flank,  driving  him  from  his  position,  taking  17  officers  and  167 
men  as  prisoners  and  capturing  the  colors  of  the  5th  Confederate  infantry, 
and  also  the  colors  of  the  17th  and  18th  Texas,  (consolidated,)  and  suffering 
a  loss  of  four  killed  and  six  wounded.  This  was  the  advance  of  two  rebel 
divisions  which  were  massed  in  a  wood  but  a  short  distance  in  the  rear. 
The  promptitude  with  which  the  movement  was  executed  by  the  15th  de 
terred  the  remainder  of  the  rebel  force  from  making  a  forward  movement, 
and  thus  prevented  the  enemy  from  breaking  our  lines,  and  probably  averted 
disaster  from  that  part  of  the  field. 

On  the  27th  following  the  regiment  proceeded  to  the  extreme  right  of  the 
army.  While  advancing  in  line  on  the  28th  the  enemy  attacked  and  were 
driven  off  with  heavy  loss,  their  dead  and  wounded  being  left  on  the  field. 
The  casualties  in  the  regiment  during  the  action  were  38  wounded. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  month  and  until  the  26th  of  August  the  re 
giment  was  engaged  in  the  trenches  before  Atlanta,  skirmishing  almost 
daily  with  the  rebel  troops.  On  tfye  28th  it  moved  on  the  Atlanta  and 
Montgomery  railroad,  which,  on  the  following  day,  it  assisted  in  destroying. 
On  the  30th  the  regiment  marched  to  the  east  side  of  Flint  river,  near  Jones- 
boro',  and  entrenched.  An  assault  made  by  the  enemy  on  the  31st  was 
repelled  with  heavy  loss.  On  the  1st  of  September  the  skirmishers  advanced 
and  captured  a  number  of  prisoners  at  Jonesboro'.  Moved  forward  to  Love- 
joy's  Station  on  the  2d,  the  regiment  entrenched  and  there  remained  until 
the  5th,  having  continued  skirmishing  with  the  enemy.  On  the  6th  the 
command  withdrew  to  Jonesboro'.  On  the  8th  it  proceeded  to  East  Point, 
where  it  remained  during  the  month.  Leaving  East  Point  on  the  4th  of 
October  the  regiment  marched,  via  Marietta,  Altoona,  Kingston,  Rome, 

W  * 


362  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Calhoun,  Resaca,  Snake  Creek  Gap,  Lafayette,  Summersville,  and  Gales- 
ville,  in  Georgia,  and  Little  River,  King's  Hill,  Cedar  Bluff,  and  Cave 
Springs,  in  Alabama,  and  participated  in  the  skirmishes  and  engagements 
that  occurred  during  the  pursuit  of  the  rebel  army  under  Hood  in  Northern 
Georgia  and  Alabama,  the  regiment  marching  during  this  month  two  hun 
dred  miles. 

On  November  1st,  1864,  it  left  Cave  Springs,  Ala.,  in  the  3d  brigade,  2d 
division,  15th  corps,  moving  via  Marietta  and  Powder  Springs,  Georgia,  to 
Atlanta,  and  soon  after  commenced  the  march  with  Gen.  Sherman's  army 
to  Savannah  and  thence  to  Washington,  having  been  engaged  with  the 
enemy  at  various  points  on  that  remarkable  march. 

Captain  Charles  H.  Barnaby  was  killed  in  action  before  Atlanta  August 
13,  1865. 

THE  SIXTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

The  16th  was  raised  and  organized  during  the  summer  of  1861  by  Col. 
T.  B.  W.  Stockton,  and  for  sometime  was  known  as  "  Stockton's  Indepen 
dent  Regiment,"  afterwards  as  the  16th  Michigan  infantry,  which  accounts 
for  its  having  so  high  a  numerical  designation.  This  regiment  commenced 
its  battles  with  the  siege  of  Yorktown  in  April,  1862,  and  ended  them  at 
Appomattox  Court-house  in  April,  1865,  having  passed  through  the  various 
campaigns  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  with  much  credit  and  a  glorious 
celebrity,  serving  during  the  whole  war  in  the  3d  brigade,  1st  division,  5th 
corps. 

Among  its  various  battles  none  perhaps  appear  more  prominent  in  its 
history  than  Games'  Mill  and  Peeble's  Farm.  In  the  former  engagement, 
on  the  27th  of  June,  1862,  the  3d  brigade  was  commanded  by  Col.  Stock 
ton,  and  in  the  early  part  of  the  day  the  16th  lay  in  reserve,  and  was  held 
in  that  position  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  works  on  the  Rich 
mond  side  of  the  Chicahominy,  and  the  rebel  lines  in  front  and  left,  until 
about  2  P.  M.,  when  the  rebels  made  a  desperate  advance  in  several  columns 
deep  upon  the  Federal  lines.  The  16th  was  ordered  to  the  front  to  assist 
in  repelling  the  attack,  and  went  in  gallantly  on  the  double-quick  under  a 
very  destructive  fire  from  the  rebel  batteries,  driving  the  enemy  in  its  front 
back  to  his  former  position.  The  regiment  then  formed  in  the  brigade  line 
on  the  extreme  left  of  the  corps,  holding  the  position  under  constant  fighting 
until  about  5  P.  M.,  losing  heavily.  About  this  time  the  enemy  massed  on 
their  right  and  opposite  the  front  of  the  brigade,  and  threw  column  after 
column  in,  causing  the  troops  on  the  right  to  break,  whereupon  the  16th 
was  ordered  to  fall  back  to  the  river;  but  not  thinking  of  "retreat,"  faced 
about  and  stood  its  ground  until  overwhelmed  by  numbers  and  compelled 
to  retreat  to  the  river.  Here  the  gallant  Major  N.  E.  Welch,  in  command 
of  the  regiment,  and  his  brave  officers  rallied  their  men,  and  with  strag 
glers  from  other  regiments,  numbering  in  all  about  1,000,  again  charged 
over  dead  and  dying  comrades,  until  their  line  met  "Jackson's  corps,"  and 
where,  within  short  range,  the  rebels  opened  upon  the  whole  line  with  fear 
ful  effect,  mowing  the  men  down  like  grass,  compelling  the  brigade  to  fall 
back,  the  16th  losing  three  officers  and  forty-six  men  killed,  six  officers  and 
one  hundred  and  ten  enlisted  men  wounded,  and  two  officers  and  fifty-three 
enlisted  men  missing.  Among  the  killed  were  Captain  Thomas  C.  Carr 
and  Lieutenants  Byron  McGraw  and  Richard  Williams,  officers  of  much 
promise  and  courage.  The  few  that  were  left  succeeded  in  reaching  the 
opposite  side  of  the  Chicahominy,  leaving  Col.  Stockton,  who  from  exhaus- 


THE  SIXTEENTH  INFANTRY.  363 

tion  and  the  loss  of  his  horse,  which  had  been  shot  under  him,  and  Captains 
Mott  and  Fisher,  together  with  Surgeon  Wixom,  prisoners  in  the  hands  of 
the  enemy. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  at  Malvern  Hill  July  1st,  with  a  loss  of  forty- 
two  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  In  August  following  it  joined  Pope's 
army  at  Fredericksburg,  and  fought  at  Bull  Run  on  the  30th  of  that  month, 
sustaining  a  loss  of  three  officers  and  thirteen  men  killed,  four  officers  and 
fifty-nine  men  wounded,  with  seventeen  missing.  Captain  R.  W.  Ransom, 
Lieutenants  Michael  Chittick  and  John  Ruby  were  the  officers  killed. 

Leaving  Harper's  Ferry  on  the  1st  of  November,  1862,  this  regiment 
arrived  at  Falmouth  on  the  23d.  Crossing  the  Rappahannock  on  the  12th 
of  December,  it  participated  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  battle 
of  Fredericksburg,  losing  three  killed,  twenty  wounded,  and  eight  missing. 
The  regiment  crossed  the  Rappahannock  and  the  Rapidan,  and  from  the 
2d  to  the  5th  of  May,  1863,  was  engaged  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville, 
with  a  loss  of  one  killed  and  six  wounded.  Marching  with  the  army  in 
June,  on  the  21st  it  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Middleburg,  commanded 
by  Col.  N.  E.  Welch,  capturing  from  the  enemy  a  piece  of  artillery  and 
nineteen  officers  and  men,  with  a  loss  on  the  part  of  the  regiment  of  nine 
wounded,  including  Captain  Judd  M.  Mott  (mortally)  who  died  June  28th 
following. 

The  16th,  by  a  series  of  forced  marches,  arrived  at  Gettysburg,  Penn., 
on  the  1st  of  July,  and  on  the  2d,  3d,  and  4th,  it  participated  in  the  battles 
of  that  place,  sustaining  a  loss  of  three  officers  and  twenty-one  men  killed, 
two  officers  and  thirty-four  men  wounded,  and  two  men  missing.  Lieuts. 
Brown,  Jewett,  and  Borden  were  among  the  killed.  July  5th,  the  regiment 
engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  arriving  at  Williamsport,  Md.,  on  the 
llth.  It  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Berlin  on  the  17th,  and  on  the  23d  was 
at  the  battle  of  Wapping  Heights,  though  not  actually  engaged.  Partici 
pating  in  the  movements  of  the  army  in  October,  on  the  10th  it  crossed  the 
Rappahannock,  recrossed  on  the  llth,  and  as  skirmishers  advanced  to 
Brandy  Heights,  but  did  not  become  engaged.  Falling  back  with  the 
army,  on  the  23d  it  marched  to  Auburn. 

In  November  the  regiment  was  encamped  on  the  Orange  and  Alexandria 
railroad,  and  on  the  7th  again  moved  forward  with  the  army,  and  during 
the  movement  to  the  Rappahannock  it  participated  in  the  capture  of  the 
enemy's  works  on  the  left  bank  of  that  stream,  losing  three  in  wounded. 
On  the  26th  it  was  in  the  advance  on  Mine  Run. 

Engaging  in  the  campaign  of  1864,  on  the  4th  of  May  the  regiment 
crossed  the  Rapidan  at  Germania  Ford,  in  command  of  Major  R.  T. 
Elliott.  On  the  5th  it  was  detailed  to  guard  the  wagon  train  at  Wyckoff 
Ford.  On  the  6th  and  7th  the  regiment  participated  in  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness,  without  loss  on  the  6th,  but  on  the  second  day  losing  thirty-five 
in  killed  and  wounded.  On  the  morning  of  the  8th  the  regiment  proceeded 
by  a  forced  march  to  Spottsylvania  Court-house.  During  the  evening  of 
the  8th,  while  attempting  to  pass  an  almost  impassable  swamp,  a  portion 
of  the  regiment  was  attacked,  the  enemy  making  an  attempt  to  capture 
that  portion  engaged,  but  the  rebels  were  thrown  into  confusion  by  its  fire, 
during  which  a  charge  was  made  and  a  rebel  colonel  and  a  large  number 
of  men  were  taken  prisoners.  The  loss  to  the  regiment  was  small,  and  was 
mainly  in  prisoners,  who  were  subsequently  recaptured  by  our  cavalry. 
The  regiment  remained  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Spottsylvania  Court 
house  until  the  21st,  when  it  moved  with  its  corps  toward  the  North  Anna 
river.  On  the  morning  of  the  22d,  while  acting  as  advance  guard  for  its 


364  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

corps,  the  regiment  encountered  the  rear  guard  of  the  enemy  near  Polecat 
creek.  Four  companies  were  deployed  as  skirmishers,  who,  advancing, 
drove  the  enemy  from  their  position,  and  captured  a  large  number  of  pris 
oners.  On  the  24th  it  forded  the  North  Anna  river.  The  enemy  having 
attacked  and  caused  a  portion  of  the  line  to  retire,  the  16th,  with  other 
forces,  was  ordered  to  regain  possession  of  the  ground.  The  movement, 
although  made  under  a  very  heavy  fire,  was  successful,  the  enemy  being 
driven  back  with  great  loss.  On  the  24th  the  regiment  moved  to  a  point 
on  the  Virginia  Central  railroad,  and  on  the  25th  to  near  Little  river.  Re- 
crossing  the  North  Anna  on  the  26th  and  27th,  it  proceeded  by  forced 
marches  toward  the  Pamunkey  river,  which  it  crossed  at  Hanovertown  on 
the  morning  of  the  28th,  and  went  into  line  of  battle  on  the  South  creek, 
throwing  up  a  line  of  breastworks.  On  the  following  morning  the  regi 
ment  moved  to  near  Tolopotamy  creek.  On  the  30th  it  again  moved  for 
ward.  During  the  afternoon,  the  army  having  become  engaged,  the 
regiment  was  ordered  into  position  on  the  left  of  the  line.  Though  exposed 
in  an  open  field  to  a  raking  fire,  the  men  stood  their  ground  with  great 

Eertinacity,  protecting  themselves  by  throwing  up  earthworks  with  their 
ands,  bayonets,  and  tin  plates.  Major  Elliott,  while  leading  the  regiment, 
was  here  killed,  when  Captain  George  H.  Swan  assumed  command.  The 
enemy  were  finally  driven  back,  and  the  regiment  held  the  ground  during 
the  night.  On  the  1st  of  June  the  16th  drove  the  enemy  from  the  rifle- 
pits,  which  it  succeeded  in  holding  against  all  efforts  to  retake  them.  On 
the  2d,  3d,  and  4th,  the  16th  was  engaged  in  the  vicinity  of  Bethesda 
Church.  On  the  5th  it  moved  to  near  Cold  Harbor,  and  on  the  6th  to  Dis 
patch  Station.  June  13th,  while  in  command  of  Captain  Guy  Fuller,  it 
crossed  the  Chicahominy  at  Long  Bridge,  en  route  for  the  James  river, 
which  it  crossed  on  the  16th,  arriving  in  front  of  Petersburg  on  the  follow 
ing  day.  From  this  time  to  the  15th  of  August,  when  it  was  placed  in 
reserve,  the  regiment  was  employed  in  the  trenches  in  front  of  Petersburg. 
It  participated  in  the  movement,  on  the  18th  of  August,  on  the  Weldon 
railroad,  and  remained  in  this  vicinity,  constructing  and  occupying  a  por 
tion  of  the  line  of  defences,  until  the  30th  of  September. 

At  Peeble's  Farm,  or  Poplar  Grove  Church,  the  regiment  also  became 
most  signally  distinguished.  At  3  o'clock  A.  M.,  September  30,  1864,  the 
5th  corps  moved  to  the  left,  until  it  reached  near  an  old  church  in  the 
woods,  where  sharp  skirmishing  began.  The  3d  brigade  was  got  into  line 
for  a  charge — the  83d  Pennsylvania,  temporarily  in  command  of  Major 
B.  F.  Partridge,  of  the  16th  Michigan;  32d  Massachusetts,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Edmunds,  and  the  16th  Michigan,  commanded  by  the  lamented 
Welch,  advancing  on  the  works  on  Peeble's  Farm,  the  16th  Michigan 
having  the  centre,  striking  the  angle  of  the  fort  first,  climbing  the  works, 
and  engaging  the  enemy  in  a  hand  to  hand  fight  for  some  time,  while  the 
other  regiments  came  in  on  the  right  and  left,  and  thus  carried  the  works, 
taking  all  the  rebels  who  defended  them,  and  capturing  the  guns,  but 
losing  in  the  16th  Michigan  ten  killed  and  forty-two  wounded,  including 
the  commander,  Colonel  N.  E.  Welch,  who  was  instantly  killed  while 
going  over  the  enemy's  works,  sword  in  hand,  leading  on  his  regiment  in 
that  dashing  charge. 

Major  Partridge  received  a  bullet  through  his  neck  and  two  other 
wounds  while  gallantly  leading  the  83d  Pennsylvania  to  the  attack  on  the 
works. 

During  the  months  of  October  and  November  the  regiment  lay  in  the 
trenches  near  Poplar  Grove  Church,  Va.,  and  in  December  accompanied 


THE  SEVENTEENTH  INFANTRY.  365 

its  corps  on  the  raid  to  Bellfield,  where  it  assisted  in  destroying  about  six 
teen  miles  of  railroad.  It  was  in  the  trenches  before  Petersburg  during  the 
mouth  of  January,  1865,  and  on  February  6th  and  7th,  in  command  of 
Colonel  Partridge,  was  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  the  battle  of  Dabney's 
Mills,  or  Hatcher's  Run,  where  it  lost  heavily ;  on  March  25th  at  Hatcher's 
Run ;  at  White  Oak  Swamp  on  the  29th,  at  Quaker  Road  on  the  31st,  and 
at  Five  Forks  on  April  1st,  and,  following  Lee's  army  until  its  surrender,  on 
the  5th  it  was  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Amelia  Court-house,  on  the  6th  at 
High  Bridge,  and  at  Appomattox  Court-house  on  the  9th,  thus  participating 
in  the  last  day's  fighting  of  the  gallant  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

NOTE. — At  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  in  December,  1862,  after  fighting  all  day  and 
part  of  the  night,  the  troops  lay  down  on  their  arms  and  were  soon  asleep.  The  ammu 
nition  wagon  of  a  Michigan  regiment  coming  up,  the  mules  hungry  and  thirsty,  being 
halted  near  the  sleeping  place  of  the  Colonel,  gave  one  or  more  of  their  peculiar  howls, 
which  suddenly  awoke  the  Colonel,  who,  much  provoked  at  being  thus  so  unceremoni 
ously  disturbed,  and  in  his  bewildered  condition  thinking  that  the  noise  was  made  by 
the  musicians  of  the  regiment,  called  to  his  Adjutant  to  "put  these  damned  buglers  under 
arrest  and  send  them  to  the  rear  ;  they  will  jeopardize  the  safety  of  the  whole  army." 

John  Steele,  a  private  in  Company  K,  16th  Michigan,  having  his  right  arm  shot  off  at 
Middleburg,  Capt.  Hill  said  to  him,  a  few  minutes  after :  "  John,  you  cannot  carry  a 
musket  any  more."  John  replied,  with  tears  in  his  eyes  :  "No,  Captain,  but  I  can  car 
ry  the  colors,  can't  I  ?" 

While  the  16th  Michigan  was  engaged  at  Cold  Harbor,  a  Maryland  regiment  troke 
while  under  fire,  and  when  falling  back  was  checked  and  he'd  by  the  16th.  The  Colonel 
of  the  regiment  struggled  to  rally  it,  but  without  success,  when  be  hurriedly  advanced 
to  Col.  Partridge,  and,  with  tears  streaming  down  his  manly  face,  exclaimed  :  "Colonel, 
would  to  God  that  I  commanded  a  Michigan  regiment  I"  He  had  hardly  said  these 
words  when  a  rifle  bullet  passed  through  his  body  killing  him  instantly. 

THE  SEVENTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

The  17th  Michigan,  the  gallant  and  celebrated  "Stonewall"  regiment  of 
Wilcox's  division,  9th  corps,  was  organized,  drilled,  and  disciplined  at  De 
troit  Barracks  by  General  James  E.  Pittman,  late  Inspector  General  of 
Michigan.  A  short  time  before  it  left  the  State  Colonel  W.  H.  Withington 
was  commissioned  as  its  colonel,  and  it  went  to  the  field  under  his  command 
August  27th,  1862,  going  immediately  into  the  Maryland  campaign  under 
McClellan.  In  a  little  more  than  two  weeks  after  leaving  the  State  Col. 
Withington  and  his  regiment  met  the  enemy  in  the  sanguinary  and  import 
ant  action  of  South  Mountain.  On  the  evening  of  the  13th  of  September 
the  regiment  marched  from  Frederick  City,  where  it  had  bivouacked  the 
night  before,  with  the  rest  of  the  9th  corps.  It  marched  out  on  the  National 
Turnpike  in  the  direction  of  South  Mountain,  and  about  midnight  rested  for 
a  few  hours  not  many  miles  from  Middletown.  Before  daybreak  on  the 
morning  of  the  14th  Middletown  was  passed,  and  the  base  of  the  mountain 
reached  about  9  A.  M.  The  enemy  was  found  in  force  on  each  side  of  a 
gap,  holding  each  crest  of  the  mountain,  and  strongly  posted  behind  the 
stone  fences  and  other  available  shelter,  with  their  batteries  in  commanding 
positions  enfilading  the  main  road.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to  move  off 
the  main  road  and  advance  up  the  Sharpsburg  road.  This  movement  was 
executed  by  the  regiment  in  common  with  the  rest  of  Wilcox's  division, 
which  had  proceeded  far  up  the  road  toward  the  crest  of  the  mountain,  and 
moving  to  the  support  of  a  section  of  Cooke's  battery,  which  had  been  sent 
up  the  mountain  to  open  on  the  enemy's  guns  on  the  right  of  the  gap,  was 
about  to  deploy,  when  the  rebels  suddenly  opened  at  two  hundred  yards 
with  a  battery  throwing  shot  and  shell,  killing  several  in  the  regiment  and 


366  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

driving  back  the  battery,  the  cannoneers,  with  their  horses  and  limbers, 
rushing  through  the  dense  ranks,  causing  a  temporary  panic  among  some 
of  the  troops  that  might  have  resulted  in  the  loss  of  the  guns  had  the  enemy 
taken  advantage  of  it.  The  17th  promptly  changed  front  under  a  heavy 
fire  of  shot  and  shell  and  moved  out  with  the  79th  New  York  to  protect  the 
battery,  and  lay  in  line  of  battle  until  nearly  4  o'clock  P.  M.  exposed  to  a 
severe  fire  from  Drayton's  brigade  of  South  Carolina  infantry  in  the  imme 
diate  front,  without  being  able  to  reply  to  it,  and  having  grown  impatient 
of  delay  and  anxious  to  advance,  the  order  to  charge  upon  the  enemy  was 
received  with  enthusiastic  cheers.  The  regiment,  being  on  the  extreme 
right  of  Wilcox's  division,  moved  rapidly  forward  through  an  open  field 
upon  the  enemy's  position  under  a  storm  of  lead  from  the  stone  fences  in 
front  and  from  the  batteries  on  the  right,  with  cheer  after  cheer  sent  up  in 
defiant  answer  to  the  rebel  "  yell,"  the  17th  most  daringly  advanced  to 
within  easy  musket  range  without  firing  a  shot,  when  it  opened  a  murderous 
fire  upon  the  enemy,  which  was  kept  up  for  a  short  time,  steadily  advanc 
ing,  the  extreme  right  of  the  regiment  swinging  round  and  getting  an  enfi 
lading  fire  upon  the  rebels  entrenched  behind  the  stone  walls.  Unable  to 
stand  this  destructive  fire  they  broke  in  confusion,  the  left  of  the  regiment 
gallantly  charging  over  the  walls  with  shouts  of  triumph,  pursuing  the  flee 
ing  remnants  of  Drayton's  brigade  over  the  crest  and  far  down  the  slope 
of  the  mountain,  gaining  and  holding  the  key-point  of  the  battle.  The 
splendid  conduct  and  extraordinary  services  of  the  17th  in  this  action  gave 
the  regiment  at  the  time  much  celebrity,  and  has  since  been  given  in  his 
tory  as  among  the  most  brilliant  achievements  of  the  war.  The  17th  suf 
fered  severely,  losing  Lieut.  George  Galligan  and  26  men  killed  and  114 
wounded. 

In  a  recent  account  given  by  Col.  F.  W.  Swift,  then  a  captain,  of  the  part 
taken  by  his  regiment  in  that  battle,  he  says : 

"  Our  men  having  been  so  long  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  without 
being  able  to  reply,  had  grown  impatient  at  the  delay,  and  the  order  to  move 
forward  and  charge  upon  the  enemy  was  received  with  shouts  of  enthusiasm. 
We  moved  out  from  our  sheltered  position  through  an  open  field  and  upon 
the  enemy's  position,  exposed  to  a  storm  of  lead  from  behind  the  stone  fences 
in  front  and  from  the  enemy's  batteries  on  the  right.  Our  regiment  was  on 
the  right  of  the  division,  which  was  composed  mostly  of  old  troops,  and  our 
men  moved  upon  the  enemy  as  if  jealous  of  the  laurels  their  veteran  coad 
jutors  might  win.  With  cheer  after  cheer,  sent  up  in  defiant  answer  to  the 
rebel  '  yell/  they  advanced  to  within  easy  musket  shot,  when  they  opened  a 
murderous  fire  upon  the  enemy,  which  was  kept  up  for  some  time,  the  regi 
ment  steadily  advancing,  and  the  extreme  right  of  the  regiment  swinging 
around  and  getting  an  enfilading  fire  upon  the  rebels  entrenched  behind  the 
two  stone  walls  on  the  left  of  the  road.  Unable  to  stand  this  murderous 
fire  the  enemy  broke  in  dismay,  the  left  of  the  regiment  charging  with  shouts 
of  triumph  over  the  walls  and  pursuing  the  remnant  of  Drayton's  brigade 
over  the  crest  and  far  down  the  slope  of  the  mountain,  thus  gaining  and 
holding  the  key-point  of  the  battle." 

Three  days  afterwards,  at  Antietam,  it  was  again  in  battle,  sustaining  a 
further  loss  of  eighteen  killed  and  eighty-seven  wounded.  The  next  day  it 
was  in  the  front  skirmishing  with  the  retreating  enemy,  and  had  one  man 
killed. 

On  the  19th  of  March,  1863,  the  9th  corps,  then  stationed  in  Kentucky, 
was  ordered  to  reinforce  General  Grant  in  Mississippi,  and  the  regiment,  in 
command  of  Col.  C.  Luce,  left  with  it  to  engage  in  that  campaign,  and  par- 


THE  SEVENTEENTH  INFANTRY.  367 

ticipated  in  the  advance  on  Jackson  by  Gen.  Sherman,  engaging  the  enemy 
on  the  llth  of  June  with  light  loss. 

After  the  campaign  in  Mississippi  the  corps  returned  to  Kentucky  and 
engaged  in  the  movements  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  in  East  Tennessee  in 
September  and  October  following. 

With  its  division  it  moved  from  Knoxville  to  Blue  Springs,  but  did  not 
participate  in  the  engagement  at  that  place.  Returning  to  Knoxville  on 
the  14th  of  October,  it  marched  from  thence  on  the  20th,  and  proceeded  via 
London  to  Lenoir.  The  regiment  remained  at  that  point  until  November 
14th,  1863,  when  it  marched  to  the  Tennessee  river,  below  Loudon,  to  op- 

nthe  advance  of  the  rebels  under  Longstreet,  then  moving  on  Knoxville. 
ay  under  arms  during  the  night,  and  on  the  following  morning  com 
menced  falling  back,  closely  followed  by  the  rebel  forces.  It  continued  to 
retreat  on  the  16th  with  its  corps,  its  brigade  moving  in  the  rear  of  the  army 
and  the  regiment  acting  as  the  rear  guard.  While  crossing  Turkey  creek, 
near  Campbell's  Station,  the  enemy  attacked  in  force,  and  a  severe  engage 
ment  ensued.  In  this  action  the  loss  of  the  regiment  was  seven  killed,  nine 
teen  wounded,  and  ten  missing.  During  the  night  of  the  16th  the  regiment 
moved  with  the  army  to  Knoxville,  assisting  actively  in  the  defence  of  that 
town  while  besieged  by  the  enemy.  On  the  20th  of  November  the  regiment 
charged  the  enemy's  line  and  destroyed  several  houses  that  were  occupied 
by  rebel  sharp-shooters.  Lieut.  Josiah  Billiugsly  and  one  man  were  killed 
by  the  enemy's  shells  while  the  regiment  was  returning  to  the  trenches.  On 
the  24th  Lieut.  Col.  Loren  L.  Comstock,  then  in  command  of  the  regiment, 
was  killed.  On  the  night  of  the  28th  the  skirmish  line  of  the  regiment  was 
driven  in  and  sixteen  men  were  captured  by  the  rebels. 

Returning  to  Virginia  and  with  its  corps  joining  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac  and  engaging  in  the  great  campaign  of  1864,  it  crossed  the  Rapidan  at 
Germania  Ford  on  the  5th  of  May,  and  on  the  6th  encountered  the  enemy 
at  the  Wilderness,  losing  seven  killed  and  thirty-nine  wounded.  On  the 
8th  the  regiment  moved  via  Chancellorsville  towards  Spottsylvania.  On 
the  morning  of  the  9th  the  division  of  General  Wilcox,  to  which  the  regi 
ment  belonged,  moved  upon  the  enemy  in  the  vicinity  of  Spottsylvania 
Court-house  and  found  him  in  force,  occupying  a  commanding  position  on 
the  Ny  river.  The  2d  brigade  was  ordered  to  cross  the  river  and  feel  for 
the  enemy.  Romer's  New  York  battery  being  brought  into  position  opened 
fire ;  the  17th,  commanded  by  Col.  C.  Luce,  was  temporarily  detached  from 
the  1st  brigade  to  support  it.  Meanwhile  the  1st  and  2d  brigades,  having 
become  engaged,  found  the  enemy  in  superior  force,  and  two  regiments  had 
been  repulsed  with  considerable  loss  from  a  very  important  and  command 
ing  position,  leaving  many  of  their  wounded  on  the  field.  The  2d  brigade, 
which  was  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  division,  being  left  in  great  danger 
of  being  flanked  and  cut  off,  its  commander  sent  back  to  division  headquar 
ters  for  reinforcements,  the  17th  was  ordered  to  advance  for  that  purpose; 
the  order  was  promptly  obeyed,  and  the  regiment  bravely  crossed  the  stream 
on  double-quick,  and  advanced  rapidly  up  the  road  to  the  position  held  by 
the  2d  brigade  and  formed  on  its  left. 

It  was  soon  ascertained  that  the  enemy,  who  it  seems  had  retired  from 
the  crest  of  the  hill  from  which  they  had  repulsed  our  troops,  were  again 
advancing  in  force  for  the  double  purpose  of  gaining  the  crest  and  flanking 
the  division ;  and  it  became  necessary  for  the  brigade  to  check  the  advance 
instantly,  and  a  movement  was  immediately  commenced  for  that  purpose. 
The  17th,  commanded  by  Col.  F.  W.  Swift,  making  a  half  wheel,  advanced 
at  double-quick  up  the  hill  and  occupied  the  crest  just  as  a  brigade  of  rebel 


368  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

troops  were  advancing  up  the  other  slope.  The  regiment  promptly  opened 
a  well-directed  volley  upon  them,  doing  great  execution,  and  in  spite  of  the 
frantic  efforts  of  their  officers  they  broke  and  fled  in  great  disorder,  leaving 
many  of  their  dead  and  wounded,  thus  securing  by  this  well-timed  and 
rapid  movement  a  very  important  position,  which  the  regiment  held  and 
fortified,  thereby  saving  the  dead  and  wounded  of  our  troops,  which  had 
been  repulsed  in  the  first  attack,  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
and  at  the  same  time  relieving  the  2d  brigade  from  its  perilous  position,  and 
which  was  handsomely  acknowledged  by  Col.  Christ  commanding. 

In  the  engagement,  out  of  225  the  regiment  lost  23  killed,  73  wounded, 
and  93  as  prisoners.  Among  the  killed  were  Captain  John  S.  Vreeland 
and  Lieutenant  Alfred  E.  Caufield. 

During  the  attack  of  the  rebels  on  Fort  Steadman  in  the  line  of  works 
before  Petersburg,  on  March  25,  1865,  the  regiment  was  advanced  as  skir 
mishers,  and  succeeded  in  repelling  those  of  the  enemy,  taking  sixty-five 
prisoners,  the  regiment  losing  one  killed  and  two  wounded. 

General  Wilcox,  in  his  report  of  the  part  taken  by  the  1st  division,  9th 
corps,  at  South  Mountain,  says  of  the  17th  Michigan  in  that  engage 
ment: 

"I  planted  a  section  of  Cook's  battery  near  the  turn  of  the  road  (Sharps- 
burg)  and  opened  fire  on  the  enemy's  battery  across  the  main  pike.  After 
a  few  good  shots  the  enemy  unmasked  a  battery  on  his  left,  over  Shiver's 
Gap,  from  a  small  field  enveloped  by  woods.  He  threw  canister  and  shell, 
and  drove  Cook's  cannoneers  and  drivers  down  the  road  with  their  limbers ; 
Cook  gallantly  remained  with  his  guns.  [Cook  here  lost  one  man  killed, 
four  wounded,  and  two  horses  killed.]  The  attack  was  so  sudden,  the  whole 
division  being  under  fire — a  flank  fire — that  a  temporary  panic  ensued  until 
I  caused  the  79th  New  York,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Morrison,  and  17th  Michi 
gan,  Colonel  Withington,  on  the  extreme  left,  to  draw  across  the  road  facing 
the  enemy,  who  were  so  close  that  we  expected  a  charge,  to  take  Cook's 
battery.  The  79th  and  17th  here  deserve  credit  for  their  coolness  and  firm 
ness  in  rallying  and  changing  front  under  a  heavy  fire. 

"  I  received  orders  from  Generals  Keno  and  McClellan  to  silence  the 
enemy's  batteries  at  all  hazards.  Sent  picket  report  to  Keno,  and  was 
making  disposition  to  charge — moving  17th  Michigan  so  as  to  cross  the 
hollow  and  flank  the  enemy's  guns — when  the  enemy  charged  out  of  the 
woods  on  their  side,  directly  upon  our  front,  in  a  long  heavy  line,  extending 
beyond  our  left  to  Cox's  right.  I  instantly  gave  the  command,  'Forward!' 
and  Ave  met  them  near  the  foot  of  the  hill,  the  45th  Pennsylvania  in  front. 
The  17th  Michigan  rushed  down  into  the  hollow,  faced  to  the  left,  leaped 
over  a  stone  fence,  and  took  them  in  flank.  Some  of  the  supporting  regi 
ments,  over  the  slope  of  the  hill,  fired  over  the  heads  of  those  in  front,  and 
after  a  severe  contest  of  some  minutes,  the  enemy  were  repulsed,  followed 
by  our  troops  to  the  opposite  slope  and  woods,  forming  their  own  position. 

"  The  17th  Michigan,  Col.  Withington,  performed  a  feat  that  may  vie 
with  any  recorded  in  the  annals  of  war,  and  set  an  example  to  the  oldest 
troops. 

"  This  regiment  had  not  been  organized  a  single  month,  and  was  com 
posed  of  raw  levies." 

In  General  McClellan's  report  the  regiment  is  spoken  of  as  follows : 

"  General  Wilcox  praises  very  highly  the  conduct  of  the  17th  Michigan 
in  this  advance,  a  regiment  which  had  been  organized  scarcely  a  month, 
but  which  charged  the  enemy's  flank  in  a  manner  worthy  of  veteran 
troops." 


THE  EIGHTEENTH  INFANTRY.  369 

The  New  York  press  at  the  time  made  the  following  comment  on  the 
part  taken  by  the  17th  at  South  Mountain : 

"  The  enemy,  as  usual,  sought  every  advantage,  particularly  that  of 
numerous  stone  fences,  behind  which  they  assailed  our  men  fiercely.  But, 
the  impetuous  charges  of  some  of  our  regiments,  particularly  that  of  the 
17th  Michigan,  but  two  weeks  from  home,  carried  everything  before  it,  and 
the  dead  bodies  of  the  enemy  on  that  mountain  crest  lay  thick  enough  for 
stepping-stones.  The  greatest  slaughter  at  this  point  was  among  General 
Drayton's  brigade,  composed  mainly  of  South  Carolinians  and  some  Geor 
gians.  Nearly  the  whole  of  this  brigade  was  either  killed,  wounded,  or 
captured." 

Extract  from  the  report  of  Captain  F.  \V.  Swift,  covering  operations  of 
his  regiment  on  November  16th,  20th,  and  25th,  1863 : 

"On  the  16th  we  marched  for Knoxville.  Our  regiment  being  detached 
as  rear  guard,  was  attacked  by  the  enemy's  advance  guard  about  half-past 
9  A.  M.,  near  Campbell's  Station,  and  after  severe  fighting  through  the  day, 
we  retired  during  the  night  to  Knoxville.  Lieut.  A.  P.  Stevens  was  mor 
tally  wounded,  and  died  at  Knoxville  December  llth  following. 

"  On  the  night  of  the  20th  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  burn  a  house 
occupied  by  the  enemy's  sharpshooters.  This  was  done  successfully  ;  but 
while  returning  to  camp,  Lieut.  Josiah  Billingsly  was  killed  by  a  shell  from 
one  of  the  enemy's  guns. 

"  On  the  25th  a  musket  ball  from  the  enemy's  skirmish  line  struck  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Comstock,  wounding  him  so  severely  that  he  died  the  same 
evening." 

THE  EIGHTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

In  the  summer  of  1864  the  18th  Michigan,  a  regiment  composed  of  as 
fine  and  intelligent  a  body  of  men  as  went  to  the  field  during  the  entire 
war,  was  known  wherever  it  served  as  one  of  the  best  disciplined,  as  well 
as  one  of  the  most  reliable  in  the  service. 

Its  rendezvous  was  at  Hillsdale,  and  for  the  purpose  of  organization  the 
camp  was  placed  in  charge  of  Hon.  Henry  Waldron.  On  the  4th  of  Sep 
tember  the  regiment  left  Hillsdale,  in  command  of  Colonel  Charles  C. 
Doolittle,  under  orders  to  report  at  Cincinnati. 

On  the  1st  of  November,  1862,  this  regiment  was  stationed  at  Lexing 
ton,  Ky.,  and  remained  at  that  point  until  February  21,  1863,  when  it 
marched  toward  Danville,  arriving  on  the  22d.  On  the  24th,  with  the 
forces  under  General  Carter,  it  retreated  from  Danville  to  the  Kentucky 
river,  skirmishing  with  the  rebels  under  General  Pegram  during  the  re 
treat.  On  the  28th  the  regiment  joined  in  the  pursuit  of  Pegram,  follow 
ing  the  rebels  as  far  as  Buck  Creek,  making  a  long  and  rapid  march,  partly 
over  a  rough,  mountainous  road.  On  April  2d  it  returned  to  Stanford. 
On  the  7th  it  was  ordered  to  Lebanon,  and  thence  proceeded  by  railroad 
to  Nashville,  arriving  at  Nashville  April  14th. 

The  regiment  was  stationed  at  this  point,  doing  provost  guard  duty,  until 
the  llth  of  June,  1864.  On  the  12th  it  arrived  at  Decatur,  Ala.,  where 
it  formed  part  of  the  garrison.  On  the  28th  it  made  part  of  a  force  which 
surprised  the  camp  of  Paterson's  brigade  of  rebel  cavalry,  at  Pond  Springs, 
Ala.,  capturing  all  their  camp  equipage,  wagons,  ambulances,  and  com 
missary  stores,  with  some  prisoners.  On  the  25th  of  July  the  regiment 
assisted  in  routing  the  same  rebel  brigade  at  Cortland,  Ala.  In  both  of 
these  expeditions  the  regiment  was  in  the  advance,  and  was  the  only  in- 

X 


370  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

fantry  engaged.  On  the  1st  of  September  it  left  Decatur  to  reinforce  the 
garrison  at  Athens,  Ala.,  against  a  threatened  attack  by  General  Wheeler, 
then  engaged  in  a  raid  through  Tennessee.  It  arrived  in  Athens  just  in 
time  to  prevent  the  command  of  the  rebel  General  Roddy  from  entering 
and  pillaging  the  town.  The  regiment  remained  at  Athens  until  the  8th, 
when  it  joined  Colonel  Streight's  brigade,  of  General  Steadman's  command, 
then  in  pursuit  of  Wheeler,  and  marched  to  Shoal  Creek,  within  seven 
miles  of  Florence,  Ala.  Being  in  the  advance,  it  here  overtook  and  skir 
mished  with  Wheeler's  rear  guard.  The  pursuit  being  abandoned,  the 
regiment  returned  to  camp  at  Decatur,  September  llth. 

On  the  24th  of  September  following  a  detachment  of  the  regiment,  con 
sisting  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-one  officers  and  men,  under  Captain 
Weatherhead,  of  the  18th,  with  a  detail  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  from 
the  102d  Ohio,  the  whole  commanded  by  Colonel  Elliott,  of  that  regi 
ment,  left  Decatur  to  reinforce  the  garrison  of  Athens  against  an  attack 
from  the  forces  under  the  rebel  General  Forrest.  When  within  two  miles 
of  that  place,  they  were  met  by  a  force  of  the  enemy,  since  ascertained  to 
be  about  four  thousand  strong.  They  fought  their  way  through  in  the 
most  gallant  manner,  and,  after  five  hours  of  hard  fighting,  during  which 
they  had  expended  all  their  ammunition,  and  having  got  within  sight  of 
the  fort,  found  it  in  possession  of  the  enemy,  it  having  been  surrendered 
but  a  short  time  before,  and  being  overwhelmed  by  the  superior  force  of 
the  enemy,  they  were  compelled  to  give  up  the  contest.  Only  one  officer 
and  seventeen  men  escaped ;  the  others  were  either  killed,  wounded,  or 
captured.  The  determined  fighting  and  gallant  conduct  of  these  detach 
ments  is  acknowledged  not  to  have  been  excelled  by  any  troops  during 
the  war. 

At  the  time  of  the  advance  of  General  Hood's  army  upon  Nashville  in 
1864,  the  regiment  formed  a  part  of  the  garrison  of  Decatur,  the  whole 
force  of  the  post  being  in  command  of  Colonel  Doolittle,  and  on  the  26th, 
27th,  28th,  and  29th  of  October,  the  18th  in  command  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Hulbard,  participated  in  the  defence  of  that  post  against  the  rebel 
army  of  Tennessee,  estimated  variously  at  thirty  or  forty  thousand,  under 
General  Hood.  The  place  was  ably  and  gallantly  defended  and  the  assault 
most  bravely  repelled  by  Colonel  Doolittle,  with  his  small  force,  having  on 
the  first  day  only  fifteen  hundred  men,  on  the  second  twenty-five  hundred, 
and  five  thousand  on  the  last  day.  During  the  attack,  Captain  Moore,  of 
the  18th,  with  about  fifty  men,  was  sent  out  to  dislodge  a  line  of  the 
enemy's  sharp-shooters,  who  had  established  themselves  in  the  rifle-pits, 
within  three  hundred  yards  of  our  works.  This  movement  was  executed  in 
fine  style,  under  a  galling  fire  from  the  enemy's  main  line,  which  was  not 
over  five  hundred  yards  distant,  Captain  Moore  driving  them  from  their 
cover  and  bringing  in  five  officers  and  one  hundred  and  fifteen  men  as  pris 
oners.  This  brilliant  exploit  of  Captain  Moore  and  his  men  has  probably 
not  been  surpassed  for  daring  bravery  throughout  the  war.  On  these  occa 
sions  the  18th  was  most  signally  distinguished,  and  while  faithfully  illus 
trating  the  reliable  and  superior  fighting  qualities  of  the  regiment,  they 
will  also  be  recognized  as  prominent  affairs  in  its  history. 

On  the  1st  of  November,  1864,  this  regiment  was  in  garrison  at  Decatur, 
Ala.,  where  it  remained  until  the  25th,  when  the  evacuation  of  the  line  of 
the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad,  from  Decatur  to  Stevenson,  was 
commenced.  Then  it  left  Decatur,  marching  along  the  line  of  that 
railroad  to  Stevenson,  a  distance  of  eighty  miles,  reaching  that  point 
December  2d,  where  it  was  employed  building  fortifications  until  the  19th. 


THE  NINETEENTH  INFANTRY.  371 

when  it  was  ordered  back  to  Decatur,  via  the  Tennessee  river.  On  the  23d 
the  regiment  was  landed  at  Whitesboro,  and  marched  to  Huntsville,  to  aid 
in  repelling  a  threatened  attack  by  Forrest,  and  on  the  24th  returned  to 
Whitesboro  and  re-embarked  for  Decatur,  arriving  there  on  the  28th.  It 
remained  at  that  point,  doing  garrison  duty,  until  the  llth  of  January, 
1865,  when  it  proceeded  by  rail  to  Huntsville,  and  was  there  engaged  on 
post  duty.  On  June  20th  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Nashville  for  muster 
out. 

THE  NINETEENTH  INFANTRY. 

The  19th  was  raised  in  the  counties  of  Branch,  St.  Joseph,  Cass,  Berrien, 
Kalamazoo,  Van  Buren,  and  Allegan.  Its  camp  was  at  Dowagiac,  and 
was  commanded  by  Colonel  Henry  C.  Gilbert,  who  went  into  the  field  as 
colonel  of  the  regiment,  and  nobly  met  his  death  for  his  country  while 
leading  his  regiment  upon  a  rebel  battery  at  Resaca. 

It  broke  camp  at  Dowagiac  on  the  14th  of  September,  1862,  and  took  its 
route  to  Cincinnati,  and  thence  to  Nicholasville,  Ky. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1863,  this  regiment  was  stationed  at  Danville, 
and  belonged  to  the  Army  of  Kentucky.  This  army,  having  been  trans 
ferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland  as  a  "  reserve  corps,"  the  19th 
moved  with  its  brigade  to  Nashville,  where  it  arrived  February  7th,  pro 
ceeding  thence  to  Franklin.  On  the  4th  of  March,  with  600  cavalry  and 
200  additional  infantry,  it  took  part  with  its  brigade  in  a  reconnoissance  in 
force.  After  a  march  of  four  miles,  skirmishing  commenced  with  the  enemy's 
scouts  and  advanced  pickets,  but  the  rebels  retiring,  the  brigade  encamped, 
the  19th  having  lost  in  the  skirmish  one  wounded.  The  march  having  been 
resumed  on  the  following  day,  the  enemy  were  met  in  force  at  Spring  Hill, 
near  Thompson's  Station.  It  was  then  serving  in  Colonel  Coburn's  brigade, 
of  General  Baird's  division,  Army  of  Kentucky. 

On  March  4th  the  brigade,  composed  of  the  33d  and  85th  Indiana,  22d 
Wisconsin,  and  19th  Michigan,  numbering  in  all  about  1,587  men,  strength 
ened  by  200  of  the  124th  Ohio,  with  detachments  of  three  regiments  of 
cavalry,  about  600  strong,  and  one  battery  of  six  guns,  left  Franklin  to 
make  a  reconnoissance  in  force  on  the  Columbia  pike.  About  four  miles 
out,  the  scouts  and  advance  pickets  of  the  enemy  were  met,  when  sharp 
skirmishing  commenced,  in  which  the  19th  participated  with  slight  loss. 
In  the  skirmish  the  enemy  was  driven  back,  with  a  loss  of  fifteen  killed  and 
wounded.  Moving  forward,  he  was  again  encountered  at  a  short  distance, 
but  night  coming  on,  the  force  went  into  camp. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  5th  the  march  was  resumed,  leaving  the 
124th  Ohio  in  charge  of  the  wagon  train.  After  marching  about  two  miles 
the  cavalry  met  the  enemy's  pickets,  and  a  heavy  skirmish  was  continued 
until  the  command  came  in  sight  of  Thompson's  Station,  the  enemy  falling 
back.  Advancing  a  short  distance,  and  where  the  railroad  joins  the  pike, 
the  enemy  opened  fire  with  a  heavy  battery.  Colonel  Coburn  immediately 
formed  his  line,  and  ordered  a  section  of  the  battery  to  occupy  a  hill  on  the 
left  of  the  pike,  sending  the  19th  Michigan  and  22d  Wisconsin  to  support 
it.  The  33d  and  85th  Indiana,  with  the  other  guns  of  the  battery,  took 
position  on  a  hill  on  the  right.  The  enemy  had  two  batteries  on  a  range 
of  hills  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  front,  and  south  of  the  position  occupied 
by  the  Union  troops.  The  33d  and  85th  Indiana  made  a  demonstration  on 
the  left  of  the  enemy  to  draw  him  out,  or  charge  his  batteries,  according  to 
circumstances.  This  was  commenced  and  continued  under  a  most  galling 


372  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

fire  from  the  enemy's  batteries.  Upon  reaching  the  station,  the  skirmishers 
unmasked  two  whole  brigades  of  dismounted  rebel  cavalry  posted  behind 
Btone  walls  and  other  defences.  It  being  impossible  to  advance  farther 
under  the  incessant  and  severe  fire,  the  regiments  were  ordered  to  retire  to 
their  former  position  on  the  hill,  supported  by  two  companies  of  cavalry ; 
but  for  some  reason  or  other  the  cavalry  did  not  accompany  them.  No 
sooner  had  the  two  regiments  commenced  to  fall  back  than  they  were  pur 
sued  by  two  rebel  regiments,  one  from  Arkansas  and  the  other  a  Texan, 
both  firing  rapid  volleys  into  the  retiring  ranks,  and  at  the  same  time  were 
under  fire  from  the  rebel  batteries.  As  soon  as  they  reached  the  hill  they 
faced  about  and  drove  the  enemy  in  turn  in  double-quick,  killing  Colonel 
Earle,  of  Arkansas.  The  rebels  again  rallied,  and  charged  desperately, 
but  were  driven.  It  then  became  evident  that  Colonel  Coburn  had  encoun 
tered  the  entire  cavalry  of  Bragg's  army,  commanded  by  General  Van 
Dorn,  about  18,000  strong,  in  six  brigades,  under  the  command  of  Generals 
Forrest,  Wheeler,  French,  Armstrong,  Jackson,  Martin,  and  Crosby. 

The  rebels  then  advanced  upon  the  left,  where  were  posted  the  19th 
Michigan  and  22d  Wisconsin.  These  regiments  opened  fire  upon  the  enemy 
and  held  him  in  check  for  some  twenty  minutes.  At  the  time  the  left  was 
first  attacked,  that  portion  of  the  battery  there  stationed,  hurriedly  left  that 
part  of  the  field  without  orders,  leaving  the  two  regiments  without  artillery 
to  assist  them  in  repelling  the  enemy,  then  charging  desperately.  At  the 
same  time  Lieut.  Col.  Bloodgood,  of  the  22d  Wisconsin,  with  three  com 
panies  of  that  regiment,  left  the  field  without  orders,  moving  off  by  the  left 
flank,  and  joining  the  retreating  cavalry  and  artillery.  Forrest  checked 
in  his  advance,  made  a  circuit  with  his  whole  force,  beyond  the  ground 
occupied  by  Coburn,  to  the  east,  with  the  intention  to  turn  his  left  flank. 
The  19th  and  22d  was  then  moved  on  the  west  side  of  the  pike,  leaving 
the  33d  and  85th  to  protect  the  hill  on  its  south  face.  The  four  regiments 
had  scarcely  formed  line,  lying  down  behind  the  crest  of  the  hill,  when 
Armstrong's  brigade  charged  from  the  east  and  the  Texans  from  the  south, 
when  a  severe  contest  ensued,  and  the  fighting  became  terrific.  Three  times 
the  rebels  gallantly  charged  up  the  hill  from  the  east,  and  thrice  were  they 
forced  back.  In  one  of  their  charges  the  19th  Michigan  captured  the 
colors  of  the  4th  Mississippi  and  four  prisoners.  The  fighting  was  close 
and  desperate.  The  enemy  having  gained  possession  of  the  hill  on  the  east 
of  the  road,  were  hurling  grape  and  canister  into  the  ranks  like  hail,  and 
the  battle  raged  furiously.  But  it  was  a  hopeless  struggle ;  defeat  was  only 
a  question  of  time.  The  ammunition  was  getting  short,  and  Forrest  getting 
between  them  and  Franklin  was  advancing  from  the  north.  A  new  line 
•was  formed  by  Coburn's  force,  facing  north,  to  meet  the  new  line  of  advance. 
Forrest  was  met  and  held  in  check  until  the  last  round  of  ammunition  was 
fired.  The  gallant  and  brave  little  band  then  fixed  bayonets  to  charge  and 
break  the  enemy's  lines,  and  escape ;  but  just  as  they  were  about  to  charge 
it  was  discovered  that  the  enemy  had  still  another  line  in  reserve,  and  a 
battery  began  to  open  and  form  a  new  position.  Escape  was  hopeless,  and 
to  avoid  useless  loss  of  life,  the  command  surrendered,  having  lost  113  in 
killed  and  wounded  out  of  512  who  went  into  action. 

Colonel  Gilbert  had  his  horse  shot  under  him  in  the  early  part' of  the 
engagement,  and  behaved  most  gallantly.  When  he  offered  his  sword  to 
the  Confederate  commander,  he  declined  to  receive  it,  saying,  that  "  an 
officer  who  was  so  brave  in  battle,  and  commanded  so  gallant  a  regiment, 
deserved  to  retain  his  arms." 

During  Sherman's  advance  upon  Atlanta  the  19th  was  ill  the  1st  brigade, 


THE  NINETEENTH  INFANTRY.  373 

4th  division,  20th  corps,  and  at  Kesaca,  May  15th,  1864,  became  conspicu 
ously  and  desperately  engaged,  when,  with  the  brigade,  it  gallantly  charged 
a  four-gun  battery,  captured  the  artillery,  and  held  the  position.  In  this 
charge  Colonel  Gilbert,  commanding  the  regiment,  was  mortally  wounded 
while  leading  and  urging  on  his  men,  and  died  at  Chattanooga  on  the  24th 
of  that  month.  In  the  same  engagement  Capt.  C.  H.  Calmer  was  killed  at 
the  muzzle  of  a  gun  while  leading  his  company  in  the  charge;  while  the 
loss  in  the  regiment  was  14  killed  and  66  wounded.  On  the  19th  the  regi 
ment,  in  command  of  Major  E.  A.  Griffin,  charged  into  Cassville  and  assisted 
in  driving  out  the  enemy,  losing  one  in  killed,  four  wounded,  and  capturing 
four  guns.  It  again  engaged  at  New  Hope  Church  on  the  25th  of  May, 
where  it  sustained  a  loss  of  five  in  killed  and  forty-seven  wounded,  includ 
ing  among  the  killed  Lieut.  Charles  Mandeville  and  among  the  wounded 
Capt.  Charles  W.  Bigelow,  who  died  on  the  29th  of  his  wounds.  On  the 
15th  of  June  it  was  again  engaged  at  Golgotha,  losing  four  killed  and  nine 
wounded,  and  at  Culp's  Farm  June  22d,  where  its  casualties  were  thirteen 
wounded.  Among  the  severely  wounded  was  Major  Griffin,  who  died  of  his 
wounds  next  day.  Following  up  the  rebel  army  after  its  evacuation  of  the 
position  at  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  crossing  the  Chattahoochie,  the  regi 
ment,  under  the  command  of  Major  John  J.  Baker,  participated  in  the 
repulse  of  the  fierce  attack  of  the  enemy  on  our  lines  at  Peach  Tree  Creek 
on  the  20th  July.  The  loss  of  the  regiment  in  this  battle  was  four  killed, 
with  Major  Baker,  and  thirty-five  wounded. 

During  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  from  Ju4y  22d  to  August  25th,  the  regiment, 
in  command  of  Capt.  David  Anderson,  constructed  several  strong  lines  of 
works,  but,  although  under  the  fire  of  artillery  and  sharp-shooters,  did  not 
participate  in  any  of  the  engagements  that  took  place.  Its  loss  during  the 
siege  was  two  killed  and  six  wounded.  The  regiment  did  not  take  part  in 
the  flank  movement  to  the  south  of  Atlanta,  but  falling  back  with  its  corps, 
took  position  at  Tanner's  Ferry,  on  the  Chattahoochie  river,  where  it  re 
mained  until  the  2d  of  September.  At  this  date  the  greater  portion  of  the 
regiment,  with  a  force  under  Col.  Coburn,  of  its  brigade,  made  a  reconnois- 
sance  toward  Atlanta.  This  force  advanced  to  the  city  limits,  and  finding 
it  evacuated  by  the  enemy,  excepting  by  a  few  cavalry,  took  possession. 
On  the  following  day  the  remainder  of  the  regiment  entered  the  city  with 
its  corps. 

The  19th  formed  part  of  Sherman's  army  on  that  remarkable  march  from 
Atlanta  to  the  sea,  participating  in  the  numerous  engagements  of  its  corps 
with  credit  and  distinction. 

At  the  batcle  of  Averysboro',  N.  C.,  on  March  16,  1865,  the  regiment 
bore  a  brilliant  part,  acquitting  itself  with  its  usual  bravery  and  vigor. 
Colonel  David  Anderson,  then  in  command  of  the  19th,  in  a  recent  report, 
says: 

"  On  the  16th  of  March  the  enemy  was  met  near  Averysboro',  and  a  bat 
tle  ensued,  in  which  the  regiment,  then  in  the  2d  brigade,  3d  division,  20th 
corps,  took  an  active  and  important  part.  The  brigade  to  which  the  regi 
ment  was  attached  being  ordered  to  assault  the  enemy's  works,  the  order 
was  gallantly  and  promptly  obeyed,  resulting  in  the  taking  of  the  works, 
the  regiment  capturing  two  pieces  of  artillery  and  many  prisoners^  In  this 
assault  we  lost  two  brave  officers,  Captain  Leonard  Gibbon  and  Lieutenant 
Charles  G.  Purcell,  and  four  men  killed  and  fifteen  wounded,  several  se 
verely." 

Although  the  19th  may  have  acquired  celebrity  in  other  engagements, 
yet  those  named  will  undoubtedly  be  remembered  as  prominent  events  in  its 


374  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

history,  illustrating  its  brilliant  conduct  in  battle,  and  must  be  indelibly 
stamped  on  the  memories  of  the  survivors  of  this  gallant  regiment. 

NOTE. — Company  D  of  this  regiment,  numbering  50  men,  being  stationed  at  a  stock 
ade  on  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Railroad,  :it  Stone  River,  were  attacked  on  the 
5th  of  October,  by  a  large  force  of  rebel  cavalry  and  artillery  under  Maj.  Gen.  Wheeler, 
and  after  a  short  but  hopeless  resistance,  having  lost  six  in  wounded,  the  company  sur 
rendered  ;  but,  after  having  been  plundered,  were  released.  Lieut.  Baldwin  reports  in 
relation  to  this  affair,  that,  having  expected  an  attack,  he  had  early  on  the  morning  of 
October  5th  put  his  command  in  good  condition  to  meet  it.  About  half-past  7  A.  M.  on 
that  day  a  body  of  mounted  troops  numbering  about  150,  dressed  in  Federal  uniform, 
came  within  300  yards  of  the  stockade,  and  on  account  of  their  uniform  were  taken  for 
U.  S.  troops  and  not  molested.  They  fell  back  behind  a  small  grove  and  for  the  two 
hours  following  troops  were  coming  to  the  front  and  taking  position,  completely  sur 
rounding  the  stockade,  when  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  in  by  the  rebel  commander,  and  a 
demand  made  in  the  name  of  Major-General  Wheeler  of  unconditional  surrender.  Not 
feeling  inclined  to  comply  with  the  request  without  a  struggle,  Lieut.  Baldwin  declined 
the  proposition  and  sent  back  a  reply  "that  he  would  have  to  fight  before  he  got  me." 
On  the  receipt  of  this  reply  fire  was  opened  from  a  battery  which  was  promptly  re 
sponded  to  by  musketry.  The  fire  was  kept  up  for  an  hour  and  a  half,  throwing  nearly 
forty  charges  of  grape,  canister,  solid  shot  and  shell.  Of  these,  ten  shot  passed  through 
the  stockade,  knocking  the  logs  to  pieces,  causing  more  injury  from  the  splinters  than 
from  shot.  Lieut.  Baldwin,  deeming  it  useless  to  attempt  to  hold  his  position  any  longer 
against  such  odds,  and  expecting  no  assistance,  surrendered  his  command,  losing  six 
wounded,  while  the  loss  of  the  enemy  was  ascertained  to  be  two  killed  and  eight  wound 
ed.  The  rebel  force  consisted  of  two  divisions  of  cavalry  with  twelve  pieces  of  artillery. 
Lieut.  Baldwin's  men  were  disarmed,  stripped  of  their  overcoats,  and  marched  out  on 
the  Shelbyville  Pike,  nearly  to  Guy's  Gap,  where  they  were  searched,  money  and  all 
articles  of  value  taken  from  them,  and  then  the  company  was  unconditionally  released, 
when  under  a  pass  from  General  Wheeler,  it  returned  to  its  encampment  at  the  stockade, 
and  next  morning  marched  from  Murfreesboro. 


THE  TWENTIETH  INFANTRY. 

The  20th  regiment  was  recruited  from  the  counties  of  Washtenaw,  Jack 
son,  Calhoun,  Eaton,  and  Ingham.  Its  camp  was  at  Jackson,  with  Tidus 
Livermore,  Esq.,  as  commandant.  It  left  Jackson  for  Washington  Septem 
ber  1st,  1862,  in  command  of  Colonel  A.  W.  Williams,  and  was  soon  after 
attached  to  the  1st  brigade,  1st  division,  9th  corps,  of  the  Army  of  the  Po 
tomac. 

Early  in  1863  the  regiment  left  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  with  the  corps, 
and  soon  commenced  the  campaign  in  Kentucky,  Mississippi,  and  Ten 
nessee. 

While  the  corps  lay  in  Kentucky  the  20th  Michigan  occupied  Monticello 
for  a  few  days,  and  on  May  6th  fell  back  to  the  Cumberland  river,  near 
Jamestown,  where  the  river  makes  a  grand  curve  known  as  "  Horse-shoe 
Bend."  On  Friday,  May  8th,  a  hundred  picked  men  of  the  regiment,  in 
command  of  Capt.  D.  W.  Wiltsie,  had  pursued  and  driven  off  the  band  of 
the  notorious  "  Champ  Ferguson,"  while  three  companies,  under  Captain 
Barnes,  had  been  placed  on  picket  at  the  "  Narrows,"  about  two  miles  from 
the  ferry,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Cumberland ;  in  the  meantime  the  regi 
ment,  with  the  exception  of  the  detachments  named,  had  crossed  to  the 
north  side  by  the  evening  of  the  9th,  and  this  movement  had  just  been  ac 
complished  when  a  courier  reached  the  headquarters  of  the  regiment  with 
intelligence  that  Capt.  Wiltsie's  command,  attacked  by  a  heavy  force,  had 
been  driven  back,  while  the  pickets  under  Capt.  Barnes  were  being  attacked 
above.  Lieut.  Col.  W.  Huntiiigton  Smith,  in  command  of  the  regiment, 
(Col.  Williams  being  sick,)  directed  Major  Cutcheon  to  proceed  to  the  front 


THE  TWENTIETH  INFANTRY.  375 

and  make  a  reconnoissance ;  and  who,  upon  ascertaining  the  condition  of 
affairs  and  convinced  that  the  most  advantageous  position  to  fight  the  ad 
vancing  enemy  was  at  the  "  Narrows,"  rallied  the  scattered  detachments 
of  Wiltsie  and  Barnes,  and,  leading  them  back  to  the  "  Narrows,"  posted 
them  just  in  time  to  meet  and  bravely  repulse  a  sharp  attack  of  the  enemy, 
ascertained  to  be  the  advance  guard  of  General  John  Morgan.  During  the 
early  part  of  the  night  of  the  9th  Col.  Smith  had  come  up  with  the  remain 
der  of  the  regiment,  increasing  the  force  to  a  little  upwards  of  three  hun 
dred.  On  the  morning  of  the  10th  the  attack  was  resumed ;  the  front  re 
quired  to  make  a  proper  defence  against  such  a  superior  force  was  necessa 
rily  very  extended,  the  command  being  distributed  to  the  best  advantage 
possible  for  that  purpose ;  the  left  wing  of  the  regiment  was  commanded  by 
Col.  Smith  and  the  right  wing  by  Major  Cutcheon.  The  enemy  pushed  for 
ward  with  much  confidence  a  brigade,  driving  in  the  pickets,  assaulting  in 
front  and  flank  the  main  line,  itself  scarcely  more  than  an  ordinary  skir 
mish  line,  but  he  was  promptly  and  decisively  repulsed,  with  much  loss, 
after  this  sharp  but  desultory  fight.  During  the  afternoon  the  command 
was  reinforced  by  a  hundred  dismounted  men  of  the  llth  Kentucky  cavalry, 
with  one  piece  of  the  13th  Indiana  battery.  At  4  P.  M.  it  was  resolved  to 
take  the  offensive.  Across  a  road,  about  two  hundred  yards  in  front,  lay  the 
enemy  in  line ;  under  cover  of  a  rapid  fire  from  the  gun  the  force  advanced 
in  double-quick  to  the  charge  with  the  bayonet,  routing  him  in  gallant 
style  and  driving  him  to  the  woods.  In  a  very  short  time  he  threw  forward 
his  reserve  brigade,  making  the  odds  in  his  favor  ten  to  one,  forcing  back 
the  command  to  its  first  position  with  severe  loss,  part  of  the  fighting  being 
hand-to-hand  and  most  desperate.  In  defending  this  position  the  contest 
was  maintained  for  nearly  three-fourths  of  an  hour,  when  the  enemy  suc 
ceeded  in  turning  their  left,  forcing  them  back  to  a  new  position.  General 
Morgan  then  demanded  a  surrender,  stating  that  he  had  an  entire  division, 
and  that  further  resistance  was  useless.  He  was  invited  to  "  come  and  take 
them ;"  but  declined  the  invitation.  Another  reinforcement  of  a  hundred 
men  was  received,  which  covered  the  withdrawal  of  the  force  to  the  river, 
when  it  recrossed  in  the  presence  of  a  vastly  superior  force  without  further 
loss. 

This  affair  must  be  considered  as  one  of  the  most  notable  minor  engage 
ments  of  the  war.  A  handful  of  men,  comparatively,  without  supports, 
with  retreat  cut  off  by  a  stream  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  wide,  deep  and 
rapid,  without  entrenchments,  repulse  the  charge  of  a  large  brigade,  and 
then  in  turn  drive  them  with  the  bayonet ;  then  maintain  a  desperate  fight 
with  an  entire  division  of  nearly  four  thousand  men,  and  finally  withdraw 
ing  from  the  field  in  good  order,  saving  the  piece  of  artillery,  bringing  off 
the  wounded,  and  recrossing  the  river  in  face  of  the  enemy.  In  this  battle 
the  loss  of  the  20th  was  forty-four  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  including 
among  the  killed  Lieutenant  William  M.  Green,  a  valuable  officer,  while 
the  rebels  acknowledged  a  loss  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  in  killed. 
For  its  gallant  conduct  on  this  occasion  the  regiment  received  the  highest 
commendation  from  General  Burnside  and  his  hearty  thanks. 

The  20th  infantry  was,  on  the  1st  of  November,  1863,  at  Lenoir  Station, 
East  Tennessee,  where  it  remained  until  the  14th.  The  enemy  making  at 
this  time  their  advance  toward  Knoxville,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Hough's  Ferry,  with  other  forces,  to  check  their  advance,  but  on  the  15th 
fell  back  to  Leuoir  Station,  the  regiment  covering  the  retreat,  and  holding 
the  London  road  during  the  night.  On  the  16th  the  army  continuing  the 
retreat  to  Knoxville,  the  20th,  with  the  2d  and  17th  Michigan  infantry, 


376  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

were  constituted  the  rear  guard.  The  enemy  followed  them  up  with  great 
vigor,  and  at  times  pressed  them  very  heavily.  At  Turkey  Creek,  near 
Campbell's  Station,  the  rear  was  attacked  by  the  enemy  in  force,  but  suc 
cessfully  sustained  the  attack  for  over  two  hours,  when  they  were  reinforced. 
The  loss  of  the  20th  during  this  action  was  thirty-three  in  killed  and 
wounded.  Among  the  former  was  its  commanding  officer,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  W.  Huntington  Smith,  who  was  among  the  first  to  fall.  He  was  a 
brave  and  efficient  officer,  and  his  loss  wras  deeply  felt  by  the  regiment. 

On  the  morning  of  the  17th  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Major  Byron 
M.  Cutcheon,  arrived  at  Knoxville,  having  marched  all  night  over  bad 
roads,  it  being  the  third  night  that  it  had  been  without  rest.  The  enemy 
made  their  appearance  before  Knoxville  on  the  17th,  and  commenced  the 
siege,  which  continued  until  the  5th  of  December.  The  20th  occupied  an 
exposed  position  on  the  line  of  defences,  losing  heavily,  including  Captain 
W.  D.  Wiltzie,  an  officer  of  great  ability  and  courage,  who  was  wounded 
on  the  25th,  and  died  on  the  27th  of  November. 

In  March,  1864,  the  9th  corps  was  transferred  to  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,  and  on  the  21st  of  that  month  the  regiment  proceeded  on  its  march  to 
Virginia.  Having  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  the  20th,  then  in 
command  of  Colonel  Cutcheon,  and  serving  in  the  2d  brigade,  3d  division, 
crossed  the  Rappahannock  on  the  4th  of  May,  and  the  Rapidan,  at  Ger- 
mania  Ford,  on  the  5th.  It  participated  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness 
on  the  6th,  losing  eight  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  On  the  8th  the 
regiment  formed  part  of  the  rear  guard  in  the  movement  of  its  corps  to 
Chancellorsville.  On  the  9th  it  took  part  in  the  engagement  on  the  banks 
of  the  Ny  river,  and  on  the  12th,  in  command  of  Major  George  C.  Barnes, 
Colonel  Cutcheon  being  wounded,  it  participated  in  the  attack  on  the 
enemy's  works  at  Spottsylvania  Court-house,  sustaining  a  loss  in  the  action 
of  thirty  killed,  eighty-two  wounded,  and  thirty-one  missing.  Among  the 
killed  were  Captains  R.  P.  Carpenter  and  Walter  McCollum,  Lieutenants 
David  E.  Ainsworth,  and  James  B.  Gould. 

Crossing  the  James  river,  the  regiment  arrived  in  front  of  Petersburg  on 
the  16th,  and  on  the  next  day  was  engaged  as  support  to  the  force  attack 
ing  the  enemy's  lines,  suffering  but  slight  loss.  On  the  18th  the  regiment 
charged  over  an  open  field,  and  through  a  cut  in  the  Suffolk  railroad,  to  a 
point  near  the  enemy's  lines,  where  it  constructed  rifle-pits.  During  this 
attack  it  suffered  severely  from  a  galling  cross-fire,  and  lost  more  than  one- 
half  of  the  number  engaged,  including  Major  Barnes,  commanding  regi 
ment,  mortally  wounded,  and  Captain  W.  A.  Dewey  and  Lieutenant  George 
P.  Hicks,  killed.  ^ 

While  this  regiment,  during  its  term  of  service,  displayed  persistent 
firmness  and  true  courage  on  all  occasions,  perhaps  there  was  no  position 
in  which  it  was  placed  that  exhibited  the  bravery  and  endurance  of  the 
men  to  more  advantage  than  in  the  charge  made  at  the  "crater,"  or  spring 
ing  of  the  mine,  July  30,  1864.  That  affair,  although  resulting  in  a  need 
less  and  miserable  failure,  was  one  of  the  most  daring  and  desperate  under 
takings  of  the  war,  involving  the  advance  of  nearly  a  whole  corps,  closely 
massed,  over  open  ground,  and  exposed  to  a  murderous  and  withering  fire, 
driving  large  portions  of  the  force  into  the  mine,  which  soon  became  a  per 
fect  slaughter  pen,  and  from  which  there  was  no  escape  except  through  the 
leaden  storm  which  led  to  certain  death. 

The  assaulting  force  \vas  the  9th  corps  with  the  18th  in  support,  the  2d 
in  reserve  on  the  right,  and  the  5th  on  the  left,  the  whole  closely  massed, 
with  Ledlie's  division  in  advance,  Wilcox's  and  Potter's  next  in  support, 


THE  TWENTIETH  INFANTRY.  377 

and  the  colored  division  (General  Ferrero)  in  the  rear.  The  fuse  was  to  be 
lighted  at  3^  o'clock  A.  M.,  but  owing  to  some  unavoidable  delay  the  ex 
plosion  did  not  occur  until  twenty  minutes  of  five,  after  sunrise.  A  heaving 
and  trembling  of  the  earth  was  followed  by  huge  clouds  of  earth,  and  all 
the  contents  of  the  fort,  guns,  caissons,  limbers,  and  the  soldiers  which 
manned  them,  being  thrown  into  the  air. 

The  20th  was  commanded  by  Col.  B.  M.  Cutcheon,  and  belonged  in  the 
brigade  commanded  by  Col.  William  Humphrey,  2d  Michigan,  and  was 
serving  in  Wilcox's  division,  in  which  were  five  other  Michigan  regiments, 
the  2d,  8th.  17th,  27th  and  1st  sharp-shooters.  When  the  mine  was  sprung 
the  20th  advanced  at  double-quick  and  formed  in  the  brigade  column  in  rear 
of  the  works,  the  regiment  being  the  third  battalion  in  the  column.  At 
8:30  A.  M.,  it  formed  in  the  trenches  for  the  charge,  the  2d  Michigan  on  its 
right  and  the  46th  New  York  on  its  left,  and  was  ordered  to  follow  and  be 
guided  by  the  movements  of  the  regiment  on  the  right.  It  moved  by  the 
right  flank  on  double-quick  toward  the  enemy's  works.  Colonel  Cutcheon, 
seeing  great  numbers  of  the  troops  crowding  behind  the  fort  in  much  con 
fusion,  moved  by  the  left  flank,  throwing  his  regiment  upon  the  enemy's 
rifle-pits  to  the  left  of  the  fort,  capturing  •  between  thirty  and  forty  of  the 
enemy,  including  two  commissioned  officers.  When  the  first  counter  charge 
was  made  the  regiment  moved  rapidly  over  the  rifle-pits,  and  into  the  left  of 
the  fort,  and  when  the  stampede  of  troops  occurred  it  stood  firm,  actively  and 
persistently  participating  in  repelling  the  rebel  charges,  both  in  the  forenoon 
and  afternoon,  displaying  much  courage  and  coolness.  At  about  2:30  P. 
M.,  the  last  charge  was  made  by  the  rebels,  when  nearly  all  the  Union 
troops  fell  back,  by  order  of  General  Griffin,  to  their  main  line.  A  part  of 
the  20th  was  still  in  the  fort,  and  at  3  P.  M.,  the  colors  of  the  regiment 
were  still  flying  on  the  works,  defended  by  about  thirty  of  the  men.  Of 
these  about  ten  made  their  escape,  and  the  others  were  made  prisoners, 
among  whom  were  Alexander  Bush  and  Frank  Phillips,  color-bearers,  who 
previous  to  their  capture  cut  up  the  colors  and  staff  of  the  regiment  in  small 
pieces,  and  buried  them  in  the  sand  to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy. 

The  regiment  took  part  in  the  action  of  the  30th  September  following, 
near  Poplar  Spring  Church,  losing  Captain  Oliver  Blood  and  Adjutant  J. 
E.  Seibert,  killed,  and  a  number  in  prisoners. 

In  November  of  that  year  the  20th,  commanded  by  Colonel  C.  B.  Grant, 
was  encamped  at  Peeble's  Farm  in  front  of  Petersburg,  engaged  on  picket 
duty.  On  the  28th  of  that  month  it  moved  with  its  division  to  the  extreme 
right  of  the  line  east  of  Petersburg,  and  during  that  night  took  position  in 
the  trenches,  the  regiment  occupying  Battery  No.  9,  near  the  Appornattox 
river,  and  relieving  a  portion  of  the  2d  corps.  The  enemy  having  been 
apprised  of  the  movement,  had  posted  sharp-shooters  in  convenient  positions, 
who  kept  up  a  continuous  fire  through  the  night,  killing  and  wounding 
several  men  of  the  regiment. 

During  the  winter  the  regiment  continued  in  position,  within  range  of 
the  enemy's  fire  from  mortar  batteries  in  front,  and  also  on  the  right  flank 
from  batteries  across  the  river,  mounted  with  Whitworth  and  sixty-four- 
pounder  rifle  guns.  From  these  points  he  usually  opened  fire  at  intervals 
of  three  or  four  days,  driving  every  man  to  the  shelter  of  the  works.  The 
picket  trenches  being  only  about  two  hundred  yards  apart  at  that  point 
from  those  of  the  enemy ;  consequently,  much  annoyance  and  danger  were 
experienced  from  the  fire  of  his  pickets;  and  on  February  15,  1865,  while 
Captain  H.  F.  Kobinson  was  riding  along  the  lines,  he  was  killed  by  a  rebel 

X  * 


378  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

sharp-shooter.  Owing  to  the  insufficiency  of  shelter  and  scarcity  of  fuel, 
the  men  in  the  trenches  suffered  much  hardship,  while  at  the  same  time 
their  duties  were  arduous,  being  engaged  on  picket  or  fatigue  duty  every 
other  day.  About  March  1st,  the  enemy  was  observed  strengthening  his 
works  in  front,  as  if  he  expected  an  assault.  On  the  13th  the  regiment 
was  under  arms,  anticipating  an  attack  ;  and  on  the  15th  it  received  orders 
to  be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice.  All  the  sick  were  sent  to  City 
Point,  and  the  men  required  to  sleep  on  their  arms  every  night.  On  the 
morning  of  the  25th,  about  4  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  command  was  aroused  by 
sentinel's  cry  of  "A  charge !"  and  the  men  were  immediately  ordered  to 
the  works.  It  was  still  dark,  and  no  one  seemed  to  comprehend  the  nature 
or  extent  of  the  attack.  There  was  an  irregular  firing  heard  a  short  dis 
tance  on  the  left,  and  it  was  soon  ascertained  that  the  enemy  had  captured 
Fort  Steadman,  and  that  he  was  swinging  around  to  the  right  in  rear,  with 
the  intention  of  capturing  all  on  the  right  of  the  captured  fort ;  and  noth 
ing  but  the  vigilance  and  bravery  of  this  regiment  and  the  2d  Michigan, 
which  occupied  the  line  between  Battery  No.  9  and  Fort  Steadman,  pre 
vented  the  success  of  his  movement.  The  2d  Michigan  was  forced  back 
into  Battery  No.  9,  with  considerable  loss  in  prisoners.  All  the  rebel  bat 
teries  in  front  of  the  position  were  opened  on  that  portion  of  the  line  occu 
pied  by  the  20th  and  2d  Michigan,  also  the  guns  of  the  captured  fort,  while 
the  enemy  was  pouring  in  at  the  breach,  and  at  the  same  time  preparing 
for  a  charge  in  front.  The  17th  Michigan,  advancing  from  division  head 
quarters,  charged  rapidly  on  the  advance  in  front,  but  was  driven  back  by 
a  superior  force.  Reforming,  it  again  charged,  the  20th  and  2d  Michigan 
charging  gallantly  on  the  right,  covered  by  the  guns  of  Fort  McGilvery. 
The  enemy,  seeing  that  success  was  impossible,  became  utterly  demoralized, 
and  retreated  hastily  in  great  disorder  to  his  works.  The  regiment  was 
then  deployed  along  the  picket-line,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  about  350 
of  the  retreating  enemy,  who  were  delivered  inside  our  lines.  During  the 
attack  the  regiment  lost  nine  wounded,  three  mortally. 

On  the  26th,  anticipating  another  attack,  the  regiment  was  constantly 
under  arms.  On  the  29th  the  enemy  opened  a  furious  fire,  wounding  four 
men,  and  on  the  30th  the  regiment  was  ordered  out  through  the  covered 
way  to  the  picket  trench,  receiving  orders,  together  with  the  2d  Michigan, 
and  1st  Michigan  sharp-shooters,  to  make  a  dash  on  the  rebel  works.  It 
was  decided  that  the  2d  Michigan  should  make  the  charge,  supported  by 
the  1st  sharp-shooters  on  the  left,  and  the  20th  on  the  right.  The  2d  started 
on  the  charge,  preceded  by  fifty  axmen  to  cut  away  the  chevaux  defrise,  but 
the  furious  fire  of  the  enemy  indicated  that  he  was  fully  prepared,  and  the 
attack  at  that  point  was  abandoned.  Fort  Mahon,  about  two  miles  to  the 
left  of  the  position  held  by  this  regiment,  was  captured  by  our  troops  on 
April  1st,  while  at  the  same  time  a  heavy  demonstration  was  made  on  the 
right  by  the  1st  Michigan  sharp-shooters,  which  captured  and  for  a  short 
time  held  a  portion  of  the  enemy's  works ;  and  the  20th,  together  with  the 
whole  brigade,  was  kept  in  constant  readiness  for  a  charge,  should  not  our 
forces  succeed  in  holding  Fort  Mahon ;  and  a  heavy  artillery  fire  was  kept 
up  during  the  whole  day  and  night  by  all  our  batteries,  and  during  the 
2d,  the  regiment  was  held  in  readiness  for  a  charge;  and  at  3  o'clock  A. 
M.,  on  the  3d,  it  was  ordered  towards  the  right  to  support  the  1st  Michigan 
sharp-shooters  in  a  charge  on  the  enemy's  works,  as  it  was  supposed  that  he 
was  evacuating.  On  arriving  at  the  point  indicated,  the  sharp-shooters, 
followed  by  the  2d  and  20th  Michigan,  charged  into  the  city,  capturing  a 
number  of  prisoners,  guns,  and  small  arms,  and  at  4:10  A.  M.,  the  flag  of 


THE  TWENTY-FIRST  INFANTRY.  379 

the  1st  Michigan  sharp-shooters  was  raised  on  the  Court-house  of  Petersburg, 
that  being  the  1st  regiment  which  entered  the  city,  and  the  20th  was  imme 
diately  detailed  on  provost  duty. 

While  the  historic  page  of  this  reliable  and  gallant  regiment  is  bright 
and  dazzling — exhibiting  a  long  list  of  brilliant  and  important  battles — 
there  are  none  of  them  which  set  forth  in  stronger  light  its  daring  achieve 
ments  and  faithful  service  than  these  important  engagements,  in  which  its 
fighting  qualities  were  so  severely  tested  and  so  nobly  maintained. 


THE  TWENTY-FIRST  INFANTRY. 

The  21st  had  its  rendezvous  at  Ionia,  and  was  recruited  from  the  Fourth 
District,  comprising  the  counties  of  Barry,  Ionia,  Montcalm,  Kent,  Ottawa, 
Muskegon,  Oceana,  Newaygo,  Mecosta,  Mason,  Manistee,  Grand  Traverse, 
Leelenaw,  Manitou,  Oceola,  Emmet,  Mackinac,  Delta,  and  Cheboygan.  J. 
B.  Welch,  Esq.,  was  appointed  commandant  of  camp.  The  regiment  left 
its  quarters  on  the  12th  of  September,  1862,  with  orders  to  report  at  Cin 
cinnati.  It  was  immediately  pushed  into  Kentucky. 

At  Perryville,  October  8th,  a  little  less  than  a  month  after  it  left  the 
State,  the  21st  regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Ambrose  A.  Stevens,  re 
ceived  its  first  baptism  in  the  blood  of  the  rebellion.  It  belonged  to  Colonel 
Nick  Greusel's  brigade,  and  was  led  to  its  position  in  the  fight  by  General 
Phil.  Sheridan  in  person,  and  although  losing  heavily,  it,  at  the  same  time, 
established  a  glorious  reputation  as  a  fighting  regiment,  which  was  emi 
nently  maintained  at  Stone  River,  Chicamauga,  and  Bentonville. 

At  Stone  River  the  21st,  then  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  William 
B.  McCreery,  was  in  Sill's  brigade,  of  Sheridan's  division,  and  became 
hotly  engaged,  fighting  desperately  and  continuously  against  immense  odds, 
losing  17  killed,  85  wounded,  and  37  missing,  including  among  the  mortally 
wounded  Captain  Leonard  O.  Fitzgerald,  a  gallant  officer,  who  died  of  his 
wounds  a  few  days  after  the  battle. 

General  Sheridan,  in  a  portion  of  his  report  covering  the  operations  of 
his  division  in  that  important  engagement,  says  : 

"The  enemy  appeared  to  be  in  strong  force  in  a  heavy  cedar  woods 
across  an  open  valley  in  my  front,  and  parallel  to  it — the  cedar  extending 
the  whole  length  of  the  valley — varying  from  two  hundred  to  four  hun 
dred  yards. 

"At  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  31st  General  Sill,  who  commanded 
my  right  brigade,  reported  great  activity  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  imme 
diately  in  his  front.  This  being  the  narrowest  point  in  the  valley,  I  was 
fearful  that  an  attack  might  be  made,  and  therefore  directed  two  regiments 
from  the  reserve  to  report  to  General  Sill,  who  placed  them  in  position  in 
very  short  supporting  distance  of  his  lines.  At  four  o'clock  the  division 
was  assembled  under  arms,  and  the  cannoneers  at  their  pieces.  About  fif 
teen  minutes  after  seven  o'clock  the  enemy  advanced  to  the  attack  across 
the  cotton  field  on  Sill's  front.  This  column  was  opened  upon  by  Bush's 
battery,  of  Sill's  brigade,  which  had  a  direct  fire  on  its  front,  and  by  Hes- 
cock's  and  Houghtaling's  batteries,  which  had  an  oblique  fire  on  its  front 
from  a  commanding  position,  near  the  centre  of  my  line ;  the  effect  of  this 
fire  upon  the  advancing  column  was  terrible.  The  enemy,  however,  con 
tinued  to  move  forward  until  he  had  reached  nearly  the  edge  of  the  timber, 
when  he  was  opened  upon  by  Sill's  infantry,  at  a  range  of  not  over  fifty 
yards.  As  this  attacking  force  was  massed  several  regiments  deep,  the  de- 


380  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

struction  to  it  was  great.  For  a  short  time  it  withstood  the  fire,  then 
wavered,  broke,  and  ran.  Sill  directed  his  troops  to  charge,  which  was 
gallantly  responded  to,  and  the  enemy  was  driven  back  across  the  valley 
and  behind  his  entrenchments.  The  brigade  then  fell  back  in  good  order 
and  resumed  its  original  lines.  In  this  charge  I  had  the  misfortune  to  lose 
General  Sill,  who  was  killed." 

The  enemy  soon  rallied  and  advanced  to  the  attack.  General  Sheridan, 
after  making  several  movements  with  brigades  of  his  division  and  with  his 
artillery,  intending  to  meet  successfully  the  advancing  enemy,  and  gallantly 
attacking  at  several  points  against  immense  odds  without  success,  finally 
took  a  position  on  Negley's  right,  and  placed  his  batteries  in  position.  "In 
this  position,"  says  Sheridan,  "I  was  immediately  attacked,  when  one  of 
the  bitterest  and  most  sanguinary  contests  of  the  whole  day  occurred. 
General  Cheatham's  division  advanced  on  Roberts'  brigade,  while  heavy 
masses  of  the  enemy,  with  three  batteries  of  artillery  over  the  open  ground 
which  I  had  occupied  in  the  previous  part  of  the  engagement,  and  at  the 
same  time  opened-  fire  from  the  intrenchments  in  the  direction  of  Mur- 
freesboro.  The  contest  then  became  terrible.  The  enemy  made  three 
attacks,  and  was  three  times  repulsed,  the  artillery  range  of  the  respective 
batteries  being  not  over  two  hundred  yards.  In  these  attacks  Roberts' 
brigade  lost  their  gallant  commander,  who  was  killed.  There  was  no  sign 
of  faltering  with  my  men,  the  only  cry  being  for  more  ammunition,  which, 
unfortunately,  could  not  be  supplied,  on  account  of  the  discomfiture  of  the 
troops  on  the  right  of  our  wing,  which  allowed  the  enemy  to  come  in  and 
capture  the  ammunition  train." 

General  Sheridan,  in  specially  mentioning  by  name  various  brigade, 
regimental,  and  battery  commanders  of  his  division — one  of  whom  was 
Lieut-Colonel  W.  B.  McCreery,  21st  Michigan — says : 

"I  refer  with  pride  to  the  splendid  conduct,  bravery,  and  efficiency  of 
the  following  regimental  commanders  and  the  officers  and  men  of  their  re 
spective  commands." 

At  Chicamauga  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Col.  McCreery,  belonged  to 
the  same  brigade  as  at  Stone  River,  and  then  commanded  by  Gen.  Lytle, 
was  serving  in  Sheridan's  division  of  the  4th  corps.  On  September  20th, 
while  the  division  was  advancing  to  the  support  of  General  Thomas,  it  be 
came  heavily  engaged,  and  captured  prisoners  from  four  different  rebel 
divisions.  The  21st  was  in  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  behaved  with  great  cour 
age,  never  yielding  except  when  overcome  by  immense  odds,  but  after  a 
brave  but  fruitless  effort  against  a  perfect  torrent  of  the  enemy  was  com 
pelled  to  give  way. 

In  General  Sheridan's  report  is  found  the  following  extracts : 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  20th  September  I  rearranged  my  lines,  and  formed 
myself  in  a  strong  position  on  the  extreme  right,  to  which  I  had  been  as 
signed,  but  which  was  disconnected  from  the  troops  on  my  left. 

"  At  about  9  o'clock  the  engagement  again  opened  by  a  heavy  assault 
upon  the  left  of  the  army,  while  everything  was  quiet  in  my  front.  To 
resist  the  assault  that  was  being  made  on  the  left  the  interior  divisions  were 
again  moved.  *  *  * 

"  Immediately  afterwards  I  received  orders  to  support  General  Thomas 
with  two  brigades,  and  had  just  abandoned  my  position  and  was  moving  at 
double-quick  to  carry  out  the  order  when  the  enemy  made  a  furious  assault, 
with  overwhelming  numbers,  on  Davis'  front,  and  coming  up  through  the 
unoccupied  space  between  Davis  and  myself,  even  covering  the  front  of  the 
position  I  had  just  abandoned,  Davis  was  driven  from  his  lines,  and  Lai- 


THE  TWENTY-FIRST  INFANTRY.  381 

boldt,  whose  brigade  was  in  column  of  regiments,  was  ordered  by  Major- 
General  McCook  to  charge,  deploying  in  front.  The  impetuosity  of  the 
enemy's  charge,  together  with  the  inability  of  Laiboldt's  command  to  fire 
in  consequence  of  the  ground  in  his  front  being  covered  with  the  men  of 
Davis's  division,  who  were  rushing  through  his  ranks,  caused  this  brigade 
also  to  break  and  fall  to  the  rear.  In  the  meantime  I  had  received  the 
most  urgent  orders  to  throw  in  my  other  two  brigades.  This  I  did  at  a 
double-quick,  forming  the  brigade  of  General  Lytle — composed  of  the  36th 
and  88th  Illinois,  24th  Wisconsin,  and  21st  Michigan — and  Col.  Bradley's 
brigade,  now  commanded  by  Col.  \V.  H.  Wai  worth,  to  the  front,  under  a 
terrible  fire  of  musketry  from  the  enemy.  Many  of  the  men  were  shot  down 
before  facing  to  the  front.  After  a  stubborn  resistance  the  enemy  drove  me 
back  nearly  to  the  Lafayette  road,  a  distance  of  about  three  hundred  yards. 
At  this  point  the  men  again  rallied,  drove  the  enemy  back  with  terrible 
slaughter,  and  regained  the  line  of  the  ridge  on  which  Col.  Laiboldt  had 
originally  been  posted.  In  this  charge  we  took  a  number  of  prisoners,  and 
the  51st  Illinois  captured  the  colors  of  the  24th  Alabama. 

"  Here,  unfortunately,  the  enemy  had  strong  supports,  while  I  had  none 
to  relieve  my  exhausted  men,  and  my  troops  were  again  driven  back  to  the 
Lafayette  road  after  a  gallant  resistance.  In  this  engagement  I  had  the 
misfortune  to  lose  Gen.  Lytle,  commanding  my  first  brigade,  and  many  of 
the  best  and  bravest  officers  of  my  command." 

Among  the  names  of  the  officers  mentioned  by  Gen.  Sheridan  as  specially 
distinguished  are  Col.  W.  B.  McCreery  (wounded  and  taken  prisoner)  and 
Lieut.  Col.  Morris  B.  Wells,  (killed,)  21st  Michigan. 

In  this  sanguinary  engagement  the  21st  lost  most  heavily,  having  11 
killed,  48  wounded,  and  35  taken  prisoners.  Among  the  wounded  was 
Captain  Edgar  Smith  mortally,  who  died  near  Chattanooga  on  the  llth  of 
October  following. 

On  November  1st,  1864,  the  21st,  then  in  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  L.  K. 
Bishop,  was  at  Dalton,  Georgia,  where  it  received  orders  to  march  to  Kings 
ton  and  join  the  14th  army  corps ;  and  on  arriving  there  was  assigned  to 
the  2d  brigade,  1st  division,  when  it  started  for  Atlanta,  and  on  the  march 
assisted  in  tearing  up  the  railroad  track  and  destroying  everything  in  its 
rear,  reaching  that  point  on  the  15th,  and  on  the  following  day  after  the 
destruction  of  that  place  moved  with  Gen.  Sherman's  army  towards  Mil- 
ledgeville,  arriving  there  on  the  22d,  and  then  took  up  a  line  of  march  in 
the  direction  of  Augusta;  and  on  reaching  within  about  forty  miles  of  that 
point  turned  directly  south  towards  Savannah,  and  arrived  at  the  works  in 
front  of  that  place  on  the  10th  of  December,  and  there  relieved  a  part  of 
the  20th  army  corps,  which  held  a  portion  of  the  works  on  the  south  side  of 
the  canal,  being  the  most  exposed  position  on  the  whole  line.  There  the 
men,  being  obliged  to  lay  in  the  trenches,  without  tents  and  lightly  clad, 
few  of  them  having  blankets,  suffered  extremely  from  cold  and  also  from 
hunger,  as  their  rations  were  short. 

On  the  20th  of  January  following  the  regiment  commenced  the  campaign 
through  the  Carolinas.  Crossing  Cape  Fear  river  on  the  13th  of  March 
and  moving  forward  met  the  enemy  at  Averysboro'  on  the  16th,  and,  after 
a  severe  engagement,  he  was  compelled  to  retreat  during  the  night.  Con 
tinuing  the  march,  again  encountering  the  enemy  at  Bentonville  on  the 
19th,  when  the  21st,  in  command  of  Capt.  Arthur  C.  Prince,  again  gained 
much  celebrity  for  gallant  and  daring  service,  encountering  the  enemy  and 
becoming  heavily  engaged ;  it  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  six  officers  and 
eighty-six  enlisted  men  out  of  two  hundred  and  thirty. 


382  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

While  the  21st  has  on  every  occasion  been  much  distinguished  and  always 
recognized  as  a  fighting  regiment,  Stone  River,  Chicamauga,  and  Benton- 
ville  will  stand  out  as  among  its  principal  engagements. 

THE  TWENTY-SECOND  INFANTRY. 

The  22d  regiment,  so  distinguished  at  Chicamauga  for  one  of  the  most 
dashing  and  desperate  bayonet  charges  of  the  war,  was  raised  in  the  coun 
ties  of  Oakland,  Livingston,  Macomb,  St.  Clair,  and  Sanilac  by  the  talented 
and  much  lamented  Governor  Wisner,  who  went  to  the  field  in  command 
of  the  regiment.  Leaving  the  State  for  Kentucky  on  September  4th,  1862, 
he  served  faithfully  and  with  much  distinction  until  attacked  with  typhoid 
fever,  of  which  he  died  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  January  4,  1863.  Col.  Wisner 
was  much  devoted  to  his  regiment  and  the  cause  of  his  country,  which  he 
most  warmly  espoused ;  his  honorable  adherence  to  both,  and  his  high  sense 
of  duty,  induced  him  to  remain  in  the  field  until  disease  had  fastened  upon 
his  system,  prostrating  him  beyond  a  chance  of  recovery.  Had  health  not 
failed  him  and  life  been  spared  his  great  ability,  nobleness  of  character, 
firmness,  and  courage,  would  have  rapidly  advanced  him  to  a  high  rank, 
and  placed  him  prominently  in  the  history  of  his  country  which  he  loved 
so  well. 

The  regiment,  in  command  of  Col.  Heber  Le  Favour,  first  met  the  enemy, 
under  Gen.  Pegram,  at  Danville,  Ky.,  March  24th,  1863,  and  was  subse 
quently  engaged  at  Hickman's  Bridge,  Ky.,  Pea-vine  Creek,  and  McAffee's 
Church,  Tenn. ;  then  followed  Chicamauga,  the  great  and  disastrous  conflict 
of  the  "  River  of  Death."  In  that  battle,  on  Saturday  morning,  September 
19th,  Gen.  Whitaker  was  reinforced  by  Mitchell's  and  McCook's  brigades 
and  by  the  22d  Michigan  and  89th  Ohio,  under  Colonel  Le  Favour.  The 
command  of  Col.  Le  Favour  was  attached  to  Col.  Whitaker's  own  brigade, 
and  that  day  and  night  were  placed  in  line  of  battle. 

Sunday,  at  9  A.  M.,  the  deadly  strife  commenced  on  General  Thomas' 
line,  which  was  shattered  and  compelled  to  fall  back.  General  Whitaker 
was  ordered  to  move  to  the  right  and  reinforce  Thomas  at  a  point  some 
four  miles  distant.  Moving  rapidly,  he  soon  found  the  rebel  cavalry  in 
position  to  check  him,  but  quickly  drove  them  off,  and  succeeded  in  estab 
lishing  himself  near  the  right  of  Thomas'  line.  General  Steadman,  com 
manding  1st  division,  reserve  corps,  received  instructions  from  Thomas  that 
the  enemy  must  be  driven  from  the  hill  on  his  right.  General  Whitaker 
was  ordered  to  the  work,  and  advanced  in  two  lines — the  first,  composed  of 
the  96th  Illinois,  on  the  right,  115th  Illinois  in  the  centre,  and  the  22d 
Michigan,  in  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Sanborn,  of  that  regiment, 
on  the  left ;  the  second  line — 40th  Ohio  on  the  right,  84th  Indiana  in  the 
centre,  and  89th  Ohio  on  the  left,  and  in  rear  of  the  22d  Michigan,  both 
lines  under  command  of  Colonel  Le  Favour.  Charging  in  gallant  style  on 
the  enemy's  lines,  they  drove  them  from  the  hill  full  half  a  mile.  Here  the 
rebels  rallied,  and  Longstreet's  forces  came  rushing  down  in  masses  eight 
lines  deep.  The  gallant  brigade  received  and  repulsed  them  with  terrible 
loss.  Colonel  Sanborn  was  severely  wounded  while  in  front  of  his  regi 
ment.  The  color-sergeant,  Philo  J.  Durkee,  and  Corporal  Stansell  were 
killed  in  turn,  and  Corporal  Vincent  severely  wounded,  while  bravely 
bearing  the  colors  of  the22d  to  the  front.  The  rebels  drove  the  brigade  to 
the  foot  of  the  hill  at  the  second  onslaught,  where  it  again  formed,  and 
again  gallantly  retook  the  crest.  Colonel  Le  Favour  informed  General 


THE  TWENTY-SECOND  INFANTRY.  383 

Whitaker  that  ammunition  was  exhausted.  "  You  must  use  your  steel," 
was  the  reply.  The  enemy  again  furiously  advanced.  The  sun  had  gone 
down;  in  the  twilight  it  was  difficult  to  distinguish  friend  from  foe.  The 
22d  rushed  forward,  led  by  Colonel  Le  Favour  in  person,  with  fixed  bay 
onets  and  empty  muskets,  under  a  most  terrific  fire  of  grape  and  musketry, 
met  the  charge  of  the  enemy,  and  repulsed  and  drove  him  at  every  point. 
General  Steadman  sent  an  order  to  fall  back,  but  it  was  too  late ;  before  it 
arrived  the  regiment  was  closed  in  upon  at  both  flanks  and  cut  off.  This 
brave  and  most  desperate  charge,  General  Steadman  declared,  saved  that 
immediate  portion  of  the  army. 

A  correspondent  says  :  "Whitaker  said  he  would  take  the  ridge,  and  he 
did  it.  This  is  the  way  it  was  done  :  The  six  regiments  of  the  1st  brigade 
were  formed  in  two  lines ;  the  first,  comprising  the  96th  Illinois,  Colonel 
Thomas  E.  Champion,  on  the  right ;  115th  Illinois,  ColonelJ.  H.  Moore,  in 
the  centre  ;  and  the  22d  Michigan,  Colonel  Le  Favour,  on  the  left.  Then 
came  the  order  to  advance.  With  a  yell,  the  first  line  bounded  forward 
on  the  double-quick.  Up  and  down  the  little  hills  and  through  the  narrow 
valleys  which  intervened  they  pressed  hastily  forward,  until  they  came 
within  short  range  of  the  rebel  musketry,  which  opened  upon  them  furiously, 
while  the  grape  and  canister  from  the  battery  on  the  ridge  swept  cruelly 
through  the  ranks.  Almost  exhausted  with  their  hurried  march  and  their 
long-continued  double-quick,  the  troops  recoiled  for  a  moment  under  that 
withering  fire ;  but  ere  the  most  timid  could  think  of  retreating,  Colonel 
Champion  promptly  gave  the  command  to  halt,  lie  down,  and  fire,  which 
was  obeyed  on  the  instant.  There  the  line  lay  for  five  minutes,  responding 
resolutely  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  That  five  minutes  was  a  terrible  ordeal 
for  our  soldiers,  for  during  that  short  period  their  ranks  were  more  than 
decimated.  Then  came  the  order  to  fix  bayonets  and  charge  upon  the 
enemy.  The  ardor  of  the  men  overcame  their  fatigue,  and,  tired  as  they 
were,  they  resumed  the  double-quick  march  as  they  advanced  up  the  ridge, 
right  in  the  face  of  a  galling  fire.  If  a  man  fell — and  many  did — he  was 
left  to  enrich  the  soil  of  Georgia  with  his  life's  blood  ;  or,  if  able,  to  creep, 
alone  and  unassisted,  to  the  rear,  for  none  who  were  able  to  march  left  the 
ranks,  which  were  kept  well  closed  up,  and  the  line  was  firmly  main 
tained." 

The  same  correspondent,  in  giving  the  names  of  many  who  distinguished 
themselves,  says  of  Colonel  Le  Favour  : 

"And  Colonel  Le  Favour,  who  led  his  22d  Michigan  on  a  bayonet  charge, 
efter  they  had  expended  all  their  ammunition,  should  not  be  forgotten 
when  the  roll  of  honor  is  made  out." 

On  this  day  the  22d  lost  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  372  out  of  584, 
including  among  the  mortally  wounded  Captains  W.  A.  Smith  and  Elijah 
Suell,  brave  and  meritorious  officers.  Most  of  the  missing  were  taken  pris 
oners  in  the  charge,  among  whom  was  the  commanding  officer — Colonel 
Le  Favour. 

In  this  charge  the  regiment  was  almost  annihilated,  but  gained  an  im 
perishable  page  in  history. 

NOTE. — The  following  extract  from  the  report  of  General  Whitaker,  shows  the  nature 
of  the  conflict  in  which  the  22d  was  engaged  at  Chicamauga  :  "  My  command  was  then 
moved  by  the  flank  in  two  lines,  at  double-quick  time  up  the  valley  for  nearly  a  mile 
under  a  heavy  fire  of  shell  from  a  rebel  battery.  Several  were  killed  and  wounded  in 
this  charge.  Arriving  at  the  point  occupied  by  Gen.  Thomas,  we  found  him  sorely 
pressed  and  yielding  stubbornly  to  superior  numbers.  I  was  directed  to  drive  the  ene 
my  from  a  ridge  on  which  he  had  concentrated  his  forces  in  great  numbers,  supported 


384  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

strongly  by  artillery,  and  was  imminently  threatening  destruction  of  the  right  by  a  flank 
movement.  Forming  my  command  in  two  lines,  96th  Illinois  on  the  right,  1 15th  Illinois 
in  the  centre,  and  22d  Michigan  on  the  left  of  the  first  line.  Both  lines  then  advanced 
at  double-quick  against  the  enemy.  The  conflict  was  terrific,  the  enemy  was  driven 
nearly  half  a  mile;  rallying,  they  drove  my  command  a  short  distance,  when  they  in 
turn  were  driven  again  with  great  loss.  Both  lines  had  been  thrown  into  the  conflict 
on  the  second  charge,  and  the  whole  line  kept  up  a  deadly  and  well  directed  fire  upon 
the  enemj  who  fought  with  great  determination  and  vigor.  The  22d  Michigan  after 
fighting  for  nearly  three  hours,  having  exhausted  its  ammunition,  boldly  charged  into 
the  midst  of  overwhelming  numbers  with  the  bayonet,  driving  them  until  overcome  by 
superior  numbers." 

In  Company  C  of  this  regiment  served  the  infant,  but  heroic  soldier  "Johnny  Clem." 
This  boy  is  a  native  of  Newark,  Ohio.  In  the  spring  of  1863,  having  scarcely  seen  12 
summers,  he  followed  an  Ohio  regiment  to  Nashville,  at  that  time  the  seat  of  war  in  the 
West.  On  the  4th  of  July  following,  he  enlisted  in  the22d  Michigan  regiment,  and  took 
part  in  all  its  campaigns  down  to  the  bloody  engagement  at  Chicamauga.  His  heroism 
in  the  last-mentioned  battle  brought  him  to  the  notice  of  General  Rosecrans,  who,  with 
other  deserved  honors,  promoted  him  to  the  rank  of  sergeant.  A  complete  outfit  for 
the  infantile  "orderly"  was  forwarded  to  General  Thomas's  headquarters  by  some  citi 
zens  of  Cincinnati,  and  its  presentation  was  the  occasion  of  the  following  pleasant 
sketch  by  a  correspondent  from  that  city  :  "  Of  course  you  remember  the  story  of  little 
Johnny  Clem,  the  motherless  atom  of  a  drummer  boy,  'aged  10,'  who  strayed  away  from 
Newark,  Ohio  ;  and  the  first  we  knew  of  him,  though  small  enough  to  live  in  a  drum, 
he  was  beating  the  long  roll  for  the  22d  Michigan.  At  Chicamauga  he  filled  the  office 
of  'marker,'  carrying  the  guidon  whereby  they  form  the  lines;  a  duty  having  a  coun 
terpart  in  the  surveyor's  more  peaceful  calling,  in  the  flagmen  who  flutters  the  red  sig 
nal  along  the  metes  and  bounds.  On  Sunday  of  the  battle,  the  little  fellow's  occupation 
gone,  he  picked  up  a  gun  that  had  fallen  from  some  dying  hand,  provided  himself  with 
ammunition,  and  began  p.utting  in  the  periods  quite  ou  his  own  account,  blazing  away 
close  to  the  ground  like  a  fire-fly  in  the  grass.  Late  in  the  waning  of  the  day,  the  waif 
left  almost  alone  in  the  whirl  of  the  battle,  a  rebel  Colonel  dashed  up,  and  looking  down 

ordered  him  to  surrender.     'Surrender,'  he  shouted,  'you  little  d — d  son  of  a .' 

The  words  were  hardly  out  of  his  mouth,  when  Johnny  brought  his  piece  to  '  order 
arms,'  and  as  his  hand  slipped  down  to  the  hammer,  he  pressed  it  back,  swung  up  the 
gun  to  the  position  of  'charge  bayonet,'  and  as  the  officer  raised  his  sabre  to  strike  the 
piece  aside,  the  glancing  barrel  lifted  into  range,  and  the  proud  Colonel  tumbled  from 
his  horse,  his  lips  fresh-stained  with  the  syllable  of  vile  reproach  he  had  flung  on  a 
mother's  grave  in  the  hearing  of  her  child."  While  the  prisoners  of  his  regiment,  taken 
in  that  fearful  charge,  were  being  marched  to  the  rear,  they  were  fired  upon  by  a  rebel 
force.  Clem  dropped  as  if  shot,  and  after  laying  for  some  time  and  until  the  rebels  had 
moved  off,  he  travelled  to  Chattanooga  during  the  night,  a  distance  of  about  ten  miles. 
He  was  mustered  out  of  service  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Sep 
tember  8th,  1864.  After  his  discharge,  Clem  went  to  school  at  Indianapolis,  at  the  ex 
pense  of  .the  late  General  Thomas,  who  took  a  special  and  fraternal  interest  in  his  wel 
fare.  The  letters  from  the  great  general  to  the  little  hero  of  Chicamauga,  as  might  be 
expected,  were  models  of  simplicity.  He  closes  one  with  these  words  :  "  Remember 
that  modesty  and  self-denial  are  among  the  best  of  the  virtues."  Johnny  now  holds  ai 
appointment  at  West  Point.  He  is  no  longer  "  an  atom  of  a  drummer  boy,"  but  a 
promising  student,  five  feet  one-eighth  of  an  inch  in  height,  active  and  very  intelligent, 
bidding  fair  to  graduate  high. 


THE   TWENTY-THIRD  INFANTRY. 

The  23d,  raised  and  rendezvoused  at  East  Saginaw,  under  the  direc 
tion  of  Colonel  David  Jerome,  commandant  of  camp,  left  the  State  for  the 
field  in  Kentucky,  September  18,  1862,  under  command  of  Colonel  M.  W. 
Chapin ;  and  after  much  hard  service  on  long  and  tedious  marches,  per 
forming  a  great  amount  of  duty  in  garrison,  and  guarding  railroad  trains, 
acquiring  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  reliable  and  serviceable  regiment,  first 
met  the  rebels  at  Paris,  Ky.,  on  July  19,  1863,  where  a  brief  but  spirited 
skirmish  occurred,  resulting  in  the  route  of  the  enemy. 

Later  in  the  same  year,  in  the  harassing  engagements  around  Knoxville, 


THE  TWENTY-THIRD  INFANTRY.  385 

immediately  preceding  the  investment  of  that  place  by  Longstreet,  the  regi 
ment,  under  command  of  Colonel  Chapin,  took  a  most  active  part,  partici 
pating  at  Campbell's  Station ;  losing  in  the  various  battles  and  skirmishes 
8  killed,  23  wounded,  and  8  missing.  It  was  also  prominently  engaged 
in  the  gallant  and  successful  defence  of  that  place  by  General  Burnside. 

Colonel  Chapin  commanded  the  regiment  with  much  ability  and  con 
spicuous  courage  in  the  field,  until  April  15,  1864,  when  his  health  failed 
him,  compelling  him  to  resign,  and  Lieut.  Col.  O.  S.  Spaulding  was  pro 
moted  to  the  colonelcy. 

Although  this  reliable  and  model  regiment  acquitted  itself  with  much 
celebrity  in  every  encounter  with  the  enemy  in  which  it  was  engaged,  Camp 
bell's  Station,  Resaca,  Franklin,  and  Nashville  will  always  be  recognized 
as  prominent  among  its  many  hard-fought  battles  ;  and  the  memories  of 
those  fields,  on  which  so  much  patriotism  and  daring  courage  wrere  evinced, 
will  last  while  a  soldier  of  that  noble  regiment  lives. 

In  November,  1863,  while  General  Burnside  occupied  East  Tennessee, 
and  while  his  troops  were  falling  back  from  Loudon  on  Knoxville,  the  23d 
Michigan,  then  commanded  by  Major  W.  W.  Wheeler,  the  lllth  Ohio,  the 
107th  Illinois,  and  the  13th  Kentucky,  all  under  command  of  Col.  Chapin, 
composed  the  2d  brigade  of  General  White's  2d  division,  of  the  23d  corps. 

The  brigade  had  been  engaged  with  its  division  in  a  severe  encounter 
with  the  advancing  forces  of  Longstreet  at  Huff's  Ferry,  on  November  12, 
when  Colonel  Chapin  moved  forward  with  his  brigade  to  the  attack  on  the 
double-quick,  and  after  a  severe  fight  against  immense  odds,  drove  the 
enemy  back  for  over  three  miles,  when  he  took  a  strong  position  on  a  hill, 
which  he  thought  impregnable,  defended  as  it  was  by  three  regiments  of 
Longstreet's  celebrated  corps ;  but  a  charge  was  made  by  the  2d  brigade, 
and  in  fifteen  minutes  the  hill  was  cleared  and  the  rebels  routed,  with 
heavy  loss. 

Next  morning  at  daylight  the  troops  took  up  the  line  of  march  to  Lenoir's, 
the  2d  brigade  covering  the  retreat,  and  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  during 
the  day.  Lenoir's  was  reached  about  4  P.  M.,  when  it  was  discovered  that 
the  main  rebel  force  had  taken  a  position  to  give  battle.  Necessary  prepa 
rations  were  immediately  made  to  meet  their  attack ;  but  no  demonstration 
was  made  by  the  enemy  that  evening.  At  daylight  next  morning  the  re 
treat  was  continued.  Marching  in  the  direction  of  Knoxville,  the  retreating 
troops  were  overtaken  by  the  enemy  near  Campbell's  Station  at  midday,  on 
the  16th,  when  a  severe  engagement  immediately  ensued,  which  is  described 
by  a  correspondent  of  the  Louisville  Journal  as  follows : 

"One  brigade  of  the  9th  corps  was  in  advance,  the  2d  brigade  of  the  23d 
corps  in  the  centre,  and  one  brigade  of  the  9th  corps  as  rear  guard.  The 
skirmishing  was  begun  by  the  9th  corps,  forming  in  rear  of  General  White's 
command,  which  formed  in  line  to  protect  the  stock,  etc.,  as  it  passed  to  the 
rear,  and  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the  9th  corps,  which  was  the  rear  guard, 
and  was  to  file  past  it.  Again  was  the  2d  brigade  in  position  where  it  must 
receive  the  shock  of  battle,  and  must  sustain  more  or  less  the  honors  already 
won.  The  arrangements  for  battle  had  hardly  been  completed  before  the 
cavalry  came  in  from  the  front,  followed  by  the  infantry  of  the  9th  corps, 
and  two  heavy  lines  of  the  enemy  emerged  from  the  woods  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  in  front.  Each  line  consisted  of  a  division,  and  were  dressed 
almost  wholly  in  the  United  States  uniform,  which  at  first  deceived  us. 
Their  first  line  advanced  to  within  eight  hundred  yards  of  General  White's 
front  before  that  officer  gave  the  order  to  fire.  Henshaw's  and  the  24th 
Indiana  batteries  then  opened  on  them  with  shell,  but  they  moved  steadily 

Y 


386  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

forward,  closing  up  as  their  lines  would  be  broken  by  this  terrible  fire,  until 
within  three  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  our  main  line,  when  the  batteries 
mentioned  opened  on  them  with  canister,  and  four  batteries  in  the  rear  and 
right  and  left  of  General  White,  opened  on  their  rear  line  with  shell.  This 
was  more  than  they  could  stand.  Their  front  line  broke  and  ran  back 
some  distance,  where  they  reformed  and  deployed  right  and  left,  and  en 
gaged  the  13th  Kentucky  and  23d  Michigan  on  the  right,  and  the  lllth 
Ohio  and  107th  Illinois  on  the  left,  which  were  supported  by  General  Fer- 
rero's  command,  of  the  9th  corps.  This  unequal  contest  went  on  for  an 
hour  and  a  half.  The  only  advantage  over  them  so  far  was  in  artillery — 
they  not  having  any  in  position  yet.  It  seemed  to  be  their  object  to  crush 
the  inferior  force  opposing  them  with  their  heavy  force  of  infantry.  The 
men  were  too  stubborn ;  they  would  not  yield  an  inch,  but  frequently  drove 
the  rebels  from  their  position,  and  held  their  ground.  Finding  they  could 
not  move  them  with  the  force  already  employed,  the  rebels  moved  forward 
another  line  of  infantry,  heavy  as  either  of  the  first  two,  and  placed  in 
position  three  batteries.  Their  guns  were  heavier  and  of  longer  range  than 
those  of  the  2d  brigade,  and  were  situated  to  command  General  White's 
position,  while  his  guns  could  not  answer  their  fire.  They  got  the  range 
of  these  guns  at  once,  and  killed  and  wounded  several  gunners,  and  disabled 
several  horses,  when  General  White  ordered  them  back  to  the  position  occu 
pied  by  those  in  the  rear,  the  infantry  holding  the  position  covered  by  the 
artillery  on  the  hill.  An  artillery  fight  then  began,  which  continued  nearly 
two  hours,  till  it  was  growing  dark,  and  the  order  was  given  for  our  troops 
to  fall  back  to  resume  the  march  to  Knoxville. 

"  Of  Col.  Chapin,  commanding  the  2d  brigade,  I  need  not  add  to  what 
I  have  said.  His  excellent  management  of  the  troops  upon  three  fields, 
and  his  personal  bravery,  have  attached  him  to  his  men  as  few  commanders 
are  attached.  His  staff,  Captains  Gallup  and  Sheldon,  and  Lieut.  Pearson, 
are  worthy  followers  of  their  brave  leader." 

This  correspondent,  in  mentioning  the  names  of  the  several  regimental 
commanders  in  the  brigade  as  behaving  nobly,  includes  the  name  of  Major 
Wheeler. 

The  regiment  arrived  at  Knoxville  at  4  A.  M.,  on  the  17th,  after  a  march 
through  mud  and  rain  of  twenty-eight  miles,  having  lost  in  the  several 
movements  8  killed,  23  wounded,  and  8  missing. 

At  Resaca,  on  May  14,  1864,  the  23d,  commanded  by  Col.  Spaulding, 
still  in  the  2d  brigade,  then  commanded  by  General  Hascall,  and  belonging 
to  General  Judah's  division  (2d)  of  the  23d  corps,  with  its  brigade,  engaged 
the  enemy,  and  took  a  most  gallant  part  in  assaulting  his  strong  position 
at  that  point,  losing  heavily. 

Colonel  Spaulding,  then  in  command,  in  his  report  makes  the  following 
mention  of  the  services  of  his  regiment  in  that  affair : 

"An  assault  on  the  enemy's  works  was  ordered.  The  assaulting  column 
was  formed  in  three  lines,  this  regiment  being  in  the  second  line,  advancing 
over  an  open  field  within  easy  rifle-shot  of  the  enemy's  position,  under  a 
terrible  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery.  The  regiment  in  advance  of  the 
23d  broke,  and  was  driven  back,  and  the  one  in  our  rear  followed  them. 
We  pushed  forward  until  we  reached  a  deep  creek,  which  it  was  impossible 
to  cross,  and  held  our  position  until  ordered  back.  In  this  advance  the 
regiment  lost  62  killed  or  wounded.  Lieutenant  William  C.  Stewart  was 
among  the  killed." 

In  the  American  Cyclopedia,  for  1864,  is  found  the  following: 

"A  division  (Judah's)  of  the  23d  corps,  and  Newton's,  of  the  4th  corps, 


THE  TWENTY-THIRD  INFANTRY.  337 

moving  over  comparatively  level  ground,  succeeded,  after  a  desperate  strug 
gle,  in  forcing  the  enemy  to  abandon  an  important  position  on  the  outer 
line.  Although  the  Federal  troops  were  unable  to  hold  this,  they  succeeded 
in  advancing  their  line  and  getting  their  artillery  into  a  position  to  prevent 
the  enemy  from  reoccupying  the  works." 

At  Franklin  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Col.  Spaulding,  was  serving 
with  the  2d  division  of  the  23d  corps,  Major-General  Scofield,  and  in  the 
2d  brigade,  commanded  by  Col.  O.  H.  Moore,  of  the  25th  Michigan.  On 
November  4th,  1864,  it  left  Johnsonville  by  rail  for  Columbus,  Tennessee, 
and  there  joined  the  army,  opposing  the  advance  of  Hood  on  his  Northern 
campaign.  Arriving  at  Columbia  on  the  25th,  while  a  heavy  skirmish  was 
in  progress,  two  companies  of  the  regiment  were  engaged  on  the  skirmish 
line,  and  at  midnight  the  forces  were  ordered  to  withdraw  to  the  south  side 
of  Duck  river,  where  works  were  thrown  up.  On  the  28th  the  regiment 
crossed  to  the  north  bank,  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  across  the  river,  and 
on  the  29th  fell  back  towards  Franklin,  arriving  there  on  the  morning  of 
the  30th,  where  the  army  was  immediately  put  in  position,  throwing  up 
slight  works. 

At  4  P.  M.  the  enemy,  in  great  force  and  with  much  vigor,  attacked  in 
four  lines,  and,  after  a  most  desperate  assault,  was  repulsed  with  great  loss ; 
but  the  attack  was  again  renewed  and  continued  at  intervals  until  10  P. 
M.,  when  he  made  a  most  determined  effort,  advancing  as  with  a  death 
struggle,  planting  his  colors  on  the  works  in  front  of  the  23d  Michigan,  but 
was  handsomely  repulsed  by  the  regiment  in  a  hand-to-hand  fight  with  the 
bayonet.  This  deadly  encounter  and  most  determined  successful  defence 
by  Col.  Spaulding  and  his  gallant  regiment  was  seldom  if  ever  equalled 
during  the  war. 

In  the  engagement  Capt.  David  M.  Averill  fell  mortally  wounded. 

At  Nashville,  on  the  morning  of  December  15th,  1864,  while  that  place 
was  being  assaulted  by  Hood's  rebels,  the  regiment,  as  a  part  of  the  army 
of  General  Thomas,  moved  on  the  enemy,  and  served  with  conspicuous 
bravery  and  marked  efficiency  in  the  engagements  of  that  eventful  day  and 
the  next,  which,  after  most  desperate  fighting,  resulted  in  driving  Hood's 
forces  in  a  demoralized  condition  from  all  their  positions,  giving  to  the  Union 
arms  one  of  the  most  substantial  and  important  victories  of  the  rebellion. 

On  the  15th  Col.  Spaulding,  with  his  regiment,  then  in  the  brigade  of 
Col.  Moore,  made  a  most  daring  and  dashing  charge  on  a  position  occupied 
by  a  portion  of  the  enemy's  infantry  posted  behind  a  heavy  stone  wall  on 
the  crest  of  a  hill,  which  it  carried  in  most  brilliant  style,  capturing  more 
prisoners  than  there  were  men  in  the  line  of  the  regiment.  The  flag-staff 
was  shot  in  two  and  the  color  sergeant  severely  wounded,  but  before  the 
colors  fell  to  the  ground  they  were  grasped  by  Corporal  Freeman,  of  the 
color  guard,  and  bravely  carried  forward. 

The  regiment  afterwards  served  with  much  credit  and  distinction  with  its 
corps  in  North  Carolina  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  23d  corps  having  received  orders  to  proceed  to  Washington,  D.  C., 
the  regiment  left  Columbia,  Tenn.,  on  January  1st  following,  and  marched 
for  Clifton,  a  point  on  the  Tennessee  river,  distant  250  miles,  where  it  ar 
rived  on  the  8th,  and  on  the  16th  embarked  on  steamers  for  Cincinnati, 
Ohio ;  reaching  there  on  the  22d,  immediately  took  rail  for  Washington, 
D.  C.,  and,  arriving  there  on  the  29th,  moved  to  Camp  Stoneman  and  con 
tinued  at  that  point  until  February  9th,  when  it  went  to  Alexandria,  where, 
on  the  llth,  it  embarked  with  its  corps  on  transports  for  Smithville,  N.  C., 
at  the  mouth  of  Cape  Fear  river,  reaching  that  point  on  the  15th.  On  the 


388  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

17th  the  movement  was  commenced  against  Fort  Anderson,  and  on  the  18th 
our  troops  were  advanced  to  within  a  few  yards  of  the  fort  and  intrenched 
under  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
19th  occupied  the  fort,  the  23d  Michigan  being  the  first  to  enter.  Engag 
ing  again  the  enemy  at  Town  Creek  on  the  20th,  capturing  two  pieces  of 
artillery  and  taking  350  prisoners,  a  movement  was  immediately  made  up 
the  south  bank  of  the  river  above  Wilmington,  and  on  the  night  of  the  22d 
the  troops  moved  back  ten  miles  to  cross  the  river  for  the  purpose  of  rejoin 
ing  General  Terry.  The  crossing  was  made  on  boats  from  the  fleet  on  the 
morning  of  the  23d,  when  it  was  found  that  Wilmington  had  been  evacuated 
during  the  previous  night.  The  advance  was  resumed  on  March  6th.  Pro 
ceeding  up  the  coast,  reached  Kingston  just  at  the  close  of  the  action  at  that 
point,  having  marched  125  miles  in  six  days,  and  for  the  last  twenty-four 
hours  without  halting,  except  long  enough  to  draw  rations  and  issue  thirty 
additional  rounds  of  ammunition  to  the  men.  On  the  20th  left  Kingston 
and  occupied  Goldsboro'  on  the  22d,  the  enemy  retiring  on  the  approach  of 
our  forces.  Gen.  Sherman's  army  arriving  at  Goldsboro'  on  the  23d,  the 
regiment  was  sent  back  ten  miles,  to  Mosely  Hall,  to  guard  the  railroad  at 
that  place  while  the  army  was  being  supplied,  and  on  April  9th  moved  with 
the  grand  army  on  Raleigh,  which  was  reached  and  occupied  on  the  13th. 
The  regiment  remained  there  until  the  surrender  of  Johnston's  army  on 
the  21st,  when,  on  the  3d  of  May,  it  marched  for  Greensboro',  distant  ninety 
miles,  reaching  there  on  the  7th.  On  the  9th  went  by  rail  to  Salisbury, 
remaining  there  until  June  28th,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service. 


THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  INFANTRY. 

The  celebrated  1st  brigade  of  the  1st  division,  1st  corps,  known  as  the 
"  Iron  Brigade,"  was  the  24th  Michigan,  organized  and  commanded  by  Col. 
Henry  A.  Morrow,  and  which  was  so  distinguished  at  Gettysburg  in*1863. 
On  Wednesday  morning,  July  1st,  the  commencement  of  that  most  import 
ant  and  sanguinary  battle,  which  in  the  war  was  second  to  none  in  glory  to 
the  Union  arms,  fraught  with  mighty  consequences  and  great  with  victory, 
culminating  in  results  vital  to  the  Republic.  Major-General  Reynolds,  in 
command  of  the  1st  corps,  advanced  on  the  Emmetsburg  road  from  Marsh 
creek  to  Gettysburg,  where  he  arrived  about  10  o'clock  A.  M.  and  marched 
directly  through  the  town.  General  Hill's  corps  was  ascertained  to  be 
posted  but  a  short  distance  in  front,  and  a  body  of  Heth's  division  of  that 
corps  was  discovered  holding  a  position  on  the  Chambersburg  road,  and 
were  driven  from  it  by  the  cavalry  under  Buford.  The  rebel  division  com 
ing  up  Buford  was  compelled  to  retire,  when  the  1st  corps  made  its  appear 
ance,  Gen.  Wadsworth,  commanding  the  1st  division,  having  the  advance. 
The  division  of  Gen.  Doubleday  following  formed  on  the  left,  and  that  of 
Gen.  Robinson  on  the  right.  Gen.  Reynolds  advanced  his  line  hastily,  al 
most  before  his  troops  were  well  formed,  and  soon  encountered  a  heavy  force 
of  the  enemy's  infantry,  which  were  charged  by  the  1st  division  and  driven 
from  the  valley  in  front  and  over  the  ridge  at  the  farther  side,  although 
with  a  heavy  loss  by  the  destructive  fire  of  the  enemy.  In  this  charge  the 
"  Iron  Brigade  "  gallantly  dashed  up  and  over  the  hill  and  down  into  the 
ravine  through  which  flows  Willoughby's  Run,  where  the  24th  took  a  large 
number  of  prisoners,  being  a  part  of  General  Archer's  brigade.  After  ad 
vancing  to  the  crest  of  the  hill  beyond  the  rim  the  regiment  halted  and 
threw  out  skirmishers  to  the  front  and  also  to  the  left ;  here  General  Rey- 


THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  INFANTRY.  389 

nolds,  upon  going  out  to  the  front  to  reconnoitre,  was  killed  by  a  shot  from 
the  enemy.  Orders  were  then  given  to  withdraw  to  the  east  bank  of  the 
stream,  and  the  brigade  marched  into  what  are  known  as  McPherson's  woods 
and  formed  in  line  of  battle,  the  24th  in  the  centre,  the  7th  Wisconsin  on 
the  right,  and  the  19th  Indiana  on  the  left.  In  this  movement  Lieut.  Col. 
Flanigan  was  severely  wounded  and  compelled  to  leave  the  field.  Skir 
mishers  were  immediately  deployed  in  front  of  the  brigade  and  became  at 
once  engaged  with  the  enemy. 

Colonel  Morrow,  considering  the  position  held  by  his  regiment  untenable, 
suggested  to  the  commanding  general  a  change,  but  he  was  ordered  to  hold 
the  ground  at  all  hazards.  The  enemy  advanced  in  two  lines  of  battle,  his 
right  extending  beyond  and  overlapping  the  left  of  the  brigade.  The  fire 
of  the  24th  was  held  until  the  enemy  came  within  easy  range,  when  a  well 
directed  volley  was  poured  into  his  ranks,  but  from  the  nature  of  the 
ground  in  front,  little  injury  was  inflicted,  and  his  advance  not  being 
checked,  he  came  pressing  rapidly  on  in  heavy  masses,  his  men  yelling  like 
demons.  The  19th  Indiana,  on  the  left  of  the  24th,  fought  most  nobly, 
but  was  overpowered  by  immense  odds,  and,  after  severe  loss,  was  forced 
back,  exposing  the  24th  to  an  enfilading  and  cross  fire.  Orders  were  then 
given  to  swing  back,  so  as  to  face  the  enemy  now  on  the  flank.  While  the 
movement  was  being  executed,  the  enemy  advanced  in  such  numbers  as 
compelled  the  24th  to  retire  to  a  new  position.  In  the  meantime,  the  regi 
ment  had  lost  most  heavily  in  officers  and  men.  The  second  line  being 
promptly  formed,  a  most  desperate  and  determined  resistance  was  made, 
but  the  enemy  accumulating  in  overwhelming  force  in  front,  the  brigade 
was  driven  to  a  third  position,  the  regiment  again  losing  severely  and 
almost  decimated.  Major  E.  B.  Wight,  acting  lieutenant-colonel,  being 
wounded,  left  the  field,  and  scarcely  a  fourth  of  the  men  taken  into  the 
engagement  could  be  rallied.  Corporal  Andrew  Wagner,  of  company  F, 
one  of  the  color  guard,  having  the  colors,  was  ordered  by  Colonel  Morrow 
to  plant  them  at  a  point  to  which  he  designed  to  rally  the  regiment,  and 
while  doing  this  he  was  shot  in  the  breast  and  greatly  injured.  Colonel 
Morrow  snatched  the  flag  from  the  hand  of  the  wounded  soldier,  and  was 
rallying  the  remnant  of  the  regiment,  when  Private  William  Kelly,  of 
company  E,  rushed  to  the  front  and  grasped  the  colors,  shouting  triumph 
antly,  "  The  Colonel  of  the  24th  shall  never  carry  the  flag  while  I  am 
alive,"  and  the  gallant  fellow  was  instantly  killed  by  a  bullet  from  the 
enemy.  The  colors  were  then  seized  by  Private  Silburne  Spaulding,  and 
carried  by  him  for  some  time,  when  Colonel  Morrow  again  took  them,  and 
continued  to  rally  his  men  until  he  was  wounded  and  left  the  field ;  he 
afterwards  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  but  ingeniously  made  his 
escape.  The  command  then  devolved  on  Captain  Albert  M.  Edwards, 
who,  with  much  energy  and  conspicuous  bravery,  rallied  all  that  was  left 
of  the  noble  regiment,  under  a  most  galling  and  murderous  fire,  and  fell 
back  to  Gulp's  Hill,  which  it  assisted  in  holding  against  the  determined 
assaults  of  the  enemy  for  the  two  succeeding  days.  The  colors  of  the  24th 
were  found  after  Colonel  Morrow  was  wounded  in  the  paralyzed  hands  of 
a  wounded  soldier,  whose  name  is  unknown,  and  who  probably  lies  with 
the  gallant  dead  of  Gettysburg.  The  field  over  which  the  24th  fought, 
from  its  first  line  of  battle  in  McPherson's  woods  to  the  barricades  near  the 
Seminary,  was  strewn  with  killed  and  wounded,  its  loss  being  extremely 
large,  exceeding,  perhaps,  that  of  any  other  regiment  of  equal  strength  in 
that  great  and  important  engagement — losing  316  in  killed  and  wounded 
out  of  496,  and  in  addition,  80  of  the  enlisted  men  and  3  officers  were  re- 


390  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

ported  as  missing  in  action,  many  of  whom  have  never  been  heard  from, 
and  were  undoubtedly  killed.  This  engagement  will  always  be  considered 
as  prominent  among  the  many  hard  fights  in  which  the  regiment  took  a 
part.  Colonel  Morrow,  in  his  report,  says  : 

"At  an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  July  1st,  we  marched  in  the  direction 
of  Gettysburg,  seven  miles  distant.  The  report  of  artillery  was  soon  heard 
in  this  direction,  indicating  that  our  cavalry  had  become  engaged,  and  our 
pace  was  considerably  quickened.  About  9  A.  M.  we  arrived  near  the 
town,  when  we  filed  off  to  the  left,  and  moved  forward  into  line  of  battle  at 
double-quick.  The  cavalry  immediately  in  our  front  was  hotly  engaged. 
We  were  ordered  to  advance  at  once,  no  time  being  allowed  for  loading 
the  guns ;  the  regiment  was  halted  for  that  purpose,  but  was  ordered  to 
move  forward  without  loading,  which  was  done.  Charging  up  and  over  a 
hill  and  down  a  ravine,  we  captured  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  The 
enemy  advanced  in  two  lines  of  battle,  their  right  extending  beyond  and 
overlapping  our  left.  The  men  were  directed  to  withhold  their  fire  until  the 
enemy  should  arrive  within  easy  range.  This  was  done,  but  the  nature  of 
the  ground  was  such  that  we  inflicted  but  little  injury  on  the  enemy  at 
this  time.  Their  advance  was  not  checked,  and  they  came  on  rapidly, 
yelling  like  demons.  We  were  forced  back  to  a  new  position,  where  a  line 
was  promptly  formed ;  but,  after  a  desperate  struggle,  we  were  again  forced 
to  retire  to  a  third  position,  beyond  a  slight  ravine.  Our  loss  was  very 
large,  exceeding,  perhaps,  the  losses  sustained  by  any  one  regiment  of  equal 
size.  Out  of  twenty-eight  officers,  twenty-two  were  killed  or  wounded,  and 
of  468  men,  316  were  killed  or  wounded.  During  the  engagement  the  flag 
was  carried  by  nine  different  persons,  four  of  the  number  having  been 
killed  and  three  wounded.  All  of  the  color  guard  were  killed  or  wounded. 
The  officers  killed  were  Captains  William  J.  Speed,  Malachi  J.  O'Donnell, 
Lieutenants  Walter  H.  Wallace,  W.  S.  Safford,  Newell  Grace,  K.  H. 
Humphreville,  Gilbert  A.  Dickey,  and  Lucius  D.  Shattuck. 

"  Of  these  nothing  less  can  be  said  than  that  their  conduct  in  this  memo 
rable  battle  was  brave  and  daring,  and  was  creditable  alike  to  themselves 
and  the  service.  It  will  not  be  disparaging  to  his  brave  comrades  who  fell 
on  this  terrible  but  glorious  day,  and  who  sleep  with  him  in  honored  graves, 
to  say  that  the  death  of  Captain  Speed  was  a  severe  loss  to  the  service,  and 
an  almost  irreparable  one  to  the  regiment.  He  was  amiable,  intelligent, 
honorable,  and  brave,  and  was  universally  respected  and  esteemed  by  all 
who  knew  him. 

"  Captain  O'Donnell  was  a  young  officer  who  had  given  strong  proofs  of 
courage  and  capacity,  and  whose  death  was  deeply  deplored  by  the  regi 
ment. 

"  Lieut.  Wallace  served  in  the  Peninsula  campaign,  and  lost  an  eye  at 
the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks.  He  was  a  brave  officer  and  honorable  man,  and 
a  good  disciplinarian. 

"  Lieut.  Dickey  joined  the  regiment  in  the  capacity  of  commissary  ser 
geant,  and  for  his  integrity,  capacity,  and  attention  to  duties,  was  promoted 
to  sergeant-major,  and  afterwards  2d  lieutenant.  He  had  given  great  pro 
mise  of  future  usefulness  and  distinction. 

,  "  Lieuts.  Grace,  Humphreville,  Safford,  and  Shattuck  were  distinguished 
in  the  regiment  for  their  attention  to  every  duty,  for  the  amiability  of  their 
manners,  and  for  unflinching  courage  in  battle." 

There  were  no  battles  in  which  this  fine  regiment  was  a  participant  that 
it  did  not  acquit  itself  nobly ;  and  were  it  necessary  to  cite  more  examples 
than  that  of  Gettysburg  to  establish  the  twenty-fourth  as  one  of  the  best 


THE  TWENTY-FOURTH  INFANTRY.  391 

fighting  regiments,  selections  might  be  made  from  almost  any  of  its  battles, 
commencing  with  Fredericksburg,  December  12,  1862,  where  it  lost  Lieut. 
David  Birrell,  a  most  promising  young  officer,  and  seven  men  killed,  sixteen 
wounded,  and  eighty  missing,  and  ending  with  Dabney's  Mills,  February 
17,  1865,  where,  under  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  A.  M.  Edwards,  it  was 
heavily  engaged,  losing  twenty  in  killed  and  wounded.  Especially  might 
reference  be  made  to  Fitzhugh's  Crossing,  April  29,  1863,  in  the  advance 
on  Chancellorsville,  when,  supported  by  the  6th  Wisconsin,  the  regiment, 
commanded  by  Col.  Morrow,  crossed  the  Eappahannock,  driving  the  rebels 
from  their  rifle-pits,  and  taking  103  prisoners — a  daring  achievement,  com 
manding  at  the  time  the  notice  of  the  entire  army  for  gallant  and  success 
ful  service.  In  this  affair  the  24th  lost  25  in  killed  and  wounded. 

Were  it  necessary  to  cite  more  occasions  on  which  the  24th  distinguished 
itself,  to  establish  a  fighting  reputation,  the  principal  engagements  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  campaign  of  1864  might  be  introduced. 

With  the  opening  of  that  campaign  the  24th,  under  command  of  Colonel 
Morrow,  and  then  serving  in  the  1st  brigade,  4th  division,  5th  corps,  broke 
camp  on  the  evening  of  the  3d  of  May,  crossed  the  Rapidan  at  Germania 
Ford  on  the  4th,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  5th  encountered  the  enemy  in 
the  Wilderness.  During  this  engagement  the  regiment  captured  a  number 
of  prisoners  and  a  stand  of  colors  from  the  48th  Virginia  rebel  infantry. 
Its  loss  during  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  between  the  5th  and  7th,  were 
18  killed,  46  wounded,  and  42  prisoners  and  missing.  Among  the  killed 
were  Captain  George  Button  and  Lieut.  William  B.  Hutch inson,  and  among 
the  severely  wounded  was  Colonel  Morrow.  On  the  night  of  the  7th  of 
May,  Lieut.  Col.  A.  M.  Edwards  in  command,  the  regiment  withdrew  from 
the  Wilderness,  and  marched  rapidly  towards  Spottsylvania  Court-house. 
At  the  latter  place  it  was  under  fire  almost  every  day  until  the  21st,  sus 
taining  a  loss  of  11  killed,  39  wounded,  and  1  missing.  The  regiment 
crossed  the  North  Anna  river  May  23d.  The  enemy  almost  immediately 
attacked,  but  were  repulsed  with  large  loss.  The  loss  of  the  24th  was  3 
killed,  8  wounded,  and  5  missing.  On  the  28th  the  regiment  crossed  the 
Pamunkey  river  near  Hanovertown.  It  participated  in  the  fighting  attend 
ing  the  advance  to  Cold  Harbor,  and  in  the  battles  and  skirmishes  near 
that  point,  sustaining  a  loss  of  3  killed  and  15  wounded.  June  16th  it 
crossed  the  James  river  at  Wilcox's  Landing,  and  marched  toward  Peters 
burg.  On  the  18th  it  participated  in  the  unsuccessful  assault  on  the  enemy's 
works  surrounding  that  city,  going  into  action  with  120  men,  and  of  this 
number,  losing  nearly  one-third  in  killed  and  wounded,  including  among 
the  killed  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  Sevill  Chilson.  From  this  date  until 
the  movement  on  the  Weldon  railroad,  on  the  18th  of  August,  the  regiment 
was  actively  employed  in  duties  attending  the  siege  of  Petersburg.  Its  loss 
in  the  various  actions  and  skirmishes,  and  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  artil 
lery  and  sharp-shooters,  to  which  it  was  exposed,  was  8  killed,  36  wounded, 
and  5  missing.  August  18th  it  participated  in  an  engagement  on  the  Wel 
don  railroad,  having  one  man  wounded.  On  the  19th  the  enemy  massed  a 
heavy  force  on  their  front,  and  attacked  their  position.  The  regiment  suc 
ceeded  in  holding  its  ground  for  a  short  time,  and  thus  saved  a  large  por 
tion  of  its  brigade  from  capture.  The  casualties  of  the  regiment  during 
this  action  were  twenty-five  in  the  aggregate.  The  regiment  also  partici 
pated  in  the  battle  of 'the  21st  of  August,  in  which  the  rebel  attack  on  our 
lines  was  repulsed  with  large  loss,  the  24th  capturing  during  the  battle 
eleven  rebel  officers,  one  stand  of  colors,  a  large  number  of  arms,  and  sixty 
men,  while  its  loss  was  very  slight.  The  regiment  participated  in  the  battle 


392  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

of  Hatcher's  Run  on  the  27th  of  October.  The  division  captured  a  large 
number  of  prisoners  during  the  night  of  the  27th ;  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  28th  the  regiment  was  sent  on  picket,  and  covered  the  retreat  of  the 
army  back  to  their  old  works  in  front  of  Petersburg. 

NOTE. — A  special  of  the  N.  Y.  Tribune  says  of  the  "Iron  Brigade"  at  Gettysburg: 
"  Reynolds  has  ridden  into  the  angle  of  wood  a  bowshot  from  this  Seminary,  and  that 
he  cheers  the  Iron  Brigade  of  Meredith  as  they  wheel  on  the  flank  of  the  oak  trees  for 
a  charge.  Like  a  great  flail  of  steel  they  swing  into  the  shadows  with  an  huzza  that  is 
as  terrible  as  a  volley  ;  low  crouching,  dismounted,  by  his  horse's  head,  the  General 
peeps  into  the  depths  of  the  grove :  '  Boom  !'  from  the  oaken  recesses  breaks  a  hail 
storm  of  lead,  and  Reynolds,  with  the  word  of  command  upon  his  tongue,  fulls  forward 
bloodily.  The  light  of  pride  in  his  eye  grows  dull  as  blindness  ;  the  bronze  flush  on 
his  face  is  veined  with  blue  ;  two  men  bear  away  a  dripping  stretcher  to  the  edge  of  the 
town  ;  the  architect  of  the  battle  has  fallen  dead  across  its  portal.  Grief,  terror,  have 
no  space  to  live  in.  Across  the  brook  and  up  the  ridge,  with  a  yell  that  is  shot  through 
and  through  with  their  own  volleys,  two  jagged  arcs  of  gray  leap  into  sight,  wheeling, 
the  one  for  the  wood,  the  other  pushing  through  the  gorge  of  the  old  railway.  Huzza! 
From  the  skirts  of  the  oaks  the  great  double  doors  of  the  Iron  Brigade  shut  together, 
with  a  slam  as  of  colliding  mountains,  folding  between  them  fifteen  hundred  rebel  pris 
oners  of  war.  Patrick  Maloney,  a  brawny  Irishman  in  blue,  seizes  General  Archer  by 
the  throat :  'Right  about  face,  Gineral !  March!'  Ere  you  can  think,  the  disarmed 
column  is  over  the  Seminary  ridge,  and  the  grinning  Celt  has  said  to  Wadsworth,  look 
ing  on  from  the  Seminary  shadows  :  'Gineral  Wadsworth,  I  make  you  acquainted  with 
Gineral  Archer.'  "  Patrick  Maloney,  referred  to,  belonged  to  the  24th  Michigan. 

Following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  of  General  S.  Meredith,  written  to  Colonel  Mor 
row  in  the  same  month  in  which  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  fought:  "  Although  still 
confined  to  my  bed  by  severe  injuries  received  in  the  late  battle  of  Gettysburg,  I  cannot 
longer  delay  tendering  to  you,  and  to  the  brave  men  under  your  command,  my  heart 
felt  thanks  for  the  gallant  bearing  of  yourself  and  regiment  in  the  battle  of  the  1st  inst. 
No  troops  ever  fought  more  bravely  than  did  those  of  the  24th  on  that  occasion.  The 
'old  Iron  Brigade'  being  among  the  first  on  the  field,  it  had  to  meet  the  first  shock  of 
a  desperate  attack  of  a  far  superior  force,  and  nobly  did  it  do  its  duty." 

THE  TWENTY-FIFTH  INFANTRY. 

The  25th  recruited  under  the  superintendence  of  the  Hon.  H.  G.  Wells, 
commandant  of  camp,  a  splendid  and  well-disciplined  regiment,  commanded 
by  Col.  O.  H.  Moore,  then  a  captain  in  the  6th  U.  S.  infantry,  left  Kala- 
mazoo  for  the  field  in  Kentucky,  September  29,  1862,  and  on  December 
27th  following,  first  tested  the  realities  of  war  by  engaging  the  enemy  under 
the  rebel  General  Pegram,  at  Mumfordsville,  Ky.,  thus  early  commencing 
a  career  of  fighting  for  the  Union,  which  it  nobly  and  forcibly  maintained 
during  its  whole  term  of  service,  ending  with  the  war.  The  regiment  was 
specially  distinguished  on  July  4, 1863,  at  Tebbs',  near  Green  River  Bridge, 
Kentucky,  where  it  most  gallantly  repulsed  an  overwhelming  rebel  force, 
with  heavy  loss.  About  July  1st  Colonel  Moore  was  stationed,  with  five 
companies  of  his  regiment,  on  the  north  side  of  Green  river,  ten  miles  north 
of  Columbia,  on  the  main  road  running  from  Columbia  to  Lebanon,  Ky., 
and  on  the  2d  of  July  was  advised  of  the  fact  that  the  rebel  General  John 
H.  Morgan  was  about  crossing  the  Cumberland  river  to  invade  the  State, 
with  a  cavalry  force  of  from  three  to  four  thousand  men.  Being  left  to 
exercise  his  own  discretion  independently,  and  there  being  no  Union  troops 
nearer  than  at  a  post  thirty  miles  distant,  he  felt  that  it  was  his  duty  to 
retard  the  progress  of  the  great  rebel  raider,  if  but  for  a  few  hours,  as  they 
might  prove  precious  hours  to  the  country.  He  might  have  retreated  with 
entire  success,  but  from  patriotic  motives  he  chose  to  fight,  when  he  could 
scarcely  entertain  the  hope  that  he  and  many  others  would  ever  live  to  tell 
the  story  of  that  terrible  battle. 


THE  TWENTY-FIFTH  INFANTRY.  393 

After  surveying  the  surrounding  country,  he  selected  a  strong  position 
for  a  battle-field,  on  the  south  side  of  Green  river,  about  two  miles  from 
the  encampment,  in  a  horse-shoe  bend  of  the  river,  through  which  the  road 
ran,  on  which  the  rebel  forces  were  advancing.  This  chosen  battle-ground, 
which  was  at  the  narrows  entering  the  bend  of  the  river,  afforded  high 
bluff  banks,  which  protected  the  flanks  of  the  command,  and  also  com 
pelled  the  rebels  to  fight  him  upon  his  own  front.  The  Colonel  instructed 
his  command  that  there  were  no  rebel  troops  organized  that  could  whip 
them  upon  their  own  front,  with  the  flanks  protected,  and  with  this  judg 
ment  he  was  ready  to  engage  ten  times  his  own  number  of  the  enemy, 
feeling  confident  that  his  finely  disciplined  troops  would  do  ten  times  better 
fighting  than  that  of  the  rebels. 

On  the  evening  of  the  3d  of  July,  General  Morgan  encamped  with  his 
entire  command,  about  five  miles  south  of  Green  river,  and  Colonel  Moore, 
after  dark,  advanced  with  his  command  of  five  companies,  numbering  less 
than  three  hundred  men,  about  two  miles  toward  the  enemy,  leaving  the 
river  in  his  rear,  and  occupied  the  ground  which  he  had  previously  selected, 
and  prepared  for  the  battle.  The  defence,  which  had  been  completed  that 
night,  consisted  of  some  felled  trees  on  the  battle-line,  which  was  in  the 
rear  of  an  open  field,  and  was  intended  more  particularly  as  an  obstruc 
tion  to  the  advance  of  cavalry,  while  to  the  front,  about  one  hundred  yards 
in  the  open  field,  was  thrown  up  a  temporary  earth-work,  which  was  in 
tended  to  check  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  and  more  especially  to  com 
mand  a  position  where  the  enemy  would  evidently  plant  their  battery. 
This  work  was  not  intended  to  be  held  against  charges  of  a  superior  force, 
on  account  of  the  flanks  not  being  strong,  and  was  occupied  by  only  about 
seventy-five  men,  who  were  instructed  that  when  it  became  necessary  to 
abandon  the  work,  it  should  be  done  by  flanking  to  the  right  and  left  from 
the  centre,  so  as  to  unmask  the  reserve  force  on  the  battle  line  and  expose 
the  enemy  to  their  fire.  This  work  was  located,  in  anticipation  of  its  cap 
ture  by  the  rebels,  a  little  down  the  slope  of  the  field,  so  that  when  it  was 
in  possession  of  the  enemy  it  would  be  useless,  and  leaye  him  exposed  to  a 
deadly  fire. 

At  the  gray  of  morning  the  fire  of  the  rebels  upon  the  pickets  resounded 
through  the  woods,  and  the  entire  rebel  division,  under  General  Morgan, 
was  pressing  upon  the  front.  The  fire  was  returned  with  spirit  as  the 
pickets  retired  to  the  breast-work,  where  they  joined  about  seventy-five  of 
their  comrades,  already  in  the  advance  work,  and  there,  with  their  united 
fire  as  sharp-shooters,  held  the  enemy  in  check,  without  exhibiting  their 
numbers  and  the  real  object  of  the  work* 

The  rebel  artillery,  of  four  pieces,  had  gained  the  anticipated  position, 
and  at  once  opened  fire  with  some  effect,  when  General  Morgan  suspended 
firing,  and  under  flag  of  truce,  sent  forward  the  following  dispatch : 

HEADQUARTERS  MORGAN'S  DIVISION,  IN  THE  FIELD, 

IN  FRONT  OP  GREEN  RIVER  STOCKADE,  July  4,  1863. 
To  the  Officer  Commanding  Federal  Forces  at  Stockade  near   Green  River 

Bridge : 

SIR:  In  the  name  of  the  Confederate  States  Government,  I  demand  an 
immediate  and  unconditional  surrender  of  the  entire  force  under  your  com 
mand,  together  with  the  stockade. 
I  am,  very  respectfully, 

JNO.  H.  MORGAN, 
Commanding  Division  Cavalry,  C.  S.  A. 
y  * 


394  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

Colonel  Moore  rode  forward  between  the  lines,  where  he  met  the  dele 
gation  of  rebel  officers,  who  appealed  to  him  with  marked  courtesy  and 
diplomacy,  urging  the  surrender  of  his  command,  and  promising  kind  treat 
ment,  as  their  only  interest  was  to  move  forward  on  their  course.  Colonel 
Moore  replied  :  "  Present  my  compliments  to  General  Morgan,  and  say  to 
him  that,  this  being  the  4th  of  July,  I  cannot  entertain  the  proposition  to 
surrender." 

Col.  Allston,  Morgan's  chief  of  staff,  said :  I  hope  you  will  not  consider 
me  as  dictatorial  on  this  occasion ;  I  will  be  frank ;  you  see  the  breach  we 
have  made  upon  your  work  with  our  battery ;  you  cannot  expect  to  repulse 
General  Morgan's  whole  division  with  your  little  command ;  you  have  re 
sisted  us  gallantly  and  deserve  credit  for  it,  and  now  I  hope  you  will  save 
useless  bloodshed  by  reconsidering  the  message  to  General  Morgan.  To  this 
the  Colonel  replied  :  Sir,  when  you  assume  to  know  my  strength  you  assume 
too  much ;  I  have  a  duty  to  perform  to  my  country,  and  therefore  cannot 
reconsider  my  reply  to  General  Morgan.  The  rebel  officer  seemed  moved 
by  these  remarks,  extended  his  hand,  and,  with  a  moist  eye,  said  :  "  Good 
bye,  Col.  Moore ;  God  only  knows  which  of  us  may  fall  first."  They  turned 
their  horses  and  galloped  in  opposite  directions,  and  at  once  renewed  the  con 
flict.  No  sooner  had  the  rebel  battery  re-opened  fire  than  Col.  Moore  com 
manded  the  force  to  "  rise  up  and  pick  those  gunners  at  the  battery."  No 
sooner  was  the  command  given  than  a  deliberate  and  deadly  fire  by  rank 
was  delivered,  which  silenced  the  battery.  Col.  Johnson's  brigade  then 
charged  the  work,  and  the  little  command  abandoned  it,  as  previously  in 
structed  ;  and  when  the  rebels  reached  it  they  found  that  it  availed  them 
nothing  against  the  deadly  fire  which  was  poured  into  them  from  the  main 
force  on  the  battle  line  in  the  timber. 

The  rebel  foe,  with  a  hideous  yell,  charged  across  the  open  field  a  num 
ber  of  times  in  the  face  of  a  terrific  fire,  which  repulsed  them  on  each  occa 
sion,  with  severe  loss.  The  conflict  was  almost  a  hand-to-hand  struggle  with 
nothing  but  a  line  of  felled  trees  separating  the  combatants.  At  the  same 
time  the  rebels  were  engaged  in  cutting  out  a  gorge  leading  through  the 
precipitory  bluff  into  the  river  bottom,  which  had  been  obstructed  with  felled 
timber.  The  entrance  was  finally  effected,  and  a  regiment,  commanded  by 
Col.  Chenault,  opened  fire  upon  the  right  flank  of  the  line  of  Union  troops. 
This  was  a  most  critical  and  trying  moment ;  the  rebels  had  gained  an  im 
portant  point ;  to  defeat  it  was  of  the  utmost  importance ;  a  company  had 
been  held  in  reserve  for  any  emergency  wrhich  might  arise  during  the  bat 
tle  ;  it  was  now  brought  forward,  deployed  as  skirmishers  across  the  river 
bottom,  with  the  right  flank  extending  beyond  the  rebel  line,  and  presented 
the  appearance  of  being  the  advance  line  of  reinforcements. 

The  strength  of  Col.  Moore's  command  was  a  matter  of  doubt  with  the 
rebels,  rendered  more  so  by  his  having  instructed  his  men  to  keep  quiet  and 
pour  in  as  rapid  and  deadly  a  fire  as  possible.  As  cheering  was  suppressed 
nothing  but  the  efficacy  of  the  firing  afforded  ground  for  estimating  their' 
strength,  and  when  Col.  Moore  brought  forward  and  maneuvered  the  reserve 
company  with  the  shrill  notes  of  his  bugle,  it  had  the  desired  effect  of  im 
pressing  the  rebels  with  the  idea  that  reinforcements  of  cavalry  or  artillery 
were  advancing,  and  by  the  bold  front  and  deliberate  firing  of  the  line  of 
skirmishers  the  rebel  command  in  the  river  bottom  was  routed,  the  rebel 
colonel  commanding  killed,  and  they  were  promptly  driven  back  through 
the  gorge  through  which  they  entered,  disheartened  and  defeated.  New 
courage  inspired  the  heroic  little  band  who  had  sustained  eight  determined 
charges  upon  their  front  when  the  attack  upon  their  right  flank  was  de- 


THE  TWENTY-FIFTH  INFANTRY.  395 

I 

feated.  The  enemy,  having  met  with  a  heavy  loss  after  a  battle  of  four 
hours'  duration,  retreated,  leaving  a  number  of  killed  and  wounded  upon 
the  field  greater  than  the  entire  number  of  the  patriotic  little  band  that 
opposed  them.  Among  the  number  of  killed  and  wounded  were  twenty- 
two  commissioned  officers. 

The  rebel  command  effected  a  crossing  six  miles  down  the  river  and  pro 
ceeded  on  their  march.  It  was  his  intention,  as  General  Morgan  declared, 
to  capture  the  city  of  Louisville,  but  this  unexpected  and  terrible  repulse 
cost  him  more  than  twelve  hours  delay,  and  caused  him,  which  fact  he 
stated,  to  change  his  plans  and  to  abandon  his  attack  upon  Louisville.  By 
this  brilliantly  fought  battle  the  city  of  Louisville  was  saved  from  sack  and 
pillage  and  the  Government  from  the  loss  of  an  immense  amount  of  proper 
ty,  consisting  of  munitions  of  war  and  army  supplies  amounting  to  the  value 
of  several  millions  of  dollars.  This  splendid  victory  was  acknowledged  by 
Major-General  Hartsuffin  the  following  order: 

HEADQUARTERS  23o  ARMY  CORPS, 

LEXINGTON,  KY.,  July  17,  1863. 
General  Order,  No.  12. 

The  general  commanding  the  corps  extends  his  thanks  to  the  two  hun 
dred  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  25th  Michigan  regiment,  under  Col.  O.  H. 
Moore,  who  so  successfully  resisted  by  their  gallant  and  heroic  bravery  the 
attacks  of  a  vastly  superior  force  of  the  enemy  under  the  rebel  Gen.  John 
Morgan,  at  Tebbs'  Bend,  on  Green  river,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1863,  in  which 
they  killed  one-fourth  as  many  of  the  enemy  as  their  own  little  band  amount 
ed  to  and  wounded  a  number  equal  to  their  own. 

By  command  of  Major-General  Hartsuff: 

GEO.  B.  DRAKE,  A.  A.  G. 

The  Legislature  of  Kentucky  also  acknowledged  the  services  of  Colonel 
Moore  and  his  command  on  that  occasion  in  complimentary  resolutions. 

Rev.  John  S.  C.  Abbott,  the  historian,  has  written  a  beautiful  description 
of  this  battle  in  the  August  number  of  Harper's  Magazine,  1865. 

The  rebel  General  John  Morgan  admired  Col.  Moore's  generalship  so 
much  in  conducting  this  battle  that  he  sent  him  complimentary  messages 
and  declared  that  he  was  worthy  of  promotion,  and  accordingly  announced 
that  lie  promoted  him  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general. 

Col.  Allston,  the  chief  of  Morgan's  staff,  was  captured  a  few  days  after 
the  battle,  and  with  him  his  private  journal,  which  was  published,  and  in 
speaking  of  this  battle  of  the  4th  of  July,  he  says : 

"  Gen.  Morgan  sent  in  a  flag  of  truce  and  demanded  the  surrender,  but 
the  colonel  quietly  remarked,  '  if  it  was  any  other  day  he  might  consider 
the  demand,  but  the  4th  of  July  was  a  bad  day  to  talk  about  surrender,  and 
he  must  therefore  decline/  The  colonel  is  a  gallant  man,  and  the  entire 
arrangement  of  his  defence  entitles  him  to  the  highest  credit  for  military 
skill.  We  would  mark  such  a  man  in  our  army  for  promotion." 

The  movements  of  the  regiment  during  the  summer  campaign  of  1864,  in 
Georgia,  were  identified  with  those  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  which  formed 
a  part  of  the  army  under  command  of  General  Sherman.  During  this 
campaign  the  regiment  participated  in  the  various  engagements  at  Rocky 
Face  Ridge,  May  19th ;  Resaca,  May  14th  ;  Altoona,  May  26th  to  May 
29th  ;  Pine  Mountain,  June  15th ;  Gulp's  Farm,  June  22d,  and  Nicka- 
jack  Creek,  July  1st.  On  the  9th  of  July  the  regiment  crossed  the  Chat- 
tahoochie  river,  and  on  the  22d  appeared  in  front  of  Atlanta.  It  took  an 


396  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

active  part  in  the  siege  of  that  place.  On  the  6th  of  August  it  charged  and 
assisted  in  carrying  the  enemy's  works  near  East  Point.  The  regiment 
also  participated  in  the  flank  movement  west  and  south  of  Atlanta,  to 
Jonesboro,  which  was  followed  by  the  evacuation  of  Atlanta  by  the  rebel 
army. 

The  regiment  was  most  conspicuously  distinguished  at  Resaca,  where,  in 
command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Benjamin  F.  Orcutt,  it  participated  in  the 
desperate  charge  made  by  Judah's  division,  of  the  23d  corps,  and  Newton's, 
of  the  4th  corps,  driving  the  enemy  from  a  strong  and  well  fortified  posi 
tion,  and,  although  not  held,  enabled  General  Sherman  to  advance  his  lines 
and  get  his  artillery  into  such  a  position  as  to  render  it  impossible  for  the 
enemy  to  again  occupy  the  place.  This  charge  was  made  under  a  most 
murderous  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  first  across  an  open  field,  and 
then  over  a  stream,  with  the  water  near  waist  deep,  and  bordered  with 
thick  bushes  and  vines,  cut  and  lopped  down  in  such  a  manner  as  to  en 
tangle  the  troops.  In  the  charge  the  regiment  lost  about  fifty  men  in  a 
very  few  minutes.  Among  the  killed  was  Adjutant  E.  M.  Prutzman. 

At  Nickajack  Creek,  near  Kenesaw,  on  the  1st  of  July  following,  the 
25th,  still  in  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Orcutt,  again  most  signally 
maintained  its  fighting  qualities  as  a  regiment,  while  making  a  flank  move 
ment  with  its  division  (Hascall's)  to  the  extreme  right  of  General  Sher 
man's  army,  the  regiment  advancing  seven  miles  during  an  intensely  hot 
day,  continually  under  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery  from  early  in  the 
forenoon  until  dark,  and  being  engaged  in  two  brilliant  and  successful 
charges  during  the  day,  driving  the  enemy  from  every  position,  securing  the 
desired  point  known  as  the  cross  roads,  near  Nickajack  creek.  The  posi 
tion  thus  obtained  was  held  and  strongly  fortified  during  the  night,  and  the 
force  increased  early  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  by  the  coming  up  of  the 
17th  corps.  The  result  of  this  movement  was  the  evacuation  by  General 
Johnston  of  his  strong  position  on  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  abandonment  of 
all  his  works  between  that  place  and  the  Chattahoochie. 

On  the  1st  of  November,  1864,  this  regiment  was  near  Rome,  Ga.,  serv 
ing  in  the  1st  brigade,  2d  division,  23d  corps,  and  on  the  2d  marched  to 
Resaca,  then  took  rail  to  Johnsonville,  Tenn.,  where  it  arrived  on  the  5th, 
and  remained  there  until  the  14th,  when,  with  its  brigade,  it  marched  to 
Centreville  to  guard  several  important  fords  on  Duck  river.  It  was  en 
gaged  at  Pine  Creek  on  the  26th  and  at  Franklin  on  the  30th,  and  soon 
after  the  engagement  at  the  latter  place  it  was  ordered  with  its  brigade  to 
Nashville,  but  owing  to  the  rebel  General  Hood  having  invested  that 
place,  it  was  compelled  to  make  a  circuitous  march  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  by  way  of  Clarksville  to  reach  that  point,  and  at  one  time  was 
within  the  rebel  lines,  but  under  cover  of  a  dark  night  made  its  way  out 
and  arrived  at  Nashville  December  8th,  and  on  the  15th  and  16th  took 
part  in  the  battle  before  that  city,  with  a  loss  of  one  killed  and  seven 
wounded.  The  regiment  was  afterwards  identified  with  all  the  movements 
of  the  23d  corps  in  its  march  to  Columbia  in  pursuit  of  Hood's  army. 
From  Columbia  the  regiment  marched  to  Clifton,  on  the  Tennessee  river, 
distant  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  where  it  embarked  on  steamers  for 
Cincinnati,  and  thence  proceeded  by  rail  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  soon 
after  took  transports  for  North  Carolina,  where  it  participated  in  the  move 
ments  of  General  Schofield's  army. 

After  the  surrender  of  the  rebel  forces  under  Johnston,  the  25th  was 
sent  to  Salisbury,  where  it  remained  until  June  24th,  when  it  was  mus 
tered  out  of  service. 


THE  TWENTY-SIXTH  INFANTRY.  397 


THE  TWENTY-SIXTH  INFANTRY. 

Thef  26th — the  celebrated  skirmish  regiment  of  the  1st  brigade,  1st  di 
vision,  2d  corps — left  Jackson  for  the  field  in  Virginia  on  December  13, 
1862,  in  command  of  Colonel  Judson  S.  Farrar,  under  whose  direction  it 
had  been  recruited.  Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  regiment  at  Washing 
ton,  it  was  ordered  on  provost  duty  at  Alexandria,  Va.  It  remained  thus 
employed  until  April  20,  1863,  when  the  regiment  proceeded  to  Suffolk, 
Va.  It  participated  in  the  several  expeditions  subsequently  made  to  the 
Blackwater.  In  one  of  these,  May  23d,  a  portion  of  the  regiment  became 
engaged  in  a  skirmish  in  the  vicinity  of  Windsor,  losing  Captain  John  C. 
Culver,  mortally  wounded,  who  died  next  day. 

The  26th  had  acquitted  itself  with  much  credit  in  several  battles  when 
it  entered  on  the  great  campaign  of  1864  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
bravely  fighting  through  the  Wilderness  and  at  Corbin's  Bridge  and  Nye 
River,  and  then  most  signally  distinguishing  itself  at  Po  River  and  Spott- 
sylvania.  On  May  9, 1864,  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Major  L.  Saviers, 
marched  to  Po  river,  crossed,  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  advanced  about 
two  miles,  captured  a  few  stragglers,  halted,  and  laid  in  skirmish  line  all 
night,  in  close  proximity  to  the  enemy,  who  was  busy  throwing  up  works. 
On  Tuesday  morning,  the  10th,  General  Grant's  army  occupied  the  same 
position  as  on  the  previous  day.  His  line  stretched  about  six  miles  on  the 
northerly  bank  of  the  Po,  and  took  the  general  form  of  a  crescent,  the 
wings  being  thrown  forward.  The  2d  corps,  across  the  Po,  now  held  a  line 
on  the  right,  nearly  parallel  to  the  road  from  Shady  Grove  Church  to  the 
Court-house.  The  5th  corps  held  the  centre,  being  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Po,  and  the  6th  corps  held  the  left,  facing  toward  the  Court-house.  Further 
on  the  left  was  the  9th  corps,  under  General  Burnside.  In  front  was  a 
dense  forest.  The  enemy  held  Spottsylvania  and  the  region  north  of  the 
Court-house ;  his  position  was  well  supported  by  breastworks,  and  along 
the  centre  was  the  forest  and  underbrush,  lining  a  marsh  partially  drained 
by  a  run.  The  conflict  opened  in  the  morning  by  a  terrific  fire  of  artillery, 
which  was  incessant  all  the  forenoon.  A  most  vigorous  and  gallant  attack 
was  made  by  the  5th  corps  and  by  Generals  Gibbon's  and  Birney's  di 
vision  of  the  2d  corps  on  the  centre  of  General  Lee's  army.  In  the  mean 
time  the  enemy  had  turned  General  Barlow's  division,  (1st,)  of  the  2d 
corps,  on  the  right,  but  it  was  finally  extricated  without  much  loss.  In 
this  movement  of  the  enemy  the  26th  was  attacked  from  the  rear,  and 
after  a  spirited  resistance  was  compelled  to  move  out  by  the  left  flank,  and 
took  a  position  to  cover  the  recrossing  of  the  troops,  and  when  accomplished, 
crossed  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  On  the  next  day  (Wednesday, 
the  llth)  the  position  of  the  two  armies  was  nearly  the  same  as  on  the  pre 
vious  day.  During  the  morning  there  was  brisk  skirmishing.  The  regi 
ment,  in  command  of  Major  L.  Saviers,  was  sent  out  to  reconnoitre  the 
enemy's  position,  moved  up  the  north  bank  of  the  Po  about  two  miles, 
crossed,  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  advanced  down  the  south  bank  to 
find  his  left  and  develop  his  force,  attacked  and  drove  in  his  pickets, 
charged  a  strong  skirmish  line,  driving  them  into  their  works,  gaining  and 
holding  a  position  under  a  heavy  fire  for  half  an  hour,  within  three  hun 
dred  yards  of  the  enemy's  intrenchments.  Having  accomplished  the  object 
of  the  reconnoissance,  the  regiment  recrossed  the  river  and  returned  to  the 
picket  line,  with  a  loss  of  three  killed  and  fifteen  wounded.  It  was  de 
termined  during  the  day  to  make  an  assault  early  the  next  morning  on  the 


398  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

enemy's  left,  where  their  batteries  were  so  strongly  posted  as  to  annoy 
General  Grant's  lines.  The  2d  corps  was  selected  to  make  this  movement. 
Soon  after  midnight,  in  the  darkness  and  storm,  General  Hancock  changed 
the  position  of  his  corps  from  the  extreme  right  to  the  left,  filling  \ip  the 
space  between  Generals  Wright  and  Burnside.  It  was  then  near  ground 
well  commanded  by  the  enemy,  and  requiring  a  quick  advance  in  the 
morning.  At  11  P.  M.  the  26th,  having  been  relieved  from  the  picket 
line,  commenced  the  movement  to  the  left  of  the  6th  corps  atSpottsylvania, 
where  the  division  had  preceded  it,  and  in  the  darkness  being  misled,  had 
marched  all  night,  only  reaching  the  ground  where  the  division,  being  in 
the  first  line,  was  massed  for  the  assault,  just  in  time  for  the  regiment  to 
form  in  column  without  halting,  aligning  its  ranks  as  it  advanced.  The 
regiment  moved  up  in  gallant  style,  and  wras  the  first  to  reach  the  rebel 
works,  (striking  them  at  an  angle,)  which  were  carried  after  a  hand-to- 
hand  fight  with  the  bayonet,  capturing  two  brass  guns  immediately  in  rear 
of  the  enemy's  line,  wThich  had  been  fired  only  once,  and  just  as  the  works 
were  entered.  The  regiment  passed  on  without  halting,  and  soon  became 
mingled  with  the  other  regiments  coming  up  in  left  and  in  rear,  and  with 
these  charged  along  the  rebel  line  at  a  run,  rolling  it  up  for  more  than  a 
mile,  capturing  a  large  number  of  prisoners,  guns,  and  colors.  When 
about  a  mile  from  the  angle  referred  to,  another  line,  running  nearly  per 
pendicular  to  the  line  being  rolled  up,  was  encountered,  which  sharply  con 
tested  the  advance.  Having  unavoidably  become  much  broken  up,  and 
being  opened  on  by  a  heavy  fire  from  the  woods  on  the  right  and  left,  were 
obliged  to  fall  back,  losing  half  the  ground  gained,  though  the  men  who 
thronged  their  works  had  been  made  prisoners  and  sent  to  the  rear.  Seve 
ral  pieces  of  the  captured  artillery  were  left  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  as 
they  could  not  be  drawn  off.  The  regiment  was  reformed  and  moved  with 
the  brigade  to  the  woods  on  the  left,  where  rifle-pits  were  constructed.  The 
enemy  having,  by  repeated  and  desperate  assaults,  retaken  the  works  on  the 
left,  near  the  angle,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  that ;  creeping  along  by 
the  right  flank  on  the  outside  of  the  works,  until  it  overlapped  the  rebel 
line  about  half  the  length  of  the  regiment,  its  right  resting  near  the  point 
where  a  large  oak  tree,  twenty-two  inches  in  diameter,  standing  almost  on 
the  first  line  of  rebel  works,  was  literally  cut  down  by  musket  bullets,  partly 
coming  from  the  26th. 

In  the  Richmond  Examiner's  account  of  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania  occurs 
the  following : 

"A  TREE  HEWN  DOWN  BY  BULLETS. — Most  people  have  doubted  the 
literal  accuracy  of  the  dispatch  concerning  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania, 
which  alleged  that  trees  were  cut  down  under  the  concentrated  fire  of  Miiiie 
balls.  We  doubted  the  literal  fact  ourselves,  and  would  doubt  it  still 
but  for  the  indisputable  testimony  of  Dr.  Charles  McGill,  an  eye-witness 
of  the  battle.  The  tree  stood  near  our  breastworks  at  a  point  upon  which 
at  one  time  the  most  murderous  musketry  fire  that  ever  was  heard  of  was 
directed.  The  tree  fell  inside  our  works,  and  injured  several  of  our  men. 
After  the  battle  Dr.  McGill  measured  the  trunk,  and  found  it  twenty-two 
inches  through,  and  sixty-one  inches  in  circumference,  actually  hacked 
through  by  the  awful  avalanche  of  bullets  packing  against  it.  The  foliage 
of  the  tree  was  trimmed  away  as  effectually  as  though  an  army  of  locusts 
had  swarmed  on  its  branches.  A  grasshopper  could  not  have  lived  through 
the  pelting  of  that  leaden  storm  ;  and  but  for  the  fact  that  our  troops  were 
protected  by  breastworks  they  would  have  been  swept  away  to  a  man." 

The  regiment  fought  for  more  than  one  hour  over  the  rebel  works,  almost 


THE  TWENTY-SIXTH  INFANTRY.  399 

musket  to  musket,  losing  a  large  number  killed  and  wounded,  when  the 
enemy  made  signals  of  surrender  by  waving  handkerchiefs  on  their  ram 
mers.  Firing  ceased,  and  the  rebels  were  called  to  come  over,  when  their 
whole  line  for  seventy  or  eighty  yards  rose  up  and  started  to  come  in ;  but 
the  moment  firing  ceased  the  enemy  advanced  a  fresh  line,  which  came  up 
from  their  supports  to  the  works  with  a  cheer,  when  most  of  those  who  had 
started  to  surrender  turned  and  jumped  into  the  works  again.  About  twenty 
who  were  immediately  in  front  of  the  regiment  were  taken.  The  regiment 
fought  this  new  line  for  half  an  hour,  when  it  was  relieved  and  moved  to 
the  left,  where  it  joined  the  brigade  and  remained  during  the  night.  In 
this  memorable  affair,  which  lasted  fourteen  hours,  the  regiment  lost  twenty- 
seven  killed,  four  commissioned  officers  and  ninety-three  men  wounded,  and 
fourteen  missing,  most  of  whom  are  now  known  to  have  been  killed.  Major 
Saviers,  commanding  the  regiment,  was  struck  four  times  by  the  enemy's 
bullets  while  gallantly  doing  his  duty,  and  seven  out  of  the  nine  color- 
guards  were  killed  or  wounded.  The  regiment  was  specially  complimented 
by  Generals  Barlow  and  Miles  for  its  noble  conduct  and  persistent  and 
vigorous  fighting  during  the  day,  and  had  the  credit  of  first  planting  its 
colors  on  the  enemy's  works. 

Leaving  its  position  at  Spottsylvania  Court-house  on  the  night  of  the 
20th,  the  regiment  marched  to  the  North  Anna  river,  where  it  arrived  on 
the  23d.  On  the  24th  it  crossed  the  North  Anna  at  Jericho  Bridge,  under 
a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  artillery,  and  after  a  spirited  skirmish  the 
rebels  were  driven  into  their  works.  The  casualties  of  the  regiment  in  the 
engagement  were  five  killed  and  nine  wounded.  It  recrossed  the  North 
Anna  on  the  night  of  the  26th,  and  marched  toward  the  Pamunkey. 
Crossing  that  river  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  it  advanced  to  the  vicinity 
of  Hawes'  Shop,  and  threw  up  breastworks.  On  the  29th  it  moved  down 
the  Richmond  road,  drove  in  the  enemy's  pickets,  and  developed  their  posi 
tion  on  the  Tolopotamy  creek.  Three  companies  were  engaged  in  skirmish- , 
ing  with  the  enemy  on  the  30th,  losing  one  killed  and  three  wounded.  On 
the  2d  of  June  the  regiment  arrived  at  Cold  Harbor ;  and  advancing  as 
skirmishers  on  the  enemy,  near  Games'  Hill,  succeeded  in  driving  them 
into  their  intrenchments.  It  afterwards  charged  their  works  across  an 
open  field ;  but,  finding  them  occupied  by  the  enemy  in  force,  and  being 
under  a  fire  of  grape  and  canister,  the  regiment  was  obliged  to  retire.  The 
casualties  sustained  in  the  assault  were  fifteen  wounded  and  five  missing. 
From  the  3d  to  the  12th  the  regiment  was  on  the  skirmish  line  and  in  the 
intrenchments,  and  lost  three  men  killed,  seven  wounded,  and  one  missing. 
At  midnight,  on  the  14th,  it  crossed  the  James  river  at  Wilcox's  Landing, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  16th  arrived  in  front  of  Petersburg.  The  regi 
ment  participated  in  the  assault  of  the  16th,  in  which  the  first  line  of  the 
enemy's  rifle-pits  were  carried.  It  lost  in  the  attack  its  commanding  officer, 
Captain  James  A.  Lothian,  who  was  mortally  wounded,  and  two  men  killed 
and  nine  wounded.  On  the  17th,  the  regiment,  commanded  by  Captain  A. 
G.  Dailey,  participated  in  the  capture  of  the  enemy's  line  of  works,  losing  in 
the  charge  two  killed  and  seven  wounded.  A  detachment  was  engaged  as 
skirmishers  on  the  18th,  with  a  loss  of  one  killed  and  one  wounded.  On 
the  22d  the  regiment  assisted  in  repulsing  an  assault  made  on  our  lines, 
near  the  Williams  House.  Its  loss  in  the  attack  was  two  men  taken  pris 
oners. 

The  26th  also  attracted  much  enviable  notice  by  its  gallant  fighting  at 
Deep  Bottom,  July  27  and  28,  1864,  where  the  enemy  in  front  of  the  2d 
corps  occupied  rifle-pits  defended  by  a  battery.  An  advance  was  made  by 


400  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

the  corps,  during  which  General  Miles'  brigade,  in  which  was  the  26th, 
flanked  the  whole  position  under  a  brisk  fire,  driving  the  enemy  in  much 
confusion,  capturing  four  guns  and  taking  some  prisoners,  the  26th  Michi 
gan  constituting  a  part  of  the  skirmish  line  which  led  the  assault.  On  the 
28th  the  regiment  made  a  reconnoissanee  between  New  Market  and  Charles 
City  road  to  discover  the  enemy's  left,  when  it  attacked  and  drove  in  splen 
did  style  double  its  own  strength  for  half  a  mile,  and  then  pushed  them 
into  their  earthworks  in  much  confusion.  For  this  gallant  and  .dashing 
affair,  and  the  operations  of  the  day  preceding,  the  regiment  was  specially 
complimented  by  General  Hancock  in  general  orders. 

On  the  16th  of  August  it  encountered  the  enemy  near  the  White  Oak 
Swamp,  losing  three  killed,  fourteen  wounded,  and  seventeen  taken  prison 
ers.  Among  the  latter  was  the  officer  commanding  the  regiment,  Captain 
A.  G.  Dailey.  The  regiment  recrossed  the  James  river  on  the  20th,  and 
reached  the  lines  in  front  of  Petersburg  on  the  21st.  On  the  22d  it  marched 
to  the  Weldon  railroad,  and  until  the  24th  was  employed  in  the  destruction 
of  that  road  near  Ream's  Station.  On  the  25th  it  was  engaged  in  the  battle 
at  the  latter  point,  assisted  in  repelling  the  repeated  assaults  of  the  enemy, 
and  after  the  works  were  taken  by  the  rebels  participated  in  the  charge  in 
which  they  were  retaken.  Its  loss  in  the  action  was  three  wounded  and 
fourteen  missing. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1865,  immediately  following  the  evening's  attack 
on  Forts  Steadman  and  Hancock,  in  the  line  of  the  works  in  front  of  the 
9th  corps,  the  regiment,  in  command  of  Captain  S.  II.  Ives,  with  the  bri 
gade,  was  ordered  to  make  a  charge  on  the  enemy's  works  in  front  of  its 
position,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  a  portion  of  them,  taking  several 
prisoners,  and  continued  fighting  during  the  day  with  slight  loss.  The  bri 
gade  occupied  that  position  until  the  army  commenced  its  flanking  move 
ment  to  the  left  on  March  29th,  when  it  was  deployed  during  the  day  as 
skirmishers,  in  front  of  the  corps,  and  at  night  was  relieved.  On  the  30th 
it  again  skirmished  the  entire  day,  the  regiment  losing  several  men,  and  on 
the  31st  it  marched  in  column  until  about  noon,  when  it  again  took  the 
skirmish  line,  and  participated  in  a  running  fight  with  the  enemy  until  it 
was  relieved.  From  the  1st  to  the  6th  of  April  it  was  engaged  in  pursu 
ing  the  retreating  army,  fighting  every  day.  On  the  6th  the  regiment  took 
a  very  active  part  in  the  capture  of  a  train  of  260  wagons,  containing  bag 
gage,  provisions,  and  ammunition,  and  was  the  first  regiment  to  attack  the 
train.  The  pursuit  of  the  enemy  continued  on  the  7th,  8th,  and  9th,  and 
the  regiment  was  in  the  skirmish  line  at  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army,  and 
through  its  lines  General  Grant  operated  with  his  flag  of  truce  in  arranging 
the  terms  of  surrender.  From  March  28th  until  April  9th  the  regiment 
had  captured  our  400  prisoners,  and  during  that  time  its  losses  had  been, 
killed  and  wounded,  about  sixty,  or  more  than  one-fourth  of  its  number 
present  for  duty,  and  had  often  been  complimented  by  the  brigade  and 
divison  commanders  as  the  best  skirmish  regiment  in  the  corps. 

THE  TWENTY-SEVENTH  INFANTRY. 

Although  the  27th,  organized  by  Col.  D.  M.  Fox,  did  not  leave  the  State 
until  April,  1863,  it  engaged  the  enemy  at  Jamestown,  Ky.,  in  June  follow 
ing,  and  before  the  war  ended  had  passed  through  four  distinct  and  promi 
nent  campaigns  with  the  9th  army  corps,  to  which  it  belonged :  One  in 
Mississippi,  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  Jackson ;  Burnside's  campaign  in 


THE  TWENTY-SEVENTH  INFANTRY.  401 

East  Tennessee,  including  the  defence  of  Knoxville ;  Grant's  campaign  of 
great  battles  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1864  and  the  siege  of  Petersburg, 
including  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army ;  took  part  in  thirty  general  engage 
ments  and  skirmishes,  and  by  its  never-varying  firmness,  stubborn  fighting, 
and  bravery  in  action  well  earned  the  complimentary  remarks  of  the  divi 
sion  commander  when  he  said  :  "  I  always  feel  sure  that  portion  of  my  line 
occupied  by  the  27th  Michigan  is  perfectly  safe." 

The  regiment  left  its  rendezvous  at  Ypsilanti  April  12,  1863,  and  pro 
ceeded  via  Cincinnati  to  Kentucky,  and  was  stationed  at  various  posts  in 
that  State  until  the  9th  corps,  to  which  it  was  attached,  was  sent  in  June 
to  Mississippi.  It  moved  with  the  army  in  its  advance  on  Jackson,  Miss., 
in  July,  and  in  a  skirmish  near  that  place  on  the  llth  of  that  month  lost 
two  killed  and  five  wrounded.  After  the  evacuation  of  Jackson  by  the 
rebels  it  participated  in  a  reconnoissance  to  Pearl  river,  and  thence  returned 
to  Milldale,  Miss.  During  the  following  month,  August,  the  regiment  re 
turned  with  the  9th  corps  to  Kentucky.  On  the  10th  of  September  it  was 
ordered  to  proceed  to  Cumberland  Gap.  It  arrived  at  the  Gap  on  the  20th, 
and  from  thence  marched  to  Knoxville,  Teun.,  arriving  at  that  place  Sep 
tember  26th. 

Breaking  camp  at  Lenoir  Station,  East  Tennessee,  on  November  14th, 
1863,  the  regiment  marched  to  Hough's  Ferry.  On  the  16th  the  army  com 
menced  the  retreat  to  Knoxville,  closely  followed  by  the  rebel  army  under 
General  Longstreet.  In  order  to  effect  the  safe  withdrawal  of  the  trains  a 
stand  was  made  at  Campbell's  station.  In  the  engagement  the  27th  parti 
cipated,  losing  three  killed,  eight  wounded,  and  ten  missing.  The  retreat 
was  continued  to  Knoxville,  where  the  regiment  actively  assisted  in  the  de 
fence  of  the  city  during  the  siege.  In  the  assault  made  by  the  rebels  on 
Fort  Sanders,  November  29th,  the  loss  of  the  regiment  was  one  killed  and 
nineteen  missing.  The  casualties  of  the  regiment  during  the  month  of  No 
vember  were  4  killed,  4  mortally  wounded,  17  severely  wounded,  and  29 
missing ;  total,  54.  The  regiment  marched,  on  the  7th  of  December,  in  pur 
suit  of  the  retreating  enemy,  following  them  to  Kutledge,  whence,  after  re 
maining  in  camp  three  days,  it  fell  back  to  Blain's  Cross-roads,  where  it 
encamped  until  the  16th  of  January,  1864.  During  the  period  following 
the  14th  of  November  the  suffering  and  hardships  of  the  regiment  were  very 
severe,  particularly  during  the  retreat  to  Knoxville  and  the  siege  of  that 
place,  from  want  of  rest  and  an  insufficient  supply  of  food  and  clothing.  At 
Mossy  creek,  in  March,  the  regiment  was  joined  by  two  new  companies 
which  had  been  raised  in  the  State,  together  with  a  large  number  of  recruits, 
numbering  in  all  362  men.  On  the  17th  it  marched,  via  Knoxville,  Hall's 
Gap,  Ky.,  and  Camp  Dick  Robinson,  to  Nicholasville,  Ky.  The  march  to 
this  place  was  accomplished  in  fourteen  days,  an  average  of  nearly  seven 
teen  miles  a  day.  Proceeding  thence  by  cars  the  regiment  arrived  at  An 
napolis,  Md.,  April  5th.  Two  companies  of  sharp-shooters  joined  the  regi 
ment  at  Annapolis.  April  23d  the  regiment  moved  via  Washington  and 
Manassas  to  Warrenton  Junction,  Va.,  where  it  joined  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  on  the  29th.  It  crassed  the  liapidan  on  the  5th  of  May,  in  com 
mand  of  Major  Samuel  Moody,  and  on  the  6th  participated  in  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness,  sustaining  a  loss  of  eighty-nine  in  killed  and  wounded. 
Among  the  killed  being  Lieut.  James  Plummer  and  Lieut.  Arthur  Chris 
tian,  while  among  the  wounded  was  Major  Moody. 

At  Spottsylvania,  May  12th,  the  27th  most  eminently  exhibited  that 
strong,  enduring  courage,  unyielding  firmness,  which  distinguished  it  when 
victory  was  hopeless,  and  at  the  assault  on  Fort  Mahon,  April  2d,  1865, 

Z 


402  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

it  manifested  gallant  and  impetuous  action  when  success  seemed  hopeful. 
The  condition  of  the  troops  on  the  morning  of  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania 
was  very  unfavorable  for  an  important  and  desperate  assault.  For  the 
whole  previous  week  the  army  had  been  almost  constantly  fighting,  march 
ing,  or  throwing  up  earthworks,  and  the  men  were  much  exhausted.  It 
had  rained  for  several  days  preceding  the  12th,  and  that  morning  a  dense 
fog  prevailed  effectually  concealing  any  movements  of  the  enemy.  One  of 
his  batteries,  occupying  a  position  raking  the  part  of  the  line  held  by  the 
27th,  firing  at  random,  and  chance  shots  from  their  sharp-shooters  frequent 
ly  took  effect,  and  the  men  of  the  regiment  were  compelled  to  lie  on  their 
arms  without  an  opportunity  of  replying;  all  were  circumstances  calculated 
to  try  them  to  the  utmost,  and  dispel  that  spirit  and  enthusiasm  so  neces 
sary  for  a  successful  attack. 

The  regiment  belonged  to  the  1st  brigade,  3d  division,  9th  corps ;  the 
position  held  by  the  brigade  was  at  the  foot  of  a  hill  covered  with  a  heavy 
second  growth  of  pine,  and  held  by  the  enemy's  skirmishers  strongly  sup 
ported.  A  short  time  before  the  fog  arose  the  brigade  was  ordered  to  dis 
lodge  the  enemy  from  the  hill  and  push  forward  to  the  extreme  edge  of  the 
woods  and  hold  the  position  until  the  support  came  up,  preparatory  to  an 
assault  on  his  works.  At  the  command  the  brigade  moved  briskly  forward, 
encountering  a  strong  resistance,  but  steadily  advanced  through  the  timber 
to  an  open  field ;  the  fog  was  rising,  and  the  enemy  discovered  strongly  in 
trenched  in  well-built  earthworks,  not  more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  yards  distant ;  the  intervening  space  was  an  open  field,  carefully  clear 
ed,  affording  no  protection  to  an  advancing  column.  They  immediately 
opened  with  a  terrific  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry,  and  soon  after  a  strong 
force  of  the  enemy  came  rushing  in  on  the  left  flank  of  the  brigade  then  still 
advancing,  and,  although  strongly  and  persistently  resisted,  swept  steadily 
up  the  line,  checking  the  movement,  taking  several  hundred  prisoners,  in 
cluding  one  regiment  almost  entire,  and  driving  back  a  great  portion  of  the 
command  in  disorder,  leaving  nothing  on  the  left  of  the  regiment  except  the 
Michigan  sharp-shooters.  The  27th,  then  commanded  by  the  brave  Major 
Moody,  who  afterwards  died  of  wounds  received  at  Cold  Harbor,  held  its 
position,  and  swinging  back  the  left  of  his  regiment  Major  Moody  opposed 
a  strong  front  to  the  enemy,  checked  his  advance,  and  finally  forced  him 
from  his  immediate  front  and  back  to  his  works.  The  fire  of  the  enemy 
continuing  with  much  vigor  and  effect,  an  angle  in  his  works  enabling  him 
to  pour  in  a  very  destructive  cross-fire  from  the  left,  Major  Moody  sent  to 
the  corps  commander  asking  permission  to  fall  back  a  few  yards  over  the 
brow  of  the  hill  and  await  supports,  but  he  received  in  reply  orders  not  to 
fall  back  an  inch.  The  supports,  made  up  mostly  of  raw  troops,  foil  back 
as  soon  as  they  reached  within  range  of  the  heavy  fire  of  the  enemy,  and 
the  assault  was  abandoned ;  in  the  meantime  an  aid  had  withdrawn  unob 
served  the  regiment  holding  the  flank  on  the  right  of  the  27th,  the  enemy 
then  pressed  eagerly  and  rapidly  forward,  delivering  a  heavy  enfilading  fire 
on  the  27th.  The  right  of  the  regiment  was  immediately  swung  back,  and 
a  well-directed  fire  checked  his  advance,  but  a  galling  fire  was  kept  up  by 
the  enemy  on  the  front  and  both  flanks.  The  enemy  hitherto  kept  closely 
down  behind  his  works,  now  poured  in  volley  after  volley  of  musketry  with 
fearful  effect,  and  delivered  his  artillery  fire  with  increased  rapidity  and 
precision.  The  ammunition  of  the  27th  was  gone,  the  cartridge-boxes  of  the 
dead  and  wounded  had  been  emptied  and  used,  and  the  regiment  was  at 
the  mercy  of  the  enemy,  but  not  a  man  flinched.  The  brave  old  Major 
Moody,  then  suffering  from  a  wound  received  in  the  Wilderness,  moved 


THE  TWENTY-SEVENTH  INFANTRY.  403 

along  the  line  in  front  of  his  regiment  under  a  fearful  fire  encouraging  his 
men  to  hold  their  ground  until  support  came,  saying,  "  General  Burnside 

says  we  mustn't  fall  back  an  inch  ;  d d  hard  order,  but  must  obey  it." 

The  fight  continued  on,  but  slackening  in  force,  and  was  ended  by  the  dark 
ness  of  night.  In  this  fearful  contest  the  regiment  lost  27  killed,  148  wound 
ed,  and  12  missing.  Lieutenant  John  Armour  being  among  the  mortally 
wounded  and  who  died  next  day. 

The  brigade  commander  remarked,  with  regard  to  the 27th, that  "during 
the  engagement  not  a  single  man  belonging  to  the  regiment  attempted  to 
pass  to  the  rear  unless  wounded/' 

Marching  to  the  North  Anna  river,  the  27th,  then  in  command  of  Col. 
D.  M.  Fox,  lost  in  the  operations  of  the  24th  and  25th  of  May  three  killed 
and  eight  wounded.  Having  crossed  the  Pamunkey  and  moved  forward 
with  the  army  to  Bethesda  Church,  the  regiment  participated  in  the  engage 
ment  at  that  point  on  the  3d  of  June,  with  a  loss  of  sixteen  killed  and  sixty 
wounded  ;  among  the  former  being  Lieut.  Charles  H.  Seymour  and  Lieut. 
Charles  T.  Miller,  and  among  the  latter  was  Major  Moody  mortally,  who 
died  on  the  20th  of  the  same  month.  Marching  to  Cold  Harbor,  it  took 
part  in  the  operations  there,  and,  crossing  the  James  river  with  the  army, 
advanced  to  the  front  at  Petersburg.  On  the  17th  and  18th  it  took  part  in 
the  charges  made  on  the  enemy's  works. 

Colonel  Fox  being  wounded  on  the  17th,  the  command  of  the  regiment 
was  assumed  by  Captain  E.  S.  Leadbetter.  During  the  month  the  loss  of 
the  regiment  was  21  killed,  149  wounded,  and  23  missing.  These  casualties 
occurred  principally  in  the  battles  of  the  17th  and  18th,  and  included 
Lieutenant  J.  W.  Brennan,  killed  on  the  18th. 

On  the  30th  of  July  following  the  regiment,  with  its  division,  was  in  the 
gallant  charge  upon  the  enemy's  lines  following  the  "explosion  of  the 
mine"  under  the  rebel  works,  in  front  of  Petersburg,  and  under  a  heavy 
and  most  destructive  fire,  reached  the  "crater,"  with  great  loss  in  killed 
and  wounded ;  among  the  latter  was  Colonel  William  B.  Wright,  com 
manding  regiment.  The  casualties  during  July  were  24  killed,  92  wounded, 
and  27  missing. 

The  regiment,  in  command  of  Captain  Charles  Wait,  occupied  a  portion 
of  the  intrenchmeuts  in  front  of  Petersburg  until  the  19th  of  August,  when 
it  marched  to  the  Weldon  railroad.  On  the  19th  and  20th  of  August  it 
participated  in  the  battles  fought  near  that  road.  Its  losses  in  these  two 
engagements  were  9  killed,  8  wounded,  and  39  missing,  including  among 
the  killed  Lieutenant  Mason  Vosper.  During  September,  until  the  29th, 
the  regiment  was  engaged  principally  in  the  construction  of  fortifications, 
roads,  etc.  On  the  29th  it  moved  to  the  west  of  the  Weldon  road,  and  on 
the  30th  took  part  in  the  battle  near  Peeble's  Farm,  or  Poplar  Grove 
Church,  with  a  loss  of  10  wounded  and  1  missing.  Lieutenant  Theodore  S. 
Mead  here  received  a  wound  of  which  he  died  at  Washington  on  October 
16th  following.  On  the  27th  and  28th  of  October  the  regiment  took  part 
in  the  movement  on  the  South  Side  railroad,  but  did  not  become  engaged. 
On  the  31st  it  was  in  camp  near  what  is  called  the  Peebles'  Farm  House. 

On  November  1st  following  the  regiment  was  engaged  on  picket  duty 
and  holding  a  road,  about  seven  miles  west  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  on  the 
29th  moved  to  the  right  and  took  a  position  in  the  works  in  front  of  Peters 
burg,  relieving  the  troops  of  the  2d  corps.  In  that  position  it  remained, 
doing  very  heavy  and  arduous  picket  duty  until  April  1st  following,  when 
it  was  ordered  to  make  a  demonstration  on  the  enemy's  line  directly  in  front 
of  Mine  Fort,  as  it  was  supposed  that  he  was  withdrawing  from  that  point. 


404  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

The  demonstration  was  made,  but  if  was  found  that  he  was  still  in  force, 
and  the  command  fell  back  to  the  main  line  of  works  again,  when  a  move 
ment  was  made  one  mile  to  the  left,  where  line  of  battle  was  formed  in  rear 
of  Fort  Sedgvvick,  and  preparations  made  to  charge  at  daybreak  on  the 
following  morning,  and  at  4  A.  M.  on  the  2d,  the  regiment  charged  on  the 
rebel  Fort  Mahon,  capturing  its  eastern  wing.  Fort  Mahon,  prominent 
among  the  chain  of  forts  in  the  line  of  works  before  Petersburg,  and  the 
key  to  the  position  on  that  part  of  the  line,  was  a  large,  strongly  built  frame 
and  earth-work,  protected  on  the  front  and  both  flanks  by  a  deep  ditch  and 
two  lines  of  chevaux  de  frise ;  the  front  was  still  farther  protected  by  a 
strong  line  of  rifle-pits,  which  extended  the  whole  length  of  the  Petersburg 
fortifications  outside  the  chevaux  de  frise. 

The  assaulting  column  was  formed  by  regiments  in  mass  in  front  of  the 
works,  which  at  that  point  were  about  three  hundred  yards  distant  from  the 
fort.  The  main  assault  was  to  be  made  by  a  large  brigade  of  new  troops, 
that  had  never  participated  in  an  engagement,  and  the  brigade  to  which 
the  27th  belonged  was  to  act  merely  as  a  support,  and  for  that  purpose  was 
drawn  up  in  two  lines,  the  27th  on  the  right  of  the  rear  line. 

Just  before  daybreak  the  assaulting  column  was  ordered  to  advance. 
They  moved  forward  rapidly  and  silently,  but  were  soon  discovered  by  the 
enemy's  outer  line,  and  a  heavy  fire  was  opened.  The  inner  line  almost  in 
stantly  responding  to  the  alarm,  opened  a  deadly  fire  of  artillery  and  musk 
etry.  The  new  troops  wavered  for  a  moment,  then  dashed  gallantly  for 
ward,  and  soon  after  their  hearty  cheers  announced  success,  their  men 
coming  to  the  rear  with  wounded,  shouting  exultingly  to  the  old  brigade, 
"  Now  boys,  we  have  taken  the  fort  for  you,  and,  for  God's  sake,  see  if  you 
can't  hold  it."  But  the  firing  every  moment  increasing  in  vigor,  the  news 
from  the  front  began  to  be  doubted,  and  soon  the  command  was  given: 
"Forward,  1st  brigade;"  when,  with  a  hearty  cheer,  they  advanced  gal 
lantly  on  the  double-quick.  Soon  the  head  of  the  column  came  up  with 
the  new  brigade,  and  found  them  only  in  possession  of  the  rifle-pits,  and  it 
Was  found  impossible  for  the  1st  brigade  to  pass  them,  and  the  assault  was 
likely  to  prove  a  failure,  when  the  quick  eye  of  Wait — the  gallant  young 
colonel  of  the  27th  Michigan — took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance — failure 
and  death  to  halt  and  await  orders  ;  disgrace  to  fall  back ;  the  only  alter 
native  to  attempt  the  fort  with  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  men.  A 
moment's  delay  would  have  been  fatal ;  he  instantly  changed  the  direction 
of  his  regiment  by  the  right  flank,  unmasked  his  command,  charged  again 
to  the  front,  and  nobly  advanced,  at  the  double-quick,  on  the  fort.  The 
brigade  commander,  fearing  the  result,  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice: 
"  Don't  attempt  the  fort,  Colonel ;  break  the  lines  to  the  right."  The 
Colonel's  strong,  clear  voice,  rising  above  the  deafening  uproar,  answered 
back  with  gallant  spirit:  "Fort  or  nothing!"  Taking  up  the  cry,  the 
whole  regiment,  with  one  voice  as  it  were,  shouted  exultingly:  "Fort  or 
nothing!"  Partaking  of  the  bravery  of  their  Colonel,  the  men  doubled 
their  exertions  and  rushed  onward  for  the  fort.  The  formidable  chevaux  de 
frise  which  they  had  dreaded  for  months  was  soon  reached  and  quickly 
cleared,  and  on  they  rushed.  The  rebel  artillery,  heavily  charged  with 
grape,  soon  belched  forth  in  awful  salvo,  but  it  passed  harmlessly  over  the 
regiment,  being  too  near  the  fort,  and,  happily,  out  of  range.  The  ditch 
was  soon  cleared,  and  clambering  up  the  embankment,  the  colors  of  the 
27th  were  planted  on  the  parapet.  The  enemy  resisted,  but  with  a  rousing 
cheer,  such  as  victorious  troops  only  can  give,  the  whole  regiment  in  mass 
poured  into  the  fort.  One  hundred  and  fifty-nine — twenty-six  more  thau 


THE  TWENTY-EIGHTH  INFANTRY.  405 

the  regiment  numbered — surrendered  on  the  spot.  Without  a  moment's 
delay,  the  captured  guns  (six  in  number)  were  turned  upon  those  who 
escaped,  and  with  good  effect.  The  27th  was  thus  in  possession  of  this  strong 
hold,  and  the  first  break  had  been  made  in  the  works  on  that  side  of  the  city. 

Next  day,  as  the  brigade  returned  to  their  old  quarters,  after  having 
passed  through  Petersburg,  the  51st  Pennsylvania,  a  large  regiment,  which 
had  held  the  brigade  line  during  the  charge,  crowded  to  the  side  of  the 
road,  and  taking  off  their  hats  gave  three  hearty  cheers  for  the  27th  Michi 
gan,  a  high  compliment,  and  seldom  paid  by  one  old  regiment  to  another, 
showing  in  the  strongest  manner  possible  the  merit  of  the  27th  in  the  as 
sault  on  Fort  Mahon. 

Major  Moody,  in  his  last  communication  before  his  death,  made  to  the 
Adjutant-General  of  the  State,  giving  the  casualties  of  the  regiment  in  the 
battles  of  the  Wilderness  and  Spottsylvania,  says:  "In  conclusion,  the 
brave  and  gallant  conduct  of  both  officers  and  men  of  my  command  in  these 
engagements,  have  not  only  sustained  but  added  new  honor  to  our  State  and 
country."  He  wrote  in  pencil  at  the  foot  of  the  page :  "  This  statement  has 
been  made  in  our  rifle-pits,  and  this  is  all  the  paper  I  could  get."  The  Ma 
jor  was  then  suffering  from  a  wound  received  in  the  Wilderness  May  6th. 
He  died  June  20th  following,  from  a  wound  at  Cold  Harbor  June  3d. 

NOTE. — The  late  Major  Moody  of  the  27th  Michigan,  formerly  a  well  known  Lake  Su 
perior  as  well  as  sea  captain,  while  in  command  of  his  company  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  and 
while  in  line  of  battle  behind  some  protection,  being  desirous  of  saving  his  men  from 
the  fire  of  the  enemy,  repeatedly  cautioned  them  against  exposing  themselves,  and  fail 
ing  to  do  so  satisfactorily,  losing  all  patience  with  them,  rushed  in  front  of  the  com 
pany,  calling  aloud  at  the  top  of  his  voice  :  "  Boys,  bear  a  hand  and  keep  down,  or  by 
Jupiter  if  you  don't,  I'll  send  every  mother's  son  of  you  aft,"  (meaning  the  rear,)  infer 
ring  that  he  would  do  their  part  of  the  fighting  himself.  On  another  occasion,  while 
advancing  in  line  of  battle  in  the  Wilderness  under  a  heavy  fire,  anxious  to  keep  his 
alignment  in  the  excitement  around  him  forgot  his  tactics  and  military  phrases,  and 
went  back  to  his  native  element,  the  sailor,  and  was  heard  all  over  the  line  giving  his 
commands:  "  Luff,  boys,  luff — steady,  steady — luff,  luff — there,  steady — now  give  'em 
every  shot  in  the  locker." 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  report  of  Captain  Charles  Wait :  "  The  regiment 
was  engaged  at  Cold  Harbor  June  3d,  and  charged  the  enemy's  works  in  our  front,  car 
rying  his  first  line  with  heavy  loss,  but  holding  the  position  until  about  10  P.  M.,  when 
it  was  relieved  and  withdrawn  to  the  second  line.  In  this  engagement,  Major  Moody 
received  a  wound  which  caused  his  death.  The  loss  of  this  gallant  officer  is  deeply 
mourned  in  the  regiment.  Though  suffering  from  illness  and  a  wound  received  in  the 
Wilderness,  he  had  steadily  remained  at  his  post  of  duty,  on  all  occasions  manifesting 
rare  courage  and  entire  devotion  to  the  cause  in  which  he  yielded  up  his  lire." 

THE  TWENTY-EIGHTH  INFANTRY. 

The  28th,  raised  and  rendezvoused  at  Marshall,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Hon.  S.  S.  Lacy  as  commandant  of  camp,  left  the  State  for  the  field  in 
Tennessee  October  26,  1864,  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Delos  Phil 
lips.  It  arrived  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  on  the  29th,  and  on  November  10th  it 
was  ordered  to  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  for  the  purpose  of  guarding  a  wagon 
train  from  that  point  to  Nashville,  where  it  arrived  on  the  5th  of  Decem 
ber,  and  was  assigned  to  temporary  duty  at  that  post.  The  advance  of 
Hood  en  Nashville  soon  brought  the  28th  to  face  the  realities  of  war,  and 
under  command  of  Col.  W.  W.  Wheeler,  participated  in  the  defence  of  that 
place  by  General  Thomas,  from  the  12th  to  the  16th  of  that  month,  when 
it  fully  established  a  reputation  as  a  gallant  fighting  regiment,  and  at  once 
reached  the  uniform  high  standard  of  Michigan  troops. 


V 

406  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

After  the  battle  of  Nashville  the  regiment  was  attached  to  the  23d  corps, 
which  was  soon  after  sent  to  the  Atlantic  seaboard  to  constitute  a  part  of 
the  force  concentrating  in  the  vicinity  of  Wilmington  intended  toco-operate 
with  General  Sherman's  army  on  its  approach  to  the  coast.  The  regiment 
belonged  to  the  2d  brigade,  1st  division,  (Ruger's,)  and  arrived  at  More- 
head  City  February  24,  1865,  and  on  March  2d  moved  with  its  division 
towards  Kingston,  and  joined  General  Cox.  Meeting  the  enemy  at  Wise 
Forks,  the  28th,  commanded  by  Col.  Wheeler,  took  an  active  part  in  the 
battles  of  the  8th,  9th,  and  10th,  at  that  point.  On  the  8th  the  regiment 
was  engaged  in  heavy  skirmishing  during  that  entire  day  and  the  night 
following.  On  the  9th  the  enemy  pressed  Cox's  lines  strongly,  without 
making  an  assault,  and  at  the  same  time  attempted  to  turn  his  right,  but 
failed  on  account  of  a  prompt  reinforcement,  of  which  the  28th  formed  a 
part.  On  the  morning  of  the  10th  the  enemy  made  a  fierce  and  determined 
charge  upon  the  left,  breaking  the  lines,  but  were  repulsed.  The  brigade 
to  which  the  28th  belonged  charged  the  rebels  on  the  double-quick,  driving 
them  back,  and  taking  over  three  hundred  prisoners,  among  whom  were 
several  field  officers.  About  two  o'clock  the  same  day  they  made  a  heavy 
and  desperate  onset  on  the  left  and  centre  of  General  Cox,  but  most  signally 
failed,  the  point  having  been  strongly  and  promptly  reinforced  from  the 
right.  The  28th,  with  its  brigade,  being  among  the  first  to  arrive,  fought 
the  enemy  most  gallantly  for  about  two  hours,  when  they  were  most  deci 
sively  repulsed,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  and  a  large  number  of 
prisoners,  and  during  the  night  they  fell  back  across  the  Neuse,  burning 
the  bridge  in  their  rear. 

In  this  spirited  engagement  the  regiment  lost  Lieut.  Mathew  Holmes  and 
six  men  killed,  and  thirteen  wounded. 

Continuing  the  march,  the  regiment  reached  Kingston  on  the  14th,  and 
Goldsboro'  on  the  21st,  when  the  brigade  was  placed  on  duty  guarding  the 
line  of  the  Atlanta  and  North  Carolina  railroad.  On  the  9th  of  April  the 
regiment  marched  again  to  Goldsboro',  and  on  the  13th  arrived  at  Raleigh, 
and  after  the  cessation  of  hostilities  was  engaged  on  duty  at  Goldsboro', 
Raleigh,  Charlotte,  Lincolntown,' Wilmington,  and  Newbern,  until  June  5, 
1866,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service. 

Lieut.  John  E.  Kenyon  died  February  2,  1866,  of  wounds  received  Jan 
uary  27th  previous,  while  arresting  murderers  in  Pitt  county,  N.  C. 


THE  TWENTY-NINTH  INFANTRY. 

When  the  rebel  General  Hood  was  on  his  Northern  campaign  in  1864, 
for  the  purpose  of  overrunning  Tennessee,  getting  possession  of  Nashville 
and  Louisville,  and  threatening  the  cities  on  the  Ohio  river,  the  29th  Mich 
igan,  (recruited  and  rendezvoused  under  the  supervision  of  the  Hon.  John 
F.  Driggs,  M.  C.,)  under  command  of  Colonel  Thomas  M.  Taylor,  was 
stationed  at  Nashville,  where  it  had  arrived  from  Michigan  October  3d ; 
and  on  the  advance  of  Hood  upon  Decatur,  Ala.,  it  was  sent  forward  to 
that  point,  arriving  there  on  the  26th,  just  in  time  to  march  from  the  cars 
to  its  position  in  line,  to  meet  the  advance  of  Hood's  forces,  then  attacking 
that  place.  Col.  Charles  C.  Doolittle,  of  the  18th  Michigan,  was  in  com 
mand  of  the  post  of  Decatur,  and  for  some  days  previous  to  the  26th  had 
been  watching  the  movements  of  Hood's  army,  as  well  as  those  of  Forrest 
and  Roddey,  and  had  scouted  the  surrounding  country  as  thoroughly  as 
possible.  On  the  morning  of  the  26th  he  sent  out  several  detachments  on 


THE  TWENTY-NINTH  INFANTRY.  407 

the  Sommerville  and  Courtland  roads,  one  of  which  met  a  pretty  strong 
force  about  three  miles  out  on  the  Sommerville  road,  and  was  obliged  to 
retire.  Not  expecting  the  advance  of  Hood's  army,  for  a  day  or  two  at 
least,  Col.  Doolittle  was  of  the  opinion  that  it  might  be  a  scouting  party  of 
Roddey's  command ;  but,  at  half  past  one  o'clock  P.  M.,  on  the  same  day, 
his  videttes  reported  the  enemy  advancing  on  the  place.  He  immediately 
made  preparations  for  action,  and  rode  to  the  advance  post  on  the  Som 
merville  road,  and  on  seeing  the  enemy's  columns  forming  into  line  with 
skirmishers  out,  he  ordered  the  2d  Tennessee  cavalry  to  hold  the  enemy  in 
check,  and  then  hurried  back  to  headquarters,  and  made  the  necessary  dis 
position  of  his  force  to  meet  the  coming  attack. 

Battery  A,  1st  Tennessee  light  artillery,  supported  by  the  reserve  picket 
of  the  18th  Michigan  that  had  been  ordered  up,  soon  got  into  position  in  a 
small  redoubt  commanding  the  Sommerville  road  and  vicinity,  and  at  once 
opened  fire  on  the  enemy's  line  of  battle.  The  10th  Indiana  cavalry  had 
also  been  ordered  up,  and  was  engaged  at  various  points  looking  after  and 
checking  the  advance  of  the  enemy.  Finding  that  he  could  hold  the  rebels 
in  check,  Col.  Doolittle,  about  twenty  minutes  after  the  artillery  opened  fire, 
ordered  the-  right  wing  of  the  29th  Michigan,  which  had  just  arrived  by  rail 
from  Nashville  and  been  placed  behind  the  breastworks  on  the  left  flank, 
to  move  to  the  front  and  occupy  the  line  of  rifle-pits  on  the  left  of  the  re 
doubt.  This  they  accomplished  in  the  most  gallant  style  under  a  hot  fire 
from  the  enemy's  artillery  and  musketry,  which  they  withstood  with  firm 
ness.  Soon  after  the  other  wing  of  the  regiment  was  ordered  out,  and  one 
hundred  of  the  men,  in  command  of  the  major,  was  sent  to  what  was  known 
as  Fort  No.  1.  Battery  I,  1st  Ohio  light  artillery,  had  been  ordered  for 
ward  and  opened  on  the  enemy,  the  fight  continuing  until  dark,  the  rebels 
being  unable  to  gain  any  advance,  notwithstanding  he  made  several  attempts 
to  charge  the  line.  Col.  Doolittle  then  withdrew  the  advance  force  inside 
the  main  works,  leaving  one  hundred  men  of  the  29th  Michigan  to  strengthen 
the  picket  line  and  hold  the  line  of  the  rifle-pits.  In  the  engagement  of 
this  day  the  pickets  on  the  Union  line,  from  the  redoubt  to  the  river  on  the 
right,  remained  in  their  position,  and  when  night  came  the  picket  line  was 
in  tact.  It  was  ascertained  that  the  attack  was  made  by  Walthal's  divi 
sion,  5,000  strong,  of  Stewart's  corps,  Hood's  army,  and  were  fought  by  Col. 
Doolittle  with  less  than  500  men  and  a  small  amount  of  artillery.  During 
the  night  of  the  26th  the  Union  forces  were  receiving  reinforcements,  and 
on  the  27th  nothing  more  important  occurred  than  the  driving  back  of  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  on  the  front  and  right  flank.  On  the  28th,  about  3  A. 
M.,  the  enemy  drove  in  a  portion  of  the  pickets  on  the  right,  and  established 
themselves  in  gopher  holes  within  four  hundred  yards  of  the  works.  An 
attempt  was  made  early  in  the  morning  to  dislodge  them  and  re-establish 
the  line,  but  the  enemy  were  too  well  protected  to  be  moved.  Some  time 
afterwards  they  were  surprised  by  Capt.  W.  C.  Moore,  18th  Michigan,  with 
about  fifty  men  of  that  regiment  and  a  few  clerks  and  orderlies  from  district 
headquarters,  who  made  a  most  daring  and  dashing  attack  on  them,  driving 
them  from  their  holes  like  scared  rats,  and  taking  115  prisoners.  During 
the  day  the  battle  became  general,  the  Union  troops  having  been  reinforced 
and  numbering  about  5,000,  had  made  a  most  determined  defence ;  and 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  29th  it  was  ascertained  that  the  enemy's  forces 
had  all  been  withdrawn  except  a  strong  rear  guard,  and  at  about  4  P.  M. 
he  was  driven  out  of  his  last  line  of  rifle-pits. 

The  noble  and  successful  defence  of  Decatur  by  Col.  Doolittle  against 
such  enormous  odds  was  among  the  most  gallant  and  remarkable  of  the 


408  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

war,  and  its  importance,  in  view  of  its  effect  upon  the  great  battle  of  Nash 
ville  which  soon  followed,  was  second  to  no  minor  engagement  during  the 
rebellion. 

The  exemplary  conduct,  vigorous  and  splendid  fighting  of  Col.  Taylor's 
regiment  and  his  officers,  although  less  than  a  month  in  the  field,  could 
scarcely  have  been  excelled  by  long  tried  veterans. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  1864,  this  regiment  was  stationed  at  Decatur, 
Ala.,  garrisoning  that  place  until  November  24th,  when  it  marched  to  Mur- 
freesboro',  Tenn. ;  arriving  there  on  the  27th,  it  composed  a  part  of  the  force 
at  that  point  during  the  siege  of  Nashville  and  Murfreesboro'  by  the  enemy 
under  Hood,  and  was  engaged  with  the  enemy  on  the  7th  of  December  at 
Overall  creek.  On  the  13th  it  was  sent  out  as  the  escort  of  a  railroad  train 
to  procure  fuel,  when  it  was  attacked  by  a  superior  force  of  infantry  and 
artillery  near  Winchester  Church,  when  a  severe  battle  ensued,  in  which 
the  enemy  was  repulsed  with  loss,  the  regiment  losing  seventeen  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing.  The  enemy  having  taken  up  the  track,  the  regiment 
succeeded  in  relaying  it  under  fire  and  saved  the  train,  bringing  it  into 
Murfreesboro'  by  hand  after  the  engine  had  been  disabled  by  a  shell.  On 
the  15th  and  16th,  while  guarding  a  forage  train  at  Alexandria,  near  Mur 
freesboro',  it  became  engaged  with  two  brigades  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  on 
the  Shelbyville  Pike  with  slight  loss,  and  was  also  engaged  at  Nolansville 
on  the  17th.  In  the  affair  on  the  15th  Lieut.  Frederick  Van  Vliet  was 
killed.  On  the  27th  it  was  moved  by  rail  to  Anderson,  and  was  assigned  to 
duty  guarding  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  railroad ;  remaining  there 
until  July  following,  it  moved  to  Dechard  and  thence  to  Murfreesboro',  ar 
riving  there  on  the  19th,  and  was  employed  on  garrison  duty  until  Septem 
ber  6th,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service,  and  on  the  8th  left  for  Michi 
gan,  arriving  on  the  12th  at  Detroit,  where  it  was  paid  off  and  discharged. 

The  30th  regiment  was  raised  under  authority  from  the  War  Department 
for  special  service  on  the  Michigan  frontier,  its  term  of  service  being  for  one 
year ;  and  by  orders  from  this  Department  dated  November  7,  1864,  its  re 
cruitment  commenced,  under  the  direction  of  Col.  G.  S.  Wormer,  with  ren 
dezvous  at  Jackson,  which  was  afterwards  changed  to  Detroit,  where  the 
organization  was  completed  January  9,  1865.  The  companies  were  station 
ed  at  different  points  along  the  Detroit  and  St.  Clair  rivers  and  in  other 
parts  of  the  State,  as  follows :  A  and  B  at  Fort  Gratiot,  D  at  St.  Clair,  E 
at  Wyandotte,  K  at  Jackson,  H  at  Fenton,  G  in  Detroit,  and  C,  F,  and  I 
at  Detroit  Barracks.  The  regimental  headquarters  were  for  some  time  at 
Jackson,  then  at  Detroit,  and  on  January  24th  were  removed  to  Fort  Gra 
tiot.  The  regiment  continued  on  duty  at  those  points  until  June  30th,  when 
it  was  mustered  out  of  service. 


THE  COLORED  REGIMENT. 

The  only  Michigan  colored  regiment  in  the  war  was  the!02dU.S.,  raised 
by  Col.  Henry  Barns,  of  Detroit,  .organized  by  Lieut.  Col.  W.  T.  Bennett, 
and  in  March,  1864,  took  the  field  in  command  of  Colonel  H.  L.  Chipman, 
then  a  captain  in  the  regular  army,  who  had  procured  a  leave  of  absence 
for  that  purpose.  The  regiment  first  faced  the  enemy  at  Baldwin,  Florida, 
in  August  following,  where  it  was  suddenly  attacked  by  a  force  of  rebel  cav 
alry,  which  it  easily  repulsed  and  scattered,  and  by  its  splendid  conduct  on 
that  occasion  fully  convinced  its  officers  of  the  reliable  and  gallant  fighting 
qualities  of  their  men.  But  these  qualities  were  more  fully  manifested  at 


THE  COLORED  REGIMENT.  409 

Honey  Hill,  S.  C.,  on  November  30th  following,  at  Tillifinny  December  7th, 
and  at  Devereax  Neck  on  the  9th  by  a  detachment  of  the  regiment,  consist 
ing  of  twelve  officers  and  three  hundred  men,  that  had  been  sent  from  Beau 
fort  to  join  the  forces  of  General  Foster.  This  detachment  was  commanded 
by  Capt.  Montague,  Col.  Chipman  being  in  command  of  a  brigade.  At  the 
points  named  the  officers  and  men  referred  to,  most  gallantly  engaged  a  su 
perior  force  of  the  enemy,  sustaining  an  aggregate  loss  in  these  affairs  of 
sixty-five  in  killed  and  wounded ;  Capt.  A.  E.  Lindsey  being  among  the 
killed  and  Lieut.  H.  H.  Alvord  among  the  severely  wounded. 

From  the  llth  to  the  18th  April,  1865,  the  right  wing,  in  command  of 
Col.  Chipman,  was  engaged  on  a  most  hazardous  and  daring  expedition  from 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  to  join  General  Potter  on  the  Santee  river,  striking  it  at 
Nelson's  Ferry,  distant  about  seventy  miles.  The  inarch  was  made  through 
the  country  held  by  the  enemy,  the  command  subjected  to  great  danger  of 
attack  from  superior  force,  and  of  being  cut  off  from  all  reinforcements  and 
overwhelmed,  enduring  much  hardship  and  fatigue,  and  meeting  a  large 
body  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  which,  after  a  brisk  and  vigorous  fight,  were 
driven  off.  Encountering  the  rebels  again  on  the  18th,  while  on  the  march 
in  the  direction  of  Camden,  a  skirmish  ensued.  On  the  19th  the  command 
succeeded  in  rejoining  the  left  wing. 

The  left  wing  had  marched  from  Georgetown  on  the  5th,  commanded  by 
Major  Clark,  with  an  expedition  under  command  of  General  Potter.  After 
much  hard  marching  and  considerable  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  on  the 
8th,  15th,  and  17th ;  and  on  the  18th,  near  Manchester,  met  the  enemy  in 
force  at  Boykins,  when,  with  the  54th  Massachusetts  colored  infantry,  it 
flanked  the  rebels  attacking  them  with  much  spirit  and  gallantry,  driving 
them  in  great  disorder  in  the  direction  of  Statesburg.  Next  day  the  two 
wings  again  united,  and  under  command  of  Col.  Chipman,  came  up  with 
the  enemy  near  Singleton's  plantation,  when  a  successful  flank  movement 
was  made  by  the  regiment,  which  resulted,  after  a  most  gallant  brush,  in 
forcing  him  to  abandon  a  strong  position,  and  in  routing  him  most  thor 
oughly. 

The  regiment  being  encamped  on  the  20th  and  21st,  having  companies 
A,  B,  and  C  (under  command  of  Major  Clark)  on  the  picket  line,  on  the 
morning  of  the  21st  company  A  was  attacked  by  two  hundred  of  the  enemy, 
which  it  handsomely  repulsed.  At  12  M.,  on  the  21st,  the  enemy  sent  in  a 
flag  of  truce,  with  dispatches  from  General  Beauregard,  stating  that  Gen 
erals  Sherman  and  Johnston  had  cease  hostilities,  when  the  column  marched 
back  to  Georgetown,  arriving  there  on  the  25th. 

On  the  29th  the  regiment  received  orders  to  proceed  to  Charleston,  and 
next  day  embarked  on  transports,  arriving  at  that  point  the  same  day,  and 
went  into  camp  on  Charleston  Neck,  where  it  remained  until  May  7th,  and 
then  broke  camp  and  marched  for  Summerville,  and  reaching  there  on  the 
8th,  encamped  until  the  18th,  then  proceeded  by  rail  to  Branchville,  and 
thence,  on  the  25th,  to  Orangeburg,  where  it  was  engaged  on  provost  guard 
and  fatigue  duty  until  July  28th,  when  it  marched  for  Winnsboro',  arriving 
there  on  the  3d  of  August,  and  during  the  remainder  of  that  month  was 
engaged  on  the  same  duties  as  at  Orangeburg.  Sometime  in  the  month 
following  the  regiment  returned  to  Charleston,  where  it  was  mustered  out 
of  service  September  30th,  and  proceeded  to  Michigan,  arriving  on  October 
17th  at  Detroit,  where  it  was  paid  off  and  disbanded. 

While  the  regiment  was  engaged  during  its  term  of  service  in  many  other 
battles  and  skirmishes,  and  behaved  well  in  every  respect,  the  actions  above 
referred  to  will  always  be  recognized  as  prominent  in  its  creditable  history. 

Z  * 


410  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

THE  MILITIA  GUARDS. 

Throughout  the  war  the  entire  militia  of  the  State  consisted  of  three 
companies  of  the  force  known  as  the  "State  Troops:" — the  "Scott  Guard," 
"  Detroit  Light  Guard,"  and  the  "  Lyon  Guard." 

The  Scott  Guard  was  originally  organized  at  Detroit,  October  11,  1861. 
Having  tendered  its  services  in  response  to  the  Governor's  call  for  volun 
teers,  of  April  17,  1861,  the  company  was  accepted  as  one  of  the  uniformed 
militia  companies,  and  was  assigned  as  company  A  in  the  2d  infantry. 
Those  members  of  the  company  who  did  not  accompany  the  Guard  at  this 
time  continued  the  organization  under  its  old  name. 

The  Detroit  Light  Guard  was  organized  November  16, 1865.  This  com 
pany  tendered  its  services  in  response  to  the  Governor's  proclamation  of 
April  17,  1861,  calling  for  volunteers.  It  was  accepted,  and  was  assigned 
as  company  A  in  the  1st  regiment  of  infantry,  (three  months'  men.)  Dur 
ing  the  noted  riot  in  the  city  of  Detroit,  on  the  6th  of  March,  1863,  it  ren 
dered  efficient  service  in  preserving  the  peace,  guarding  the  jail,  and  patroll 
ing  the  district  where  the  disturbance  occurred. 

Tke  Lyon  Guard  was  organized  at  Detroit  October  3,  1861.  On  the 
occasion  of  the  riot  in  Detroit  on  the  6th  of  March,  1863,  the  company  ren 
dered  material  aid  to  the  public  authorities — patrolling  the  streets  and 
otherwise  assisting  in  preserving  the  peace. 

These  companies  maintained  their  organization  during  the  war,  and  ren 
dered  valuable  service  in  guarding  against  raids  by  Southern  rebel  refugees 
from  the  borders  of  the  provinces  of  Canada,  threatened  to  be  made  from 
time  to  time  on  the  city  of  Detroit  and  along  the  line.  They  were  placed 
on  duty  as  patrols  and  guards,  and  were  found  at  all  times  ready  for  any 
service.  They  aided  much  in  sustaining  a  feeling  of  security  among  the 
inhabitants  during  excitement  consequent  to  the  threatened  raids  referred  to. 

Notwithstanding  the  great  efficiency  of  Michigan  troops  in  the  field  during 
the  recent  war,  her  militia  has  always  been  extremely  deficient,  and  is  now 
scarcely  deserving  to  be  named  as  such,  consisting  of  only  six  companies  of 
State  troops. 

In  1866,  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  State  made  a  special  report,  under 
date  of  November  27th,  to  the  Governor  of  the  State  on  that  subject,  in 
which  he  says : 

"  The  Legislature  of  the  State  passed  at  its  extra  session  of  1862  an  act 
for  the  reorganization  of  the  military  forces  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  which 
was  approved  January  18,  1862. 

"  Since  the  passage  of  the  law  referred  to,  and  down  to  this  date,  only  three 
companies  have  been  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  State  as  State  troops. 
These  companies  are  in  the  city  of  Detroit,  and  were  in  existence  long  be 
fore  the  passage  of  that  law,  so  in  fact  none  have  been  organized  under  its 
operations,  and  it  is  evident  that  so  long  as  it  remains  as  it  is,  none  are 
likely  to  be.  I  have,  therefore,  thought  it  proper  at  this  time  to  make  a 
special  report  on  that  subject. 

"The  national  defence  of  the  Republic,  aside  from  its  navy,  consists  of  a 
small  standing  army  and  its  militia.  The  former  is  acquired  by  volunteer 
ing,  and  the  latter  by  a  general  liability,  with  some  exemptions,  of  all  men 
of  proper  age  and  sufficient  physical  ability  to  serve,  when  required. 

"  The  militia,  when  well  organized,  equipped  and  disciplined,  offers  the 
most  acceptable  and  safest  guarantee  for  national  defence  and  domestic 
peace.  It  does  not  invite  a  desire  to  assume  the  offensive,  yet  is  ever  ready 
for  the  defensive.  It  is  the  army  of  the  masses,  and  creates  no  special  mil- 


THE  MILITIA  GUARDS.  411 

itary  organization.  It  engenders  no  distinction  between  citizen  and  soldier, 
no  antagonistic  interests  and  aims  between  the  people  and  the  army,  no 
false  pride  or  selfish  motive  which  seeks  hostility  only  to  obtain  fame  and 
military  advancement.  It  guards  alike  the  life  and  honor  of  the  Nation, 
and  the  independence  and  liberty  of  the  citizen,  and  does  not  exhaust  or 
diminish  the  industrial  resources  of  the  country,  nor  does  it  endanger  its 
freedom  by  placing  a  great  military  power  in  the  hands  of  one  man,  or  a 
set  of  men,  whose  ambition  or  selfishness  might  lead  them  to  usurp  the  Gov 
ernment  and  abridge  or  destroy  the  liberties  of  the  people,  and  it  far  more 
advances  the  national  defence  by  possessing  a  greater  numerical  strength 
than  any  standing  army  which  any  nation  could  sustain. 

"  It  is  obvious  that  the  maintaining  of  a  large  standing  army  is  not  in 
keeping  with  the  spirit  of  American  institutions,  nor  will  it  ever  receive  the 
sanction  of  the  people.  The  country  will  be  willing  only  to  support  such  a 
permanent  military  force  in  time  of  peace  as  may  be  absolutely  necessary 
for  protecting  its  frontier  and  aiding  the  civil  authority  in  the  enforcement 
of  the  law.  Therefore  the  main  military  strength  of  the  Republic  will  be  in 
its  militia,  and,  such  being  the  case,  the  maintaining  thereof  should  be  a 
fixed  policy  in  every  State  in  the  Union,  and  to  be  effective  and  reliable 
should  be  permanently  and  systematically  organized. 

"  It  has  been  fully  demonstrated  during  the  late  civil  war  that  a  well  or 
ganized  and  equipped  militia  is  of  the  utmost  importance,  not  only  to  the 
General  Government,  but  to  a  State  itself,  being  relied  upon  as  the  main 
national  defence  against  foreign  invasion  and  civil  war,  and  to  defend  the 
State  against  hostile  attacks  on  its  borders,  to  maintain  the  enforcement  of 
its  laws  when  necessary,  and  to  guarantee  the  peace  and  protect  the  lives 
and  property  of  its  people.  Therefore  it  is  unquestionably  the  interest  of 
the  State  of  Michigan  to  be  prepared  promptly  and  successfully  to  meet 
emergencies  of  that  nature  by  a  complete  enrollment  and  organization  of  its 
militia,  and  by  maintaining  a  small  active  force  of  State  troops  well  armed 
and  equipped  ready  for  service  on  the  shortest  notice  possible. 

"  On  the  outbreak  of  the  recent  rebellion  few  States  were  in  a  condition 
to  render  much  service  to  the  Government  by  their  militia,  and  the  greater 
proportion  of  them  not  any.  This  condition  of  affairs  rose  from  the  defec- 
tiveness  of  their  militia  system  and  the  little  attention  that  had  been  given 
to  the  proper  organization  of  their  State  militia  or  State  troops. 

"  Yet,  what  little  had  been  done  in  this  respect  proved  to  be  of  infinite 
value  to  the  Government,  as  it  is  generally  conceded  that  to  the  organiza 
tion  of  State  troops  the  nation  was  indebted  at  that  time  for  the  safety  and 
preservation  of  its  capital.  The  non-effective  condition  of  the  militia  of  the 
various  States  was,  to  a  certain  extent,  excused  by  the  country  for  the  rea 
son  that  there  had  been  but  little,  if  any,  indications  of  a  foreign  war  for  a 
long  period  of  years,  and  a  rebellion  against  the  Government  had  not  been 
thought  of;  hence  the  States  had  been  unthinkingly  lulled  into  a  state  of 
security,  although  unwarranted  in  history.  By  the  inauguration  of  the  re 
bellion  and  during  its  progress,  however,  that  idea  of  security  has  been  fully 
exploded,  and  a  lesson  has  been  taught  by  experience  and  at  a  great  cost 
that  it  is  necessary  in  peace  to  prepare  for  war,  and  that  this  maxim  should 
be  adhered  to  at  all  times.  As  it  is  questionable  how  far  States  will  be  held 
excusable  hereafter,  in  view  of  the  General  Government  trusting  and  de 
pending  upon  them  for  action  and  preparation  in  this  matter,  if  not  found 
ready  on  all  occasions  and  under  all  circumstances  to  respond  to  the  call 
of  the  country  with  their  proportion  of  well  organized  and  equipped  militia 
for  the  defence  of  the  nation,  it  behooves  them  to  give  their  attention  to  this 


412  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN  DURING  THE  REBELLION. 

matter.  Undoubtedly  many  of  the  States  will  be  prepared,  but  should 
any  be  found  deficient  in  this  respect  in  any  future  contingency  it  will  place 
them  as  States  in  a  very  unfavorable  position  before  the  country  and  the 
world ;  one  in  which,  it  is  hoped,  Michigan  will  not  be  found,  as  she  can  ill 
afford  to  lose  her  deservedly  high  reputation  acquired  during  the  past  strug 
gle  by  any  failure  on  her  part  of  this  description." 

With  these  remarks,  our  history  of  Michigan  during  the  Rebellion,  is 
brought  to  a  conclusion. 


THIRD 

BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 


ABBOTT,  JAMES. His  father,  bearing  the  same  name,  was  a  native  of 

Ireland,  and  established  himself  in  the  wilds  of  Michigan  as  a  fur-trader, 
before  the  Declaration  of  Independence ;  and  the  son  was  born  in  Detroit  in 
1775.  He  commenced  active  life  by  following  the  same  business  of  his 
father ;  was  postmaster  of  Detroit  from  1808  until  1827,  excepting  when 
the  English  were  in  possession  ;  was  for  many  years  Receiver  of  public 
moneys  for  the  Land  Office  in  Detroit ;  served  as  a  quartermaster-general 
in  the  war  of  1812 ;  as  major  of  militia  in  1835 ;  also  as  a  judge  for  several 
years  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas ;  and  died  in  Detroit,  full  of  honors, 
March  12,  1858. 


ALLEN,  JOHN. He  was  born  in  Rockbridge  county,  Va.,  December 

30,  1772;  went  with  his  father  to  Kentucky  in  1780;  was  educated  at  a 
school  kept  in  Bardstown ;  and  after  studying  law  in  Staunton,  Va.,  returned 
to  Kentucky,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Shelbyville.  He 
was  following  it  successfully  there  at  the  time  the  war  broke  out  in  1812, 
when  he  raised  a  regiment  of  riflemen  for  service  under  General  Harrison. 
He  was  killed,  while  in  the  performance  of  his  duty,  under  trying  circum 
stances,  at  the  massacre  of  Frenchtown,  on  the  River  Raisin,  January  22, 
1813.  His  name  was  given  to  one  of  the  prominent  counties  of  Kentucky ; 
and  the  historian,  McAfee,  when  mentioning  the  fact  that  he  was  shot  down 
by  an  Indian,  says : — "  The  savage  had  the  honor  of  shooting  one  of  the 
first  and  greatest  citizens  of  Kentucky." 


ALLOUEZ,  CLAUDE. He  was  a  Jesuit  missionary,  who  visited  Lake 

Superior  in  1665.  He  went  as  far  west  as  Point  Keweenaw,  and  spent  a 
considerable  time  in  a  fruitless  search  for  copper ;  and  then  continuing  his 
journey  to  La  Pointe,  the  ancient  residence  of  the  Ojibwas,  where  he  estab 
lished  a  mission,  and  astonished  the  natives  with  pictorial  representations 
of  Hell  and  the  Judgment  Day.  He  spent  about  two  years  in  that  locality, 
instructing  the  different  tribes  of  the  Northwest,  and  collecting  information 
about  the  country  and  people  west  of  Lake  Superior.  In  1667  he  returned 
to  Quebec  to  procure  assistance  in  his  field  of  labor,  and  to  urge  the  plant 
ing  of  a  French  colony  in  that  remote  region.  He  was  successful,  and  two 
days  after  his  arrival,  he  began  his  return  to  La  Pointe,  accompanied  by 
competent  assistants.  In  1669  he  founded  a  mission  at  Green  Bay,  where 


416  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN. 

he  endured  many  hardships;  and  whatever  his  merits  may  have  been,  it  is 
certain  that  he  and  La  Salle  were  not  on  good  terms,  it  being  asserted  that 
he  intrigued  against  the  explorer.  In  1671  we  find  him  stationed  at  the 
Saute  de  Ste.  Marie,  where  he  delivered  a  curious  speech  to  the  Indians, 
which  will  be  found  translated  in  Parkman's  "Discovery  of  the  Great 
West."  According  to  one  of  his  published  letters,  he  said  that  the  Indians 
called  Lake  Michigan  Machihiganing.  The  last  that  we  know  of  him  is, 
that  in  1687  he  was  at  St.  Louis,  on  the  Mississippi.  While  confined  to 
his  bed  by  illness,  on  hearing  that  La  Salle  was  approaching  that  region, 
he  stole  away  from  the  mission,  and  disappeared,  as  if  to  shun  a  meeting 
with  the  man  he  had  injured. 


ADAM,  JOHN  J. He  was  among  the  earlier  emigrants  to  the  Territory 

of  Michigan  ;  a  lawyer  by  profession ;  and  on  several  occasions  was  elected 
to  the  State  Legislature.  In  1837  he  was  appointed  a  Regent  of  the  Uni 
versity  of  Michigan,  which  position  he  resigned  in  1840 ;  in  1842  he  wag 
elected  State  Treasurer;  in  1845,  and  from  1848 until  1850,  he  was  Auditor- 
General  of  the  State;  and  from  1844  to  1846,  and  again  from  1848  until 
1851,  he  was  Treasurer  of  the  University  of  Michigan. 


ADAMS,  L.  B. She  was  the  daughter  of  John  Bryan,  who  emigrated 

to  Michigan  from  New  York  in  1823,  and  was  born  in  the  latter  State  in 
1818.  Her  early  education  was  obtained  through  private  tutors.  She  was 
married  in  1841  to  James  R.  Adams,  who  was  an  editor  at  White  Pigeon 
and  Kalamazoo,  and  died  in  1847 ;  in  1848  she  went  to  Kentucky  as  a 
teacher,  where  she  remained  three  years,  and  then  returned  to  Michigan, 
and  was  for  several  years  a  regular  writer  for  the  press,  especially  the  De 
troit  Advertiser  and  the  Michigan  Farmer,  and  also  for  the  New  York  Tribune. 
Finding  that  her  literary  labors  were  injuring  her  health,  she  obtained  a 
position  in  the  Museum  of  the  Agricultural  Department  in  Washington, 
where  she  was  associated  with  the  Commissioners  Isaac  Newton  and  Horace 
Capron,  and  Professor  Townend  Glover,  all  of  whom  highly  appreciated 
her  services,  and  she  died  in  Washington  city  on  the  28th  of  June,  1870, 
deeply  lamented.  She  was  a  writer  of  graceful  verse,  and  many  of  her 
poetic  productions  were  associated  with  her  much  loved  Michigan  and  the 
Valley  of  St.  Joseph. 


ANDERSON,  JOHN. He  was  born  in  Scotland,  but  emigrated  to  Canada 

when  quite  a  young  man,  and,  after  spending  some  little  time  in  Montreal, 
settled  on  the  River  Raisin,  in  Michigan,  as  an  Indian  trader  about  the 
year  1805.  During  the  war  of  1812  he  was  captured  by  the  British  and 
Indians,  but  made  his  escape  and  went  with  his  family  to  Dayton,  Ohio. 
He  was  a  brave  man,  a  good  citizen  and  patriot,  and  one  whom  everybody 
loved  and  respected.  He  filled  with  credit  many  local  offices  of  honor  and 
trust ;  exerted  great  influence  among  the  early  settlers  in  and  about  French- 
town  ;  and  as  he  could  speak  not  less  than  eleven  Indian  dialects  and  thor 
oughly  understood  the  Indian  character,  he  did  much,  after  the  war,  to  make 
the  tribes  of  Michigan  peaceable  and  friendly.  He  was  for  many  years  an 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  died  at  Monroe  in  1841,  leaving  one 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  417 

son,  Alexander  Anderson,  who  was  a  lawyer  and  an  accomplished  man,  and 
who  also  died  a  few  years  ago.  He  had  a  daughter  who  became  the  wife 
of  Warner  Wing. 


AUGUR,  CHRISTOPHER  COLON. He  was  born  in  New  York,  but,  hav 
ing  taken  up  his  residence  in  Michigan,  he  was  appointed  a  cadet  at  West 
Point  from  that  State  in  1839.  His  first  service  was  on  Lake  Ontario,  from 
1842  to  1845 ;  he  was  on  duty  in  Texas  when  the  Mexican  war  broke  out, 
and  after  participating  in  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Kesaca  de  la  Palma 
and  serving  as  a  staff  officer  during  the  war  was  made  a  captain ;  he  was 
subsequently  stationed  in  Florida,  on  the  Niagara,  at  Fort  Columbus,  in 
California,  at  Fort  Vancouver,  in  Oregon,  and  fought  against  the  Indians 
in  Washington  Territory.  When  the  rebellion  commenced  he  was  on  duty 
as  an  instructor  at  West  Point ;  was  made  brigadier  general  of  volunteers 
and  stationed  at  Washington ;  was  engaged  at  Fredericksburg  and  in  the 
Shennandoah  Valley ;  had  command  of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps  at  Cedar 
Mountain  and  severely  wounded ;  was  made  brevet  colonel  in  the  regular 
army  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services ;  was  next  on  duty  in  New  Orleans 
and  at  Port  Hudson,  and  was  made  major  general  of  volunteers  for  gallant 
and  meritorious  services;  in  1863  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  military 
department  of  Washington  ;  and  in  1867  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  department  of  the  Platte,  where  he  is  serving  at  the  present  time. 


BACON,  DANIEL  S. He  was  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  the 

Eastern  States  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  and  for  well  nigh  half  a  cen 
tury  was  a  resident  of  Monroe.  He  was  born  in  Onondaga,  New  York,  in 
1798,  commenced  his  career  as  a  school  teacher  on  the  River  Raisin  in  1822  ; 
paid  considerable  attention  to  farming ;  subsequently  formed  a  partnership 
with  Levi  S.  Humphrey  in  the  prosecution  of  various  kinds  of  business ; 
and  then  adopted  the  profession  of  law,  which  he  practiced  with  success. 
He  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Legislative  Council  of  the  Territory  ; 
judge  of  probate,  which  he  held  for  many  years;  president  of  the  Bank  of 
Monroe,  and  also  a  director  of  the  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  Company. 
He  also  held  a  number  of  other  local  positions,  in  all  of  which  he  acquitted 
himself  with  ability  and  a  dignified  bearing,  ever  maintaining  a  pure  char 
acter,  which  made  him  one  of  the  most  popular  men  of  his  time.  He  died 
in  Monroe  May  18,  1866,  at  an  advanced  age,  and  will  long  be  remembered 
by  troops  of  friends  for  his  great  personal  and  moral  worth,  and  as  a  true 
friend  of  his  adopted  State.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  held  the  office  of 
judge  of  probate  for  the  county  of  Monroe. 


BACON,  DAVID. He  was  the  father  of  the  eminent  Rev.  Dr.  Leonard 

Bacon,  of  New  Haven,  and  was  sent  out  as  a  missionary  in  1800  by  the 
Connecticut  Missionary  Society,  and  commenced  his  mission  in  Detroit, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  His  next  field  of  operations  was  on  the  Mau- 
mee,  from  which  locality  he  removed  to  the  island  of  Mackinaw,  and  from 
that  place  he  returned  to  Detroit.  In  his  first  journey  to  the  West  he  went 
on  foot  from  Hartford  to  Buffalo,  carrying  a  pack  on  his  back.  After  a 

2  A 


418  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

year's  sojourn  in  Michigan  he  returned  to  Hartford,  married  a  wife,  and 
started  a  second  time  for  the  Western  wilderness.  While  pursuing  his  avo 
cations  in  Michigan  his  favorite  mode  of  travelling  was  by  the  birch  canoe; 
and  it  was  while  he  was  residing  in  Detroit  that  his  distinguished  son  was 
born.  Rev.  David  Bacon  was  also  the  founder  of  the  town  of  Tallmadge,  in 
Ohio,  where,  we  believe,  he  closed  his  life.  He  was  one  of  those  men  who 
are  called  visionary  and  enthusiastic  by  men  of  more  prosaic  and  plodding 
temperament.  He  had  not  a  liberal  education,  but  was  a  man  of  eminent 
intellectual  powers  and  of  intensely  thoughtful  habits,  and  really  coveted 
the  self-denying  labors  to  which  he  subjected  himself  for  the  honor  of  his 
Divine  Master. 


BAGG,  JOHN  S. He  was  born  in  Lanesborough,  Berkshire  county, 

Massachusetts,  in  1809  ;  when  fifteen  years  of  age  he  went  to  Oneida  county, 
New  York,  where  he  acquired  an  academical  education  ;  he  then  studied 
law,  and  came  to  the  bar  of  that  State  in  1835.  In  1836  he  removed  to 
Michigan  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Detroit ;  and  having  at  once  pur 
chased  of  Sheldon  McKnight  the  Free  Press  newspaper,  entered  upon  the 
career  of  an  editor  and  politician,  which  he  maintained  with  ability  and  a 
high  reputation  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Detroit  on  the  10th  of 
March,  1870.  In  1837  the  Free  Press  establishment  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
and  he  lost  all  he  possessed,  but  he  was  a  man  of  rare  energy,  and  soon 
worked  out  of  all  his  difficulties,  and  was  subsequently  prosperous  in  all  his 
business  pursuits.  The  Free  Press  has  long  been  considered  the  leading 
Democratic  journal  of  the  State,  and  among  those  who  were  associated  Avith 
its  leading  editor  and  proprietor  at  different  times  may  be  mentioned  Silas 
Bagg,  Henry  Barnes,  A.  Smith  Bagg,  and  John  H.  Harmon.  He  was  a 
warm  personal  friend  of  President  Polk,  by  whom  he  was  appointed  Post 
master  of  Detroit,  which  position  he  held  for  four  years  ;  and  by  President 
Buchanan  he  was  appointed  Marshal  for  the  District  of  Michigan  and  held 
that  office  for  three  years.  For  several  years  before  his  death  his  health 
was  infirm,  and  he  endured  his  long-continued  sufferings  with  the  fortitude 
of  a  Christian,  and  when  he  died,  was  lamented  by  a  large  circle  of  attached 
friends. 


BALDWIN,  HENRY  P. He  was  born  in  Coventry,  Rhode  Island,  Feb 
ruary  22,  1814 ;  was  left  an  orphan  when  a  boy,  and  after  receiving  a  good 
education  was  a  mercantile  clerk  at  Pawtucket  for  eight  years  before  be 
coming  of  age,  after  which  he  was  engaged  for  several  years  in  business  on 
his  own  account  in  Woonsocket.     In  1838  he  emigrated  to  Detroit,  and, 
identifying  himself  with  the  interests  of  Michigan,  became  President  of  the 
Second  National  Bank  of  Detroit ;  was  for  two  years  a  State  Senator ;  and 
he  was  elected  Governor  of  Michigan  for  the  term  commencing  with  1869 
and  ending  with  the  year  1870,  to  which  position  he  brought  a  full  store  of 
'igeneral  information  gathered  from  foreign  travel  and  the  study  of  men  and 
'•TJ'ooks.     It  is  due  to  his  Excellency,  moreover,  to  state  that  for  much  of  the 
"information  contained  in  this  volume  the  compiler  is  indebted  to  him — for  a 
^Variety  of  important  documents  bearing  upon  the  condition  of  the  State, 
Jbve*  "which  he  has  presided  with  acknowledged  ability.     Re-elected  in  1870 
term. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN.  419 

BARRY,  JOHN  S. He  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1802 ;  was  educated  at 

the  public  schools  of  that  State ;  and  while  a  young  man  went  to  Georgia 
and  resided  for  a  number  of  years  at  Atlanta,  He  subsequently  emigrated 
to  the  Territory  of  Michigan  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Constantine,  where 
he  resided  until  his  death.  Although  educated  for  the  legal  profession,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  mercantile  pursuits.  His  first  public  service  was 
rendered  as  a  member  of  the  first  Constitutional  Convention,  in  which,  as 
the  records  show,  he  took  a  leading  part ;  upon  the  organization  of  the  State 
Government  he  was  elected  a  State  Senator,  and  in  1841  he  was  chosen 
Governor  of  the  State  and  re-elected  in  1843,  and  also  in  1849.  He  was 
also,  on  two  occasions,  a  Presidential  Elector.  In  1840  he  took  a  special 
interest  in  the  cultivation  of  the  sugar  beet,  and  with  a  view  of  obtaining 
information  in  regard  to  its  manufacture  visited  Europe.  His  last  public 
service  was  as  a  member  of  the  Democratic  Presidential  Convention  held 
in  Chicago  in  1864.  He  was  Governor  of  Michigan  during  the  period  of 
her  greatest  financial  troubles,  and,  although  an  active  politician,  he  ever 
maintained  a  high  character  for  integrity  and  fidelity  to  the  welfare  of  the 
State.  He  died  in  Constantine  January  15,  1870. 


BALDWIN,  AUGUSTUS  C. Was  born  in  Salina,  New  York,  December 

24,  1817  ;  received  a  common-school  education,  and  having  lost  his  father 
when  young,  became  dependent  upon  his  own  efforts  for  support;  in  1837 
he  emigrated  to  Michigan  and  settled  in  Oakland  county  ;  studied  law,  and 
at  the  same  time  taught  school,  and  came  to  the  bar  in  1842.  In  1844  and 
1846  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  of  Michigan  ;  in  1853  and  1854  was 
Prosecuting  Attorney  for  his  adopted  county ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  Charles 
ton  and  Baltimore  Conventions  of  1860  ;  and  in  1862  he  was  elected  a 
representative  from  Michigan  to  the  Thirty-eighth  Congress,  serving  on  the 
Committees  on  Agriculture  and  Expenditures  in  the  Interior  Department. 
Was  a  delegate  to  the  Chicago  Convention  in  1864,  and  to  the  Philadel 
phia  "National  Union  Convention"  of  1866. 


BATES,  ASHER  B. He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Detroit  after 

Michigan  became  a  Territory,  and  a  lawyer  by  profession.  After  holding 
the  office  of  Recorder  for  some  years,  he  was,  in  1838,  on  the  resignation 
of  Augustus  S.  Porter,  made  Mayor  of  Detroit.  In  1855  he  was  appointed 
a  commissioner  by  the  General  Government  to  prosecute  certain  business 
in  the  Sandwich  Islands,  after  which  he  became  a  subject  of  the  King  of 
those  islands,  was  raised  to  the  dignity  of  Attorney-General,  and  has  ever 
since  continued  to  reside  in  that  remote  region. 


BAYFIELD,  HENRY  WOLSEY. Although  a  native  of  England,  this  dis 
tinguished  man  has  long  been  highly  esteemed  by  the  people  of  Michigan, 
on  account  of  his  services  as  the  most  successful  marine  surveyor  of  the 
Great  Lakes  which  form  the  eastern  and  northern  boundaries  of  the  State. 
He  entered  the  English  navy  in  1806,  shared  with  Lord  Cochrane  in  the 
attack  on  the  French  fleet  in  1809,  saw  much  service  in  the  waters  of  the 
West  Indies,  South  America,  arid  Portugal,  and  in  1814  took  command  of 


420  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

a  gun-boat  on  the  Great  Lakes.  In  1815  he  was  assigned  to  the  duty  of 
surveying  Lake  Ontario;  in  1817  was  appointed  Admiralty  Surveyor,  and 
from  that  year  until  1823  he  was  engaged  in  surveying  Lakes  Erie  and 
Huron ;  and  then  proceeded  to  survey  Lake  Superior,  which  he  accom 
plished  in  the  schooner  Recovery,  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  tons,  at  that 
time  the  only  vessel  on  the  lake.  In  1825  he  returned  to  England  and  pre 
pared  a  series  of  charts  of  his  American  work,  which  have  ever  since  been 
the  leading  authorities  among  all  the  people  of  Canada  and  the  Northwest. 
In  1827  he  returned  to  Canada  and  completed  a  survey  of  the  River  and 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  was  the  first  man  to  make  known  the  wonders 
of  the  river  Saguenay.  In  1834  he  became  a  Captain,  and  in  1856  a  Rear 
Admiral,  and  for  many  years  past  has  spent  much  of  his  time  in  promoting 
the  cause  of  science  in  connection  with  the  learned  societies  of  Canada  and 
England,  in  which  latter  country  he  is  believed  to  be  living  in  the  enjoy 
ment  of  his  exalted  reputation. 


BEAMAN,  FERNANDO  C. He  was  born  in  Chester,  Windsor  county, 

Vermont,  June  28,  1814 ;  removed  with  his  father  to  ISTew  York  when  a 
boy,  and  left  "an  orphan  at  the  age  of  fifteen ;  received  a  good  English 
education  at  the  Franklin  County  Academy ;  studied  law  in  Rochester ; 
removed  to  Michigan  in  1838,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profes 
sion  ;  was  for  six  years  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  Lenawee  county  ;  was 
Judge  of  Probate  for  four  years  ;  was  a  Presidential  Elector  in  1856  ;  and 
in  1860  was  elected  a  Representative  from  Michigan  to  the  Thirty-seventh 
Congress,  serving  on  the  Committee  on  Roads  and  Canals.  Re-elected  to 
the  Thirty-eighth  Congress,  and  served  on  the  same  committee,  and  also  on 
that  on  Territories.  Re-elected  to  the  Thirty-ninth  Congress,  serving  on 
the  Committees  on  Territories,  the  Death  of  President  Lincoln,  and  Frauds 
on  the  Revenue,  and  as  chairman  of  that  on  Roads  and  Canals.  He  was 
also  a  delegate  to  the  Philadelphia  "Loyalists'  Convention"  of  186(5,  and 
re-elected  to  the  Fortieth  Congress,  serving  on  the  Committees  on  Recon 
struction  and  Appropriations  ;  also  re-elected  to  the  Forty-first  Congress. 


BIDDLE,  JOHN. He  was  born  in  Philadelphia ;  was  a  Major  in  the 

war  of  1812,  acquitting  himself  with  bravery;  held  the  position  of  Paymas 
ter  in  the  army ;  also  that  of  Indian  Agent ;  and  was  a  Delegate  to  Congress 
from  the  Territory  of  Michigan  from  1829  to  1831,  when  he  was  appointed 
Register  of  the  Land  Office  at  Detroit,  Michigan.  For  some  years  before 
his  death  he  had  been  travelling  in  Europe,  and  died  at  the  White  Sulphur 
Springs,  Virginia,  August  25,  1859,  aged  about  seventy  years.  He  was  a 
man  of  literary  culture,  and  wrote  many  interesting  papers  bearing  upon 
the  history  of  Detroit  as  well  as  the  State  of  Michigan,  some  of  which  were 
published  in  a  small  volume,  jointly  with  others,  many  years  ago. 


BINGHAM,  KINSLEY  S. He  was  born  at  Camillus,  Onondaga  county, 

New  York,  December  16, 1808  ;  received  a  fair  academic  education ;  taught 
school  for  a  time  at  Bennington,  Vermont ;  spent  three  years  in  the  office 
of  a  lawyer  as  clerk ;  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1833,  and  settled  upon  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  421 

farm ;  he  was  elected  to  the  Michigan  Legislature  in  1835,  and  was  five 
years  a  member  of  that  body  ;  three  years  elected  Speaker ;  he  was  a  Repre 
sentative  in  Congress  from  Michigan  from  1847  to  1851,  and  served  on  the 
Committee  on  Cv,iumerce;  and  was  elected  Governor  of  Michigan  in  1854 
and  1856.  He  also  held  in  other  years  the  offices  of  postmaster,  super 
visor,  prosecuting  attorney,  judge  of  probate,  and  brigadier-general  of  militia. 
In  1859  he  was  elected  a  Senator  in  Congress  from  Michigan  for  six  years. 
Died  at  Oak  Grove,  Livingston  county,  Michigan,  October  5,  1861. 


BISHOP,  LEVI. — —He  was  born  in  Russell,  Hampden  county,  Massachu 
setts,  October  15,  1815  ;  received  a  good  common  school  education;  in  his 
fifteenth  year,  he  became  an  apprentice-clerk  in  a  leather  manufactory,  where 
he  remained  until  1836,  when  he  removed  to  Michigan,  and  continued  his 
business  for  four  years  in  Detroit.  In  1839,  while  in  the  act  of  firing  a 
salute,  as  a  member  of  a  volunteer  company,  he  lost  his  right  arm ;  soon 
after  that  accident  he  began  the  study  of  law,  and  on  completing  a  course 
of  three  years  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Michigan  ;  in  1842  he  was  elected 
a  justice  of  the  peace ;  and  in  1846  he  became  a  member  of  the  Detroit 
Board  of  Education,  serving  as  such  twelve  years,  and  much  of  that  time 
as  its  president.  In  1857  he  was  elected  a  Regent  of  the  State  University, 
holding  the  position  for  six  years ;  and  in  1860  he  visited  Europe,  and 
enjoyed  the  advantages  of  being  a  good  French  scholar.  Always  a  hard 
student,  and  earnestly  devoted  to  his  profession,  he  occasionally  delivered 
a  lecture  on  literary  topics  and  amused  himself  by  writing  poetry  ;  in  1864 
he  published  a  poem  entitled  "  The  Dignity  of  Labor"  and  in  1870,  in  very 
superior  style,  a  more  ambitious  work  in  twenty-eight  cantos,  entitled  "Teu- 
chsa  Grondie"  devoted  to  the  romantic  Indian  lore  of  the  river  Detroit, 
and  surrounding  country. 


BLACKMAN,  DANIEL. He  was  born  in  Newtown,  Fairfield  county, 

Connecticut,  December  31,  1821  ;  received  an  academical  education,  and 
as  his  opportunities  would  permit  taught  a  country  school ;  and,  having 
studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Fairfield  in  1845.  For  six  years 
thereafter  he  practiced  his  profession  in  Danbury,  and  in  1851  he  removed 
to  Michigan,  and  located  himself  in  Cassopolis.  On  the  death  of  Nathaniel 
Bacon,  of  Niles,  who  died  in  November,  1869,  he  was  nominated  to  fill  the 
vacancy  as  judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  second  circuit,  on  a  people's 
ticket,  and,  although  a  Democrat  in  politics,  he  was  duly  elected. 


BLAIR,  AUSTIN. Was  born  in  Caroline,  Tompkins  county,  New  York, 

February  8,  1818;  graduated  at  Union  College  in  1839  ;  studied  law,  and, 
removing  to  Michigan,  practiced  the  profession  in  that  State.  After  hold 
ing  the  local  offices  of  county  clerk  of  Eaton  county,  and  prosecuting  attor 
ney  for  Jackson  county,  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  afterwards 
to  the  Senate  of  the  State ;  was  Governor  of  Michigan  from  1861  to  1865, 
and  took  an  important  part  in  assisting  to  put  down  the  rebellion ;  and  in 
1866  he  was  elected  a  Representative  from  that  State  to  the  Fortieth  Con 
gress,  serving  on  the  Committees  on  Foreign  Affairs,  Rules,  and  Militia. 


422  BIOGRAPHICAL  EIISTOUY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

He  was  also  re-elected  to  the  Forty-first  and  Forty-second  Congresses,  ser/v- 
ing,  during  the  former,  on  important  committees.  He  resides  in  the  city  of 
Jackson. 


BOISE,  JAMES  R. He  was  for  ten  years  or  more  professor  of  Greek  in 

the  University  of  Michigan;  after  which  he  removed  to  Illinois,  and  held  a 
similar  position  in  the  University  of  Chicago.  He  is  the  author  of  several 
text-books  for  colleges,  among  which  is  a  Greek  Prose  Composition,  adapted 
to  the  first  book  of  Xenophon's  Anabasis,  which  was  well  received  by  the 
learned  public.  Further  particulars,  the  compiler  has  been  unable  to  pro 


cure. 


BONAVENTURE,  FATHER. He  was  a  priest  of  the  order  of  St.  Francis; 

served  as  a  missionary  on  the  Detroit  station  in  the  forepart  of  the  eigh 
teenth  century;  gave  the  name  of  St.  Anne  to  the  French  parish  at  Detroit, 
and  also  to  the  old  French  church,  which  long  stood  a  memorable  relic  of 
a  former  age  on  the  site  of  the  present  French  church  in  the  same  city. 
Further  information  respecting  his  life  has  been  sought  for  in  vain. 


BRADLEY,  EDWARD. He  was  born  in  East  Bloomfield,  Ontario  county, 

New  York,  in  April,  1808 ;  spent  his  boyhood  on  a  farm ;  when  twenty- 
eight  years  of  age  he  was  appoined  Associate  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas 
of  that  county ;  in  1839  he  removed  to  Michigan,  and  engaged  in  the  prac 
tice  of  law ;  in  1842  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  Michigan  ;  and  was  a 
Representative  from  that  State  to  the  Thirtieth  Congress.  He  died  in  New 
York  city,  while  on  a  tour  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  August  5,  1847. 


BRADY,  HUGH. He  was  born  in  Northumberland  county,  Pennsylva 
nia,  in  1768  ;  entered  the  army  as  an  ensign  in  1792  ;  served  as  a  lieutenant 
under  General  Wayne  in  his  campaign  against  the  Indians  on  the  Maumee ; 
was  made  a  lieutenant  in  1794  ;  a  captain  in  1799  ;  and  as  a  colonel  dis 
tinguished  himself  at  the  battles  of  Clrppeway  and  Niagara  Falls,  in  the 
last  of  which  he  was  wounded ;  in  1822  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
brigadier  general  for  ten  years'  faithful  service.  He  also  took  part  in  the 
war  with  Mexico,  and  for  meritorious  conduct  he  was  made  a  major  general 
in  1848.  He  was  for  many  years  stationed  in  Detroit,  and  died  in  that  city 
April  15,  1851,  universally  regretted.  A  township  in  the  State,  as  well  as 
a  fort  at  the  Saute  de  Ste.  Marie,  were  named  after  him.  The  immediate 
cause  of  his  death  was  an  accident,  by  which  he  was  injured,  while  riding 
his  horse,  whose  feet  became  entangled  in  a  roll  of  wire.  He  left  a  manu 
script  journal  of  his  services  and  adventures  while  with  General  Wayne, 
which  has  been  pronounced  of  great  value. 


BROCK,  ISAAC. He  was  born  in  the  island  of  Guernsey  October  6, 

1769 ;  educated  at  Rotterdam ;  and  in  his  fifteenth  year  he  became,  by 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  423 

purchase,  an  ensign  in  the  British  army.  By  the  year  1799  he  had  risen  to 
the  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel  and  distinguished  himself  in  Holland,  where 
he  was  wounded.  In  1801  he  was  on  duty  in  the  Baltic,  and  in  1802  sailed 
for  Canada  ;  in  1806,  as  colonel,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  troops  in  the 
two  Provinces  of  Canada;  and  in  1810  he  became  a  major  general.  The 
crowning  event  of  his  life,  as  claimed  by  Henry  J.  Morgan,  was  his  visit  to 
Amherstburg  with  two  hundred  and  fifty  militia  and  the  taking  of  Detroit 
in  1812,  and  for  which  service  he  was  made  a  Knight  of  the  Bath  ;  but  the 
greatness  of  this  exploit  wras  considerably  modified  by  Sir  Allan  McNab  in 
1859,  when  Jie  confessed  that  it  was  on  account  of  the  "imposing  advance" 
of  Brock  on  Detroit  "  that  the  terrified  garrison,  the  fort,  the  guns,  and  mu 
nitions  of  war  were  all  surrendered  at  Detroit."  He  was  a  man  of  many 
noble  personal  qualities,  and  though  unfortunate  in  losing  his  life  at  the 
battle  of  Queenstown  on  the  13th  of  October,  1812,  a  monument  was  erected 
to  his  memory  on  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  he  is  remembered  by 
the  people  of  Canada  with  high  regard  and  affection 


BROOKE,  GEORGE  MERCER. He  was  born  in  Virginia  and  entered  the 

army  from  that  State  as  First  Lieutenant  in  1808 ;  and  from  1842  to  1845 
he  was  on  duty  in  Michigan  at  the  Detroit  Barracks,  with  which  city  he 
was  closely  identified,  both  officially  and  socially.  He  served  under  Gene 
ral  Scott  in  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  and  was  promoted  in  1814  to  the 
rank  of  Brevet  Colonel  for  his  gallantry  at  Fort  Erie,  where  he  was  wound 
ed;  in  1824  he  was  made  a  Brigadier  General  by  brevet  for  ten  years' faith 
ful  services  in  the  Northwest  and  in  Florida ;  and  in  1848,  for  important 
duties  performed  in  connection  with  the  Mexican  war,  he  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  Brevet  Major  General.  It  was  while  serving  on  the  Northern 
frontier  that  he  performed  an  act  of  rare  heroism.  The  American  and  Eng 
lish  armies  were  facing  each  other,  and  one  night  it  was  found  that  the  lat 
ter  were  erecting  a  battery.  Precisely  where,  none  could  tell,  and  then  it 
was  that  Lieut.  Brooke  took  a  lantern  under  his  arm,  threw  a  cloak  over 
his  shoulders,  and  went  in  pursuit  of  the  battery,  leaving  directions  behind 
him  that  when  the  commanding  officer  saw  his  lamp  in  the  top  of  a  tree  he 
might  open  fire.  He  succeeded  in  his  plan,  and  in  a  moment  after  he  had 
descended  from  the  tree  the  iron  hail  was  poured  into  the  British  works,  and 
they  were  abandoned.  He  was  the  first  man  to  establish  a  fort  in  Florida 
in  1824,  which  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  operations  against  the  Semi- 
noles,  and  was  named  by  the  Government  to  his  honor.  During  the  war 
with  Mexico  he  was  stationed  at  New  Orleans,  and  performed  a  very  im 
portant  part  in  forwarding  troops  and  munitions  of  war.  He  died  at  San 
Antonio,  Texas,  March  9,  1851 ;  and  when  General  Lorenzo  Thomas  was 
arranging  the  National  Cemeteries  after  the  rebellion,  he  found  the  grave 
of  his  old  friend  General  Brooke  in  a  dilapidated  condition,  and  had  the 
remains  removed  to  a  more  suitable  spot,  which  is  now  marked  by  an  ap 
propriate  monument.  General  Brooke  was  a  most  accomplished  gentleman, 
and  a  great  lover  of  angling,  and,  by  way  of  amusing  himself,  invented  a 
peculiar  kind  offish  hook,  \vhich  has  been  quite  popular  with  the  piscatorial 
fraternity.  During  a  part  of  his  service  at  Detroit  there  was  a  British  re 
giment  stationed  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  with  which  his  men  had 
crossed  bayonets  during  the  war,  and  he  was  very  popular  with  the  British 
officers.  So  much  so,  indeed,  that  when  the  British  regiment  was  ordered 
home  from  Canada  the  officers  invited  him  to  a  last  dinner  in  Quebec,  which 


424  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

he  accepted,  and  then  they  presented  him  with  a  valuable  watch  in  a  gold 
box. 


BROWN,  CHARLES  R. He  was  born  in  Columbia,  Lorain  county,  Ohio, 

in  1836 ;  educated  at  the  Baldwin  University ;  was  for  a  time  Principal  of 
the  Freedom  Academy,  in  Portage  county;  and  in  1855  commenced  the 
publication  of  a  paper  in  Cuyahoga  county  called  Pure  Grit,  which  was  not 
successful.  He  subsequently  studied  law,  and  in  1860  he  removed  to  Mich 
igan  and  settled  in  St.  Joseph,  Berrien  county.  Not  long  afterwards  he 
was  elected  a  Circuit  Court  Commissioner ;  in  1866  he  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature;  in  1867  he  removed  toKalamazoo  ;  and  in  April,  1869,  he  was 
elected  a  Judge  of  the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit.  He  is  the  editor  of  a  monthly 
periodical  entitled  "  Reports  of  Cases,  tried  and  determined  at  Nisi  Prius,  in 
the  Circuit  Courts  of  Michigan" 


BROWN,  DANIEL. He  was  born  in  Lexington,  Massachusetts,  in  the 

year  1775 ;  spent  some  years  in  "Windsor,  Vermont,  serving  in  the  Legisla 
ture  ;  and  afterwards  located  in  the  State  of  New  York,  where  he  held  many 
offices  of  trust  and  honor.  In  1826  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Ann  Arbor, 
Michigan,  when  the  site  of  the  city  was  almost  an  unbroken  wilderness. 
To  his  forethought,  energy,  and  public  spirit  was  the  place  indebted  for 
the  first  impulse  in  its  career  of  prosperity ;  he  was  for  fifty  years  a  promi 
nent  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity ;  and  after  a  useful  and  honorable 
life  he  died  at  Aim  Arbor  in  1857. 


BUEL,  ALEXANDER  W. Was  born  in  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  in 

1813 ;  graduated  at  Middlebury  College  in  1830 ;  taught  school  for  several 
years  in  Vermont  and  New  York,  during  which  period  he  prepared  him 
self  for  the  practice  of  the  law.  In  1834  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Mich 
igan  ;  in  1836  was  attorney  for  the  city  of  Detroit;  in  1837  was  elected  to 
the  State  Legislature ;  in  1843  and  1844  was  prosecuting  attorney  for  Wayne 
county ;  in  1847  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  was  Speaker  of 
the  Lower  House  in  1848 ;  and  from  1849  to  1851  was  a  Representative  in 
Congress  from  Michigan,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Foreign 
Affairs.  Died  in  Detroit  April  17,  1868. 


BURT,  WILLIAM  A. He  was  born  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  June 

13,  1792;  after  receiving  a  good  education  in  the  State  of  New  York,  he 
studied  surveying  and  nautical  astronomy,  and  was  for  several  years  em 
ployed  as  an  engineer  in  the  county  of  Erie.  In  1824  he  removed  to 
Michigan,  locating  near  Detroit,  where  he  was  engaged  in  surveying  and 
mill  building,  and  served  several  terms  in  the  Council  of  the  Territory,  and 
enjoying  the  friendship  of  General  Cass.  In  1832  he  received  from  Gov 
ernor  Porter  the  appointment  of  District  Surveyor ;  was  appointed  a  Deputy 
Surveyor  for  the  United  States,  and  originated  the  idea  which  led  to  the 
invention  of  the  solar  compass,  which  became  a  great  success,  and  was 
highly  appreciated  by  the  scientific  world.  Between  1840  and  1847  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  425 

was  employed  in  surveying  the  northern  peninsula  of  Michigan,  and  intro 
duced  a  variety  of  important  improvements  in  connection  with  his  inven 
tion  of  the  solar  compass  and  the  modes  of  geological  surveying  ;  in  1844 
and  1845  he  was  associated  with  Douglass  Houghton  in  his  scientific 
labors,  and  his  discoveries  had  an  important  bearing  on  the  dev elopement 
of  the  mineral  treasures  of  northern  Michigan.  In  1851  he  visited  Europe, 
and  for  his  compass  received  from  the  Industrial  Exhibition  of  London  a 
prize  medal.  In  1856  he  obtained  patents  in  the  United  States,  England, 
France,  and  Belgium  for  an  equatorial  sextant,  but  he  was  not  permitted 
to  bring  it  to  perfection  before  his  untimely  death,  which  occurred  on  the 
18th  of  August,  1858.  During  his  long  residence  in  Michigan  he  was 
called  upon  to  fill  many  positions  of  trust  and  honor,  among  which  were 
Commissioner  of  Internal  Improvement,  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and 
member  of  the  State  Legislature  for  several  terms ;  and  when  he  died  he 
left  a  spotless  reputation.  He  was  also  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  the 
erection  of  the  Saute  de  Ste.  Marie  Canal. 


BUSH,  CHARLES  P. He  became  a  citizen  of  Michigan  about  the  year 

1837,  locating  himself  in  Livingston  county;  was  a  Presidential  Elector  in 
1845 ;  in  1847  he  removed  to  the  town  of  Lansing,  of  which  he  was  one  of 
the  founders ;  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  and  exercised  a 
prominent  influence  in  procuring  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  Government, 
and  by  his  energy  and  business  capacity  acquired  a  handsome  fortune.  He 
was  a  ready  debater,  very  much  of  a  politician,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Constitutional  Convention  of  1850.  He  died  at  Lansing  July  4,  1857,  in 
the  forty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 


CADILLAC,  ANTOINE  DE  LA  MOTTE. This  man  was  the  founder  of 

Detroit,  and  the  Cass  manuscripts,  which  were  edited  and  published  by 
Mrs.  E.  M.  Sheldon,  in  1856,  contain  a  very  full  account  of  his  operations 
on  the  soil  of  Michigan.  Not  long  after  his  first  arrival  in  Canada  from 
France  he  received  the  title  of  Lord  of  Mount  Desert,  and  having  revisited 
Europe,  he  came  out  into  the  wilderness  again,  and,  as  the  personal  friend 
of  Louis  XIV.,  he  was  made  Commandant  of  Affairs  in  1696  of  the  Lake 
country,  and  on  the  24th  of  July,  1701,  arrived  at  Detroit  with  fifty  soldiers 
and  fifty  Canadian  traders  and  canoemen  and  two  missionaries,  and  pro 
ceeded  at  once  to  build  a  fort,  which  he  named  in  honor  of  Pontchartrain, 
the  French  Colonial  Minister.  Its  avowed  object  was  to  secure  to  France 
the  immense  fur  trade  of  the  Northwest.  He  was  a  zealous  Roman  Cath 
olic,  but  opposed  to  the  Jesuits,  and  as  that  order  held  the  reins  of  Govern 
ment  in  Canada,  he  and  his  immediate  followers  had  anything  but  a  peaceful 
time.  He  first  visited  the  Lake  country  in  1696,  and  was  for  several  years 
stationed  at  Mackinaw,  and  as  he  remained  at  Detroit  until  1711,  he  must 
have  spent  about  fifteen  years  in  the  Territory.  He  was  a  "bold,  ambitious, 
and  enthusiastic  man,"  had  a  kind  heart,  but  arbitrary  manners,  and  was 
the  possessor  of  more  than  ordinary  literary  abilities.  Various  letters  which 
he  wrote  to  the  Home  Government,  from  Detroit,  contain  many  very  inter 
esting  particulars  respecting  the  country  and  the  people  of  that  early  time. 
With  his  commission  as  Commandant  he  received  a  tract  of  land,  fifteen 
acres  square,  "  wherever  on  the  Detroit  the  new  fort  should  be  established." 

2  A  * 


426  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

CAMPBELL,  HENRY  MUNROE. — He  was  born  in  Stillwater,  Saratoga 
county,  New  York,  September  10,  1783.  In  1810  he  removed  to  Buffalo, 
where  he  resided  until  May,  1826,  when  he  removed  to  Detroit,  with  which 
place  he  was  subsequently  identified,  and  where  he  died  in  January,  1842. 
Most  of  his  life  was  spent  in  business.  During  the  War  of  1812  he  served 
as  Lieutenant  of  a  volunteer  artillery  company,  organized  in  Buffalo.  He 
was  instrumental  in  getting  up  the  parish  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  and 
was  also  constantly  warden  or  vestryman  of  St.  Paul's,  Detroit.  He  was 
active  in  organizing  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Michigan  into  a  diocese  in 
1833  and  1844,  and  was  one  of  the  first  delegates  to  the  General  Conven 
tion  in  1835,  and  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  standing  committee 
of  the  diocese.  He  was  a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  at  various 
times,  both  in  New  York  and  Michigan,  and,  as  such,  acquired  an  exalted 
reputation. 


CAMPBELL,  JAMES  V. He  was  born  in  Buffalo,  New  York,  February 

25,  1823,  and  was  the  son  of  Henry  Munroe  Campbell,  with  whom  he  re 
moved  to  Detroit  in  1826.  He  graduated  at  St.  Paul's  College,  Long  Is 
land,  in  July,  1841;  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1844;  elected  to  the  (First 
Independent)  Supreme  Court  of  Michigan  in  March,  1857,  (the  term, 
beginning  January,  1858,)  and  was  re-elected  in  1863.  In  1859,  upon  the 
organization  of  the  Marshall  Professorship  in  the  University  of  Michigan, 
he  was  appointed  to  that  position :  and  the  other  offices  which  he  has  filled 
have  always  been  connected  with  his  profession  or  the  educational  interests 
of  the  State. 


CARVER,  JONATHAN. He  wras  born  in   Stillwater,   Connecticut,  in 

1732  ;  after  serving  as  a  captain  in  the  old  French  war,  became  enamored 
of  a  wayward  and  wandering  life ;  and  spent  several  years  travelling 
through  the  interior  parts  of  North  America,  a  portion  of  which  time  he 
spent  in  Detroit  and  Michilimacinac.  In  1778  an  account  of  his  travels 
was  published  in  London,  where  he  died  in  great  poverty  in  1780.  His  life 
was  written  by  Dr.  Lettsom,  and  it  was  in  consequence  of  his  account  of  Car 
ver's  ill-requited  labors  for  the  English  Government,  that  the  "  Literary 
Fund  "  was  established.  A  portion  of  his  interesting  book  of  travels,  de 
scribed  with  considerable  minuteness  the  country  now  occupied  by  the 
States  of  Michigan,  Illinois,  Minnesota,  and  Wisconsin,  and  a  few  years 
ago,  a  mutilated  edition  of  his  volume  was  published  in  New  York  as  a 
description  of  Wisconsin. 


CASS,  LEWIS. Born  in  Exeter,  New  Hampshire,  October  9,   1782. 

Having  received  a  limited  education  in  his  native  place,  at  the  early  age 
of  seventeen  he  crossed  the  Alleghany  Mountains  on  foot,  to  seek  a  home 
in  the  "  Great  West,"  then  an  almost  unexplored  wilderness.  Settled  at 
Marietta,  Ohio ;  he  studied  law,  and  was  successful.  Elected  at  twenty- 
five  to  the  Legislature  of  Ohio,  he  originated  the  bill  which  arrested  the 
proceedings  of  Aaron  Burr,  and,  as  stated  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  was  the  first 
blow  given  to  what  is  known  as  Burr's  conspiracy.  In  1807  he  was  ap 
pointed  by  Mr.  Jefferson  Marshal  of  the  State,  and  held  the  office  till  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  427 

latter  part  of  1811,  when  he  volunteered  to  repel  Indian  aggressions  on  the 
frontier.  He  was  elected  colonel  of  the  3d  regiment  of  Ohio  volunteers,  and 
entered  the  military  service  of  the  United  States  at  the  commencement  of 
the  war  of  1812.  Having  by  a  difficult  march  reached  Detroit,  he  urged 
the  immediate  invasion  of  Canada,  and  was  the  author  of  the  proclamation 
of  that  event.  He  was  the  first  to  land  in  arms  on  the  enemy's  shore,  and, 
with  a  small  detachment  of  troops,  fought  and  won  the  first  battle,  that  of 
the  Tarontoe.  At  the  subsequent  capitulation  of  Detroit  he  was  absent  on 
important  service,  and  regretted  that  his  command  and  himself  had  been 
included  in  that  capitulation.  Liberated  on  parole,  he  repaired  to  the  seat 
of  Government  to  report  the  causes  of  the  disaster,  and  the  failure  of  the 
campaign.  He  was  immediately  appointed  a  colonel  in  the  regular  army, 
and,  soon  after,  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  having  in  the 
meantime  been  elected  major-general  of  the  Ohio  volunteers.  On  being 
exchanged  and  released  from  parole,  he  again  repaired  to  the  frontier,  and 
joined  the  army  for  the  recovery  of  Michigan.  Being  at  that  time  without 
a  command,  he  served  and  distinguished  himself  as  a  volunteer  aide-de 
camp  to  General  Harrison  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames.  He  was  appointed 
by  President  Madison,  in  October,  1813,  Governor  of  Michigan.  His  posi 
tion  combined,  with  the  ordinary  duties  of  chief  magistrate  of  a  civilized 
community,  the  immediate  management  and  control,  as  superintendent,  of 
the  relations  with  the  numerous  and  powerful  Indian  tribes  in  that  region 
of  country.  He  conducted  with  success  the  affairs  of  the  Territory  under 
embarrassing  circumstances.  Under  his  sway  peace  was  preserved  between 
the  whites  and  the  treacherous  and  disaffected  Indians,  law  and  order  estab 
lished,  and  the  Territory  rapidly  advanced  in  population,  resources,  and 
prosperity.  He  held  this  position  till  July,  1831,  when  he  was,  by  Presi 
dent  Jackson,  made  Secretary  of  War.  In  the  latter  part  of  1836  President 
Jackson  appointed  him  Minister  to  France,  where  he  remained  until  1842, 
when  he  requested  his  recall,  and  returned  to  this  country.  In  January, 
1845,  he  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  of  Michigan  to  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States ;  which  place  he  resigned  on  his  nomination,  in  May,  1848, 
as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  by  the  political  party  to  which  lie  be 
longed.  After  the  election  of  his  opponent  (General  Taylor)  to  that  office, 
the  Legislature  of  his  State,  in  1849,  re-elected  him  to  the  Senate  for  the 
unexpired  portion  of  his  original  term  of  six  years.  When  Mr.  Buchanan 
became  President,  he  invited  General  Cass  to  the  head  of  the  Department 
of  State,  which  position  he  resigned  in  December,  1860.  He  devoted  some 
attention  to  literary  pursuits,  and  his  writings,  speeches,  and  State  papers 
would  make  several  volumes ;  among  which  is  one  entitled  "  France,  its 
King,  Court,  and  Government,"  published  in  1840.  He  died  in  Detroit, 
June  17,  1866,  and  will  long  be  remembered  as  the  most  eminent  and  suc 
cessful  statesman  of  Michigan. 

CHANDLER,  ZACHARIAH. Born  in  Bedford,  New  Hampshire,  Decem 
ber  10,  1813 ;  received  an  academical  education ;  was  bred  a  merchant,  and 
was  eminently  successful  in  that  business  in  Detroit ;  was  mayor  of  Detroit, 
Michigan,  in  1851 ;  defeated  candidate  for  Governor  of  Michigan  in  1852; 
and  a  Senator  in  Congress  from  Michigan,  having  succeeded  Senator  Cass 
in  that  capacity,  and  taking  his  seat  in  the  Thirty-fifth  Congress,  serving 
as  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Commerce.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  Senate  in  1863, 
for  the  term  ending  in  1869,  serving  on  the  Committees  on  Revolutionary 


428  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Claims  and  on  Mines  and  Mining,  and  again  as  chairman  of  the  Committee 
on  Commerce.  He  took  a  special  interest  in  all  measures  for  the  suppres 
sion  of  the  rebellion ;  and  was  a  member  of  the  National  Committee  ap 
pointed  to  accompany  the  remains  of  President  Lincoln  to  Illinois ;  also  a 
delegate  to  the  Philadelphia  "Loyalists'  Convention"  of  1866.  In  1869 
he  was  again  re-elected  to  the  Senate  for  the  term  ending  in  1875. 


CHAPMAN,  WILLIAM. He  was  born  in  Charles  county,  Maryland, 

January  22,  1810,  and  graduated  at  the  West  Point  Academy  in  1831. 
The  first  two  years  of  his  military  life  were  spent  at  Fort  Mackinaw,  and 
in  1841  he  was  returned  to  that  post,  and  remained  about  five  years,  when 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain  ;  after  which  he  was  stationed  at 
Fort  Howard  on  Green  Bay,  and  which  place  has  ever  since  been  his  nom 
inal  residence.  Prior  to  his  last  service  in  Michigan  he  was  attached  to 
the  Black  Hawk  expedition  in  1832 ;  was  an  assistant  instructor  of  infantry 
tactics  at  the  West  Point  Academy  from  1832  to  1833;  and  adjutant  of 
the  5th  infantry.  Just  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with  Mexico  he 
was  in  military  occupation  of  Texas,  and  having  at  once  gone  to  the  field, 
was  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto,  Resaca-de-la-Palma,  Monterey, 
Vera  Cruz,  Cherubusco,  Molino  del  Rey,  and  Chepultepec;  and  he  was  also 
present  at  the  capture  of  San  Antonio  and  the  City  of  Mexico.  For  gallant 
and  meritorious  conduct  at  these  various  places  he  received  two  promotions. 
After  the  war  with  Mexico  he  was  in  active  service  in  New  York,  Texas, 
Florida,  Utah,  New  Mexico,  and  various  parts  of  the  Indian  Territory  ;  and 
on  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  he  served  with  honor  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  at  Yorktown,  Malvern  Hill,  Harrison's  Landing,  Manassas, 
and  for  meritorious  services  at  Bull  Run  received  another  promotion,  that 
of  brevet  colonel.  In  1863  he  was  retired  from  active  service  for  disability, 
resulting  from  long  and  faithful  service,  and  disease  contracted  in  the  line 
of  duty.  He  was  subsequently  on  special  duty  in  Washington,  and  member 
of  a  Board  for  examining  officers  for  promotion  in  the  army;  since  which 
time  he  has  been  unemployed  at  his  residence  on  Green  Bay. 


CHARLEVOIX,  PETER  FRANCIS  XAVIER  DE. He  was  born  at  St.  Quen- 

tin  in  1682,  educated  as  a  Jesuit,  and  in  1721,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
French  Government,  made  a  tour  through  the  Great  Lakes,  and  down  the 
Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers  to  New  Orleans.  He  spent  a  considerable 
time  within  the  Territory  now  known  as  Michigan,  and  described  in  lan 
guage  of  rare  beauty  many  phases  of  its  scenery.  After  his  return  to  France 
he  published  a  description  of  his  travels,  and  also  a  general  history  of  New 
France,  both  of  which  works  were  eminently  successful  in  the  original  as 
well  as  in  manifold  English  translations.  He  died  in  1761. 


CHIPMAN,  HENRY. He  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1785,  and  after  re 
ceiving  a  liberal  education,  adopted  the  profession  of  law.  When  quite 
young  he  went  to  South  Carolina,  and  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the 
profession  in  that  State  until  1824,  when  he  was  appointed  by  President 
Monroe  a  Judge  of  the  United  States  for  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  when 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  429 

he  removed  to  Detroit,  and  from  which  time  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
about  two  years  since,  in  Detroit,  he  was  one  of  the  most  influential,  culti 
vated,  and  distinguished  citizens  of  the  State.  In  a  letter  which  Governor 
Woodbridge  wrote  to  the  compiler  a  few  years  before  his  death,  he  spoke 
of  Judge  Chipman  as  a  first-class  man,  and  one  with  whom  it  had  been  a 
pleasure  to  be  associated  on  the  bench  ;  and  the  qualities  which  character 
ized  Judge  Chipman  cannot,  perhaps,  be  better  expressed  than  in  his  own 
language,  addressed  to  the  compiler,  when  speaking  of  Governor  Wood- 
bridge  : — "  In  his  politics  he  was  a  disciple  of  the  Washington  school,  whose 
principles  he  had  imbibed  in  early  life  from  his  association  with  the  founders 
of  the  Republic  and  framers  of  the  Federal  Constitution.  He  was  truly 
national  and  conservative  in  his  views  and  feelings,  and  always  a  devoted 
friend  of  the  Union.  He  could  never  stoop  to  play  the  political  partisan 
for  his  own  advancement,  but  always  carried  his  political  opinions  as  parts 
of  his  private  conscience  and  personal  integrity,  and  never  allowed  a  differ 
ence  of  political  opinion  to  interfere  with  his  social  relations  or  public 
duties." 


CHIPMAN,  JOHN  S. He  was  born  in  Vermont,  graduated  at  Middle- 
bury  College  in  1823,  and  was  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  Michigan 
from  1845  to  1847.  He  subsequently  went  to  California,  as  we  have  been 
told,  and  we  have  been  unable  to  procure  any  further  particulars  of  his 
history. 

CHEISTIANCY,  ISAAC  P. He  was  born  in  Johnstown,  New  York,  in 

March,  1812  ;  received  a  common-school  and  academical  education,  which 
he  fought  for  single-handed  ;  when  thirteen  years  of  age  became  the  main 
support  of  his  father's  family,  and  followed  school  teaching  for  their  sup 
port.  In  1835  he  began  the  study  of  law ;  in  1836  he  removed  to 
Michigan  and  settled  in  Monroe;  there  completed  his  legal  studies  with 
Robert  McClelland,  and  in  which  place  he  has  since  resided,  prac 
ticing  his  profession  uninterruptedly  from  1838  to  1857.  From  1841 
to  1846  he  was  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  Monroe  county;  in  1848  he 
became  interested  in  the  Free  Soil  party,  and  attended  the  Buffalo 
Convention  of  that  year;  in  1849  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate ;  in 
1852  he  consented  to  be  the  candidate  of  the  Free  Soil  party  for  Governor, 
although  he  knew  there  was  no  hope  of  election  at  that  time ;  and  he  was  a 
prime  mover  in  the  political  combination  of  1854,  which  resulted  in  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party,  which  was  not  only  born  in  Michi 
gan,  but  received  its  name  at  a  convention  held  in  the  city  of  Jackson. 
He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Philadelphia  Convention  of  1856,  which  nomi 
nated  Fremont  for  the  Presidency;  he  then  purchased  the  Monroe  Com 
mercial,  which  had  been  a  Democratic  paper  down  to  that  time,  and  became 
its  editor ;  was  an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  the  United  States  Senate, 
(made  so  by  his  party,)  and  in  1857  he  was  elected  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  State,  and  in  1865  was  re-elected  for  eight  years  by  the  unani 
mous  vote  of  all  parties.  He  was,  of  course,  a  zealous  supporter  of  the  war 
for  the  Union,  and  performed  some  service  on  the  staff  of  General  A.  A. 
Humphrey,  as  well  as  that  of  General  G.  A.  Custer. 


CLAEK,  ROBERT. He  was  born  in  Washington  county,  New  York,  and 

was  of  Scotch  descent ;  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  that  State  from 


430  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

1812  to  1815  ;  a  representative  in  Congress  from  New  York  from  1819  to 
1821,  and  a  delegate  to  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  held  in  the 
latter  year.  He  subsequently  adopted  the  medical  profession,  and  settled 
in  Monroe,  Michigan  Territory,  and  by  President  Monroe  was  appointed 
Register  of  the  Land  Office  for  the  Second  Land  District  of  said  Territory. 
He  held  the  office  from  1823  to  1832,  and  during  the  entire  period  his  inti 
mate  friend,  Charles  James  Lanman  was  the  Receiver  of  Public  Moneys. 
He  carried  on  an  extensive  farm,  was  partial  to  horticulture,  and  an 
orchard  which  he  planted  and  kept  in  splendid  condition  for  many  years 
had  the  reputation  of  being  the  most  extensive  and  beautiful  in  the  whole 
Territory. 


CLARK,  SAMUEL. He  was  born  in  New  York,  and  was  a  Representa 
tive  in  Congress  from  New  York  from  1833  to  1835  ;  on  removing  to  Michi 
gan  was  elected  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  that  State  from  1853  to 
1855.  He  was  a  resident  of  Kalamazoo,  where  he  died  October  2^  1870. 


COCKER,  BENJAMIN  F. He  was  born  in  England,  and  came  to  this 

country  about  the  year  1850 ;  is  the  Professor  of  Philosophy  in  the  Uni 
versity  of  Michigan,  a  Doctor  of  Divinity,  and  is  the  author  of  a  work  on 
"Christianity  and  the  Greek  Philosophy,"  which  has  acquired  a  high  repu 
tation.  He  revisited  his  native  land  about  a  year  ago,  and  returned  to  the 
duties  of  his  position  in  the  University  fortified  with  much  new  informa 
tion,  to  be  used  for  the  benefit  of  the  students  who  attend  his  lectures. 


COLE,  HENRY  S. He  was  a  native  of  Canandaigua,  New  York,  and 

removed  from  that  place  to  Detroit  in  1827  or  1828.  He  was  a  man  of 
culture,  a  lawyer  by  profession,  to  which  he  was  devoted,  and  in  which  he 
was  successful,  and  distinguished  for  his  rapid  dispatch  of  business.  He 
was  the  successor  of  Judge  Fletcher  as  Attorney-General  of  the  Territory 
of  Michigan,  a  courteous  and  popular  man ;  and  he  died  in  Detroit  in 
1836,  universally  lamented.  He  had  two  brothers — Thomas  G.  and  Joseph 
C. — who  were  both  honorably  identified  with  Michigan  as  Territory  and 
State. 


COLE,  THOMAS  G. He  was  born  in  Canandaigua,  New  York,  and  emi 
grated  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan  about  the  year  1830,  locating  at  Mon 
roe,  on  the  River  Raisin.  He  was  a  talented  and  active  business  man  and 
a  most  courteous  gentleman ;  was  one  of  the  first  in  projecting  and  carrying 
forward  to  successful  termination  the  Detroit,  Monroe,  and  Toledo  Rail 
road  ;  and  was  a  Director  and  for  some  years  Superintendent  of  the  Michi 
gan  Southern  Railroad.  It  was  chiefly  through  his  agency  and  liberality 
that  the  Monroe  Gazette  was  established  in  1846,  and  which  the  present 
writer  had  the  honor  of  editing  for  a  few  months  after  its  commencement. 
He  died  at  Monroe  in  1860.  He  had  a  brother,  Joseph  C.  Cole,  who  was 
at  one  time  postmaster  at  Monroe,  and  a  man  of  much  literary  culture;  and 
another  brother,  Henry  S.  Cole,  who  was  long  a  leading  lawyer  in  Detroit. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  431 

COMIS,  EZRA. He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Michigan  Legislature 

from  Calhoun  county  in  1836,  and  was  the  first  Speaker  chosen  under  the 
State  Constitution,  and  he  had  previously  been  a  member  of  the  Conven 
tion  which  formed  the  said  Constitution.  He  was  also  a  general  in  the 
militia  service ;  reputed  a  man  of  talents  and  strict  integrity.  Died  in  De 
troit  in  February,  1837. 


COMSTOCK,  DARIUS. He  was  of  Quaker  parentage,  and  one  of  the 

original  contractors  of  the  Erie  Canal,  and  a  number  of  the  locks  at  Lock- 
port  were  constructed  under  his  supervision.  Having  made  a  fortune  in 
that  capacity  he  emigrated  to  Michigan,  purchased  an  extensive  tract  of 
land  in  Lenawee  county,  and  founded  the  village  and  now  the  flourishing 
city  of  Adrian.  He  was  a  worthy  and  sagacious  man,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  developing  the  resources  of  the  State,  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  which  his  name  was  synonymous  with  prosperity  and  enterprise. 


COMSTOCK,  O.  C. He  was  born  in  New  York  in  1784 ;  received  a  good 

education,  and  prepared  himself  to  officiate  as  a  Baptist  preacher ;  was 
elected  to  the  New  York  Assembly  in  1810  and  1812;  and  was  a  Repre 
sentative  in  Congress  from  that  State  from  1813  to  1819.  He  subsequently 
officiated  as  Chaplain  of  the  National  House  of  Representatives ;  and  hav 
ing,  after  sojourning  for  a  time  in  Illinois,  taken  up  his  residence  at  Mar 
shall,  Michigan,  remained  there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  llth 
January,  1860. 


CONANT,  SHUBAEL. He  was  for  a  great  many  years  one  of  the  most 

influential,  cultivated,  and  enterprising  citizens  of  Detroit,  and  did  much 
by  his  sagacity  as  a  merchant  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  city  and 
State.  He  emigrated  to  the  West  from  Massachusetts;  had  a  brother, 
who  resided  on  the  River  Raisin,  at  Monroe,  who  was  a  prominent 
physician,  and  also  a  man  of  ability  and  refinement.  Mr.  Shubael  Con  ant 
was  a  man  of  rare  judgment,  by  the  exercise  of  which  he  acquired  a  hand 
some  property,  and  stood  high  as  a  man  of  character  and  benevolence,  al 
ways  taking  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  Detroit  and  the  entire  State 
of  Michigan.  As  early  as  the  year  1819  he  established,  in  conjunction  with 
two  other  Detroit  citizens,  the  first  grain  and  saw-mills  in  the  town  of  Pon- 
tiac.  He  was  never  married,  and  died  in  Detroit  in  1865  or  '66,  leaving  a 
name  which  will  always  be  kindly  remembered  by  the  older  citizens  of  the 
State.  The  writer  regrets  that  he  cannot  be  more  particular  in  his  notice, 
but  if  pleasant  personal  recollections  were  suited  to  this  place  he  would 
have  no  trouble  iu  writing  an  entire  essay.  And  this  remark  holds  true  in 
regard  to  nearly  all  the  pioneer  citizens  whom  it  is  his  pleasure  to  mention 
in  this  volume. 


CONGER,  JAMES  L. He  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and,  on  removing  to 

Michigan,  was  elected  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  1851  to  1^53.     Of 
his  later  history  the  compiler  has  been  unable  to  obtain  any  particulars. 


432  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

CONGER,  OMAR  D. He  was  born  in  Cooperstown,  Otsego  county,  New 

York,  in  1818 ;  removed  with  his  father,  who  was  a  clergyman,  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio,  in  1824;  graduated  in  1842  at  the  Western  Reserve  College ; 
from  1845  to  1847  he  was  employed  in  the  Geological  Surveys  of  Lake  Su 
perior;  and  in  1848  he  settled  at  Port  Huron,  Michigan,  in  the  practice  of 
law.  lu  1850  he  was  elected  Judge  of  St.  Clair  county;  was  a  Senator  in 
the  State  Legislature  from  1855  to  1859,  during  the  latter  year  serving  as 
President  pro  tern.;  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Baltimore  Convention  of  1864; 
also  a  Presidential  Elector  at  the  ensuing  election  in  1865,  and  messenger 
from  Michigan  to  carry  the  vote  to  Washington  ;  in  1866  he  was  a  member 
of  the  State  Constitutional  Convention ;  and  in  1868  he  was  elected  a  Rep- 
presentative  from  Michigan  to  the  Forty-first  Congress,  serving  on  several 
committees,  but  especially  the  Committee  on  Commerce.  He  resides  at  Port 
Huron,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  Forty-second  Congress. 


COOLEY,  THOMAS  M. He  was  born  at  Attica,  New  York,  January  6, 

1824;  studied  law  in  Palmyra;  removed  to  Michigan  in  1843;  completed 
his  legal  studies  at  Adrian,  where  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1*46 ;  and 
spent  the  two  following  years  practicing  his  profession  in  Tecumseh,  after 
which  he  settled  permanently  in  Adrian.  In  1857  he  was  appointed  by  the 
Legislature  to  compile  the  General  Statutes  of  Michigan,  which  were  duly 
published  in  two  volumes ;  in  1858  he  was  appointed  Reporter  of  the  Su 
preme  Court,  held  the  position  until  1864,  and  published  eight  volumes  of 
Keports :  in  1850  he  was  made  Jay  Professor  of  Law  in  the  University  of 
Michigan,  which  office  he  holds  at  the  present  time ;  in  1866  he  published  a 
Digest  of  Michigan  Reports;  and  in  1868  (through  Little,  Brown  &  Co.)  a 
"Treatise  on  the  Constitutional  Limitations  which  rest  upon  the  Legislative 
Power  of  the  States  of  the  American  Union,"  which  work  has  been  emi 
nently  successful.  In  1864  he  was  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court 
by  17,000  majority,  and  in  1869  re-elected  by  a  majority  of  more  than  30,000 
for  the  term  which  ends  in  1878.  Notwithstanding  the  pressure  of  his  pub 
lic  duties,  he  has  found  time  to  prepare  for  early  publication  a  new  edition 
of  Blackstone ;  and  among  the  important  cases  which  have  been  decided 
since  he  went  upon  the  bench  are,  first,  one  declaring  the  Military  Suffrage 
Act  unconstitutional ;  and  another  declaring  Railroad  Subscriptions  void — 
both  of  which  have  been  extensively  discussed  by  the  public  at  large.  The 
present  residence  of  Judge  Cooley  is  in  Ann  Arbor. 


COOPER,  GEORGE  B. Born  at  Long  Hill,  Morris  county,  New  Jersey, 

June  6, 1808  ;  received  a  good  common-school  education ;  removed  to  Mich 
igan  in  1830;  served  in  the  two  Houses  of  the  State  Legislature;  served 
two  terms  as  State  Treasurer  of  Michigan ;  held  the  position  of  Postmaster 
at  Jackson  for  eleven  years,  which  he  resigned  when  chosen  Treasurer ;  and 
was  elected  a  Representative  from  Michigan  to  the  Thirty-sixth  Congress. 
His  seat,  however,  was  contested  by  William  A.  Howard,  and  before  the 
close  of  the  first  session  the  latter  was  admitted. 


CRAPO,  HENRY  H. He  was  born  in  Dartmouth,  Mass.,    May    24, 

1804 ;  resided  for  many  years  in  New  Bedford,  from  which  place  he  re- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN.  433 

moved  to  Michigan  in  1857 ;  became  extensively  engaged  in  the  manufac 
ture  and  sale  of  lumber ;  was  for  a  time  Mayor  of  Flint,  where  he  resided ; 
served  in  the  State  Senate ;  and  was  twice  elected  Governor  of  the  State — 
in  1>64  and  1866 — performing  important  services  during  the  progress  of 
the  Rebellion,  all  of  which  the  reader  will  find  fully  set  forth  in  that  por 
tion  of  this  volume  devoted  to  the  part  which  Michigan  took  in  the  war  for 
the  Union.  Died  in  Flint,  July  23,  1869. 


CRARY,  ISAAC  E. He  was  born  in  Preston,  New  London  county,  Con 
necticut  ;  received  a  good  English  education,  and  then  graduated  at  an  east 
ern  College ;  adopted  the  profession  of  law,  and  removed  to  the  Territory  of 
Michigan  ;  was  there  appointed  a  General  of  Militia ;  was  elected  a  Dele 
gate  to  Congress  from  the  Territory  in  1835  and  1836 ;  was  a  Delegate  to 
the  State  Constitutional  Convention  of  1835,  and  drew  up  the  article  which 
passed  into  a  law  creating  the  office  of  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction ; 
also  a  Regent  of  the  State  University  in  1837 ;  and  was  a  Representative 
in  Congress  from  that  State  from  the  time  of  its  admission  into  the  Union 
in  1836  to  1841.  He  also  edited  at  one  time  the  Democratic  Expounder. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  chosen  Speaker  of  the  Lower 
House  in  1846.  He  died  in  Marshall,  Michigan,  May  8,  1854.  A  debate 
which  he  had  on  the  floor  of  Congress  with  Thomas  Corwin  has  passed  into 
the  history  of  parliamentary  novelties. 


CUSTER,  GEORGE  A. He  was  born  in  New  Rumley,  Harrison  county, 

Ohio,  December  5,  1839,  but  as  he  identified  himself  with  Michigan — first, 
by  commanding  her  famous  brigade  of  cavalry,  and  secondly,  by  becoming 
the  son-in-law  of  one  of  her  leading  citizens — Daniel  S.  Bacon — we  submit 
the  following  particulars  with  pleasure  :  After  acquiring  a  good  education, 
he  became  a  school-teacher,  and  having  been  appointed  to  the  West  Point 
Academy,  he  graduated  at  that  institution  in  1861.  He  was  first  assigned 
to  duty  in  the  2d  United  States  cavalry,  formerly  commanded  by  R.  E. 
Lee  ;  reported  himself  for  duty  to  General  Scott  the  day  before  the  battle 
of  Bull  Run  ;  served  on  the  staff*  of  General  Kearney  ;  was  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  and  when  General  McClellan  was  relieved,  he  was  mus 
tered  out  as  a  Captain  and  Aid-de-Camp.  He  then  became  a  personal  Aid 
to  General  Pleasanton,  and  for  meritorious  services  was  made  a  Brigadier- 
General  of  volunteers,  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Michigan  bri 
gade,  which  distinguished  itself  at  Gettysburg.  He  participated  in  the 
battle  of  the  Wilderness,  and  for  his  services  in  the  Shennandoah  Valley  he 
was  complimented  in  an  order  of  the  War  Department.  Pie  was  a  warm 
personal  friend  and  important  assistant  of  General  Sheridan,  who,  although 
ten  years  his  senior,  when  once  in  trouble  on  the  field  of  battle,  sighed  for 
the  help  of  "old  Custer ;"  and  in  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Custer,  accompanying  the 
table,  sent  as  a  present,  on  which  were  signed  the  terms  of  surrender  of  the 
Virginia  army,  under  General  R.  E.  Lee,  he  said:  "No  person  was  more 
instrumental  in  bringing  about  this  most  desirable  result  than  your  most 
gallant  husband."  General  Custer  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major- 
General  of  volunteers ;  accompanied  General  Sheridan  to  the  Department 
of  the  Gulf  after  the  war;  was  on  important  duty  in  Texas  ;  and  in  1866 
was  mustered  out  of  the  volunteer  service  and  returned  to  resume  his  posi 
tion  in  the  regular  army.  It  is  said  of  him  that  he  never  lost  a  gun  or 

2  B 


434  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN. 

color,  but  captured  more  guns,  flags,  and  prisoners  than  any  other  General 
not  an  army  commander.  After  the  war  he  was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the 
Union  Convention  of  Philadelphia,  and  also  to  the  Soldiers'  Convention  of 
Cleveland,  since  which  time  he  has  taken  no  part  in  politics. 


DABLON,  CLAUDE. He  was  a  Jesuit  missionary,  a  personal  friend  and 

companion  of  Father  Marquette,  and  an  account  of  his  labors  on  the  Upper 
Lakes  is  contained  in  the  Jesuit  Relation  of  1671.  He  was  Superior  of  the 
Missions  in  that  region,  and  an  earnest  and  hard-working  man.  He  took 
part  in  an  expedition  for  the  survey  of  Lake  Superior,  which  resulted  in  a 
valuable  and  curious  map  of  the  region,  and  made  this  report  in  regard  to 
the  copper  mines:  "A  day's  journey  from  the  head  of  the  lake  on  the  south 
side  there  is  a  rock  of  copper,  weighing  from  six  hundred  to  eight  hundred 
pounds,  lying  on  the  shore,  where  any  who  pass  may  see  it;"  and  he  further 
speaks  of  the  great  copper  boulders  found  in  the  bed  of  the  river  Ontonagan. 
His  principal  fields  of  operation  as  a  missionary  were  at  the  Saute  de  Ste. 
Marie  and  at  the  head  of  Green  Bay.  He  was  the  man  who  said  that  the 
region  of  Green  Bay  was  an  earthly  paradise,  but  that  the  way  to  it  was  as 
difficult  as  the  path  to  heaven — alluding  to  the  rapids  of  Fox  river.  With 
regard  to  the  name  of  Michigan,  he  wrote  it  Mitchiganon ;  and  in  speaking 
of  the  success  which  had  attended  his  labors  as  a  missionary,  in  conjunc 
tion  with  those  of  Allouez  and  Marquette,  he  rejoiced  that  his  holy  faith 
was  established  among  the  Indian  tribes ;  and  he  had  "good  hope  that  they 
would  soon  carry  it  to  the  famous  river  called  the  Mississippi,  and  perhaps 
even  to  the  South  Sea." 


DESNOYERS,  PETER. He  was  born  in   France  in  1773 ;  came  from 

Paris  to  America  in  1790;  lived  atGallipolis  a  number  of  years,  and  after 
wards  in  Pittsburg,  from  which  place  he  removed  to  Detroit  in  August, 
1796,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  In  consequence  of  his  loyalty  as 
an  American  citizen,  he  received  a  donation  of  land  on  the  river  Detroit, 
under  an  act  of  Congress  passed  in  1807  ;  was  subsequently  United  States 
Marshal  for  the  Territory ;  also,  State  Treasurer  in  1839  ;  and  during  his 
long  residence  in  Detroit  was  considered  one  of  the  most  influential  men  of 
the  city,  as  well  as  a  leading  spirit  among  the  French  population. 


DEWEY,  JAMES  STODDARD. He  was  born  in  Broome  county,  New 

York,  December  21,  1832;  removed  with  his  father  to  Lapeer  county, 
Michigan,  in  1838  ;  and  he  was  educated  at  the  Miami  University,  in  Ohio, 
where  his  uncle,  Dr.  O.  N.  Stoddard,  was  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  the 
Natural  Sciences.  After  graduating  in  1858,  he  returned  to  Michigan,  and 
settled  in  Pontiac ;  for  about  one  year  he  was  an  assistant  principal  in  a 
Union  School ;  next  studied  law,  and,  on  being  admitted  to  the  bar,  was 
clerk  in  the  office  of  Judge  M.  E.  Crofoot,  and  became  his  partner  in  busi 
ness,  continuing  that  connection  until  1863.  In  1»64  he  was  elected  City 
Justice  of  Pontiac ;  in  1866  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  for 
the  Sixth  Circuit,  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Judge  Sandford  M.  Green, 
resigned,  and  was  subsequently  re-elected  for  the  full  term  of  six  years  from 
the  1st  of  January,  1870,  in  which  position  he  still  continues. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  435 

DOBBINS,  DANIEL. He  was  born  in  Mifflin  county,  Pennsylvania, 

July  5,  1776,  and  visited  Lake  Erie  with  a  party  of  surveyors  as  early  as 
1796.  He  was  with  General  Wayne,  at  Presque  Isle,  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  and  became  a  resident  of  that  locality,  where  he  was  distinguished 
as  a  navigator  of  the  Great  Lakes.  He  was  at  Mackinaw  with  his  vessel, 
the  Salina,  when  that  place  was  captured  by  the  British  in  1812,  and  though 
taken  prisoner,  was  paroled.  He  was  again  made  a  prisoner  at  Detroit, 
and  again  paroled,  but  now  unconditionally.  He  was  very  efficient  in  fit 
ting  out  the  squadron  at  Erie,  and  was  in  the  expedition,  under  Commodore 
Sinclair,  that  attempted  to  retake  Mackinaw.  After  the  war  he  was  in  com 
mand  of  a  vessel  called  the  Washington,  and  in  1816  conveyed  troops  in  her 
to  Green  Bay,  she  having  been  the  first  vessel  built  by  civilized  man  that 
entered  that  harbor.  Having  a  commission  in  the  navy  as  captain,  he  was 
ordered  to  sea  in  1826,  when  he  resigned  his  position,  but  remained  in  the 
employ  of  the  Government.  In  1829  President  Jackson  appointed  him 
commander  of  a  Revenue  Cutter,  and  he  finally  retired  from  the  service  in 
1849 ;  and  he  died  February  29,  1856.  He  was  held  in  high  repute  by 
Commander  Perry,  whom  he  greatly  assisted  in  his  operations  on  Lake 
Erie ;  and  a  small  cluster  of  islands  in  Green  Bay  is  known  by  his  name. 


DOTY,  JAMES  D. He  was  born  in  New  York,  and  after  preparing 

himself  for  the  bar,  removed  to  Michigan,  where,  for  many  years  he  took 
part  in  the  affairs  of  the  State.  He  was  for  many  years  United  States 
Judge  for  Northern  Michigan,  also,  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs.  From 
1839  to  1841  he  was  a  Delegate  to  Congress  from  the  Territory  of  Wiscon 
sin;  Governor  of  the  Territory  from  1841  to  1844;  and  a  Representative  to 
Congress  from  1849  to  1853.  In  1864  he  was  appointed  by  President  Lin 
coln  Governor  of  Utah,  of  which  Territory  he  had  previously  been  Treas 
urer  ;  and  he  died  there  in  1865,  leaving  in  Michigan  a  large  number  of 
attached  friends. 


DRIGGS,  JOHN  F. Was  born  in  Kinderhook,  New  York,  March  3d, 

1813 ;  was  apprenticed  to  a  mechanical  business  connected  with  building 
in  New  York  city,  and  was  a  master-mechanic  until  1856 ;  in  1844  he  was 
appointed  Superintendent  of  the  New  York  Penitentiary,  holding  the  office 
one  year ;  settled  in  East  Saginaw,  Michigan,  in  1856  ;  was  President  of  that 
village  in  1858 ;  during  the  two  following  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Michigan  Legislature ;  and  in  1862  he  was  elected  a  Representative  from 
Michigan  to  the  Thirty-eighth  Congress,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Commit 
tee  on  the.  Public  Lands ;  re-elected  to  the  Thirty-ninth  Congress,  serving 
on  the  Committees  on  Invalid  Pensions,  Mines  and  Mining,  and  Public 
Lands.  He  was  also  a  delegate  to  the  Philadelphia  "Loyalists' Conven 
tion"  of  1866,  and  re-elected  to  the  Fortieth  Congress. 


DUFFIELD,  GEORGE. He  was  born  in  Strasburg,  Lancaster  county, 

Pennsylvania,  July  4,  1794,  his  father  and  grandfather  having  both  been 
honorably  identified  with  the  history  of  his  native  State.  Pie  graduated  at 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1811 ;  subsequently  studied  four  years 
at  the  Theological  Seminary  of  New  York;  in  1815  he  was  called  to  the 


436  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Presbyterian  Church  in  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  a  num 
ber  or  years ;  next  spent  two  years  as  Pastor  of  the  Fifth  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Philadelphia ;  one  year  at  the  Broadway  Tabernacle  in  New 
York ;  and  in  1838  he  removed  to  Michigan  and  became  the  Pastor  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Detroit.  From  that  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  26th  of  June,  1868,  he  continued  in  that  relation,  having  for  an  assistant 
for  three  years  the  Rev.  William  A.  McCorkle.  A  full  review  of  his  life,  it  has 
been  said,  would  embrace  a  large  share  of  the  history  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  for  30  years,  and  include  many  educational  and 
scientific  questions  of  the  same  period  and  would  fill  volumes.  He  always 
took  an  interest  in  the  State  University,  and  was  twice  appointed  a  Regent 
of  the  same.  For  well  nigh  the  third  of  a  century  he  was  a  bright  and 
shining  light  in  the  religious  world;  he  was  distinguished  for  his  industry; 
without  neglecting  the  prime  business  of  his  life,  that  of  preaching  the  truths 
of  the  Bible,  he  devoted  much  attention  to  agriculture  and  geology,  and 
made  himself  master  of  nine  languages  besides  his  own ;  he  was  a  true  pa 
triot,  and  sent  two  of  his  sons  to  the  battle-field  during  the  war  for  the 
Union.  During  the  entire  period  of  his  residence  in  Michigan  he  identified 
himself  with  all  the  educational  and  religious  interests  of  his  adopted  State 
and  the  beautiful  city  in  which  he  lived ;  and  on  the  second  day  before  his 
death,  and  while  delivering  an  address  before  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  he  was  stricken  down  by  paralysis,  and  prepared  himself  to 
pass  away  to  that  rest  which  is  the  certain  inheritance  of  the  true  Christian. 


DUROCHER,  LAURENT. He  was  the  son  of  a  French  Canadian,  and 

born  at  the  Mission  of  St.  Genevieve,  in  Missouri,  in  1786.  He  received  a 
good  collegiate  education  in  Montreal,  and  in  1805  settled  at  Frenchtown, 
on  the  River  Raisin.  At  the  beginning  of  the  war  in  1812  he  joined  the 
army  of  General  Hull,  and  after  his  surrender  rendered  important  services 
to  the  Government.  When  the  county  of  Monroe  was  organized  in  1818  he 
was  chosen  county  clerk,  and  held  the  office  about  twenty  years.  He  was 
for  six  years  a  member  of  the  Territorial  Council,  and  was  a  member,  in 
1835,  of  the  Convention  which  framed  the  first  Constitution  of  the  State. 
He  also  served  in  the  Legislature,  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  probate  judge, 
circuit  clerk,  and  clerk  of  the  city  of  Monroe,  where  he  died  on  the  21st  of 
September,  1861.  He  was  an  accomplished  gentleman  in  his  manners,  and 
during  his  long  public  life  was  the  great  legal  authority  among  the  French 
population  on  the  River  Raisin. 

In  this  connection,  and  for  the  want  of  a  better  place,  we  may  notice  the 
earlier  French  settlers  on  the  River  Raisin.  These  French  families 
did  not  number  over  fifty,  and  among  the  most  conspicuous  were  those  of 
Bourdeaux,  Duval,  Beaubien,  Couture,  Nadeau,  Bannac,  Cicot,  Campau, 
Jobien,  Godfroy,  Lassalle,  Corsenau,  Labodee,  Robert,  Lacroix,  Loranger, 
Sancoinb,  Fourniet,  Ferry,  (who  had  served  in  the  Revolution,)  and  Dau- 
zette,  who  was  for  many  years  the  leading  physician  of  that  section  of  coun 
try.  As  one  who  knew  them  well  has  written  to  us,  "  they  were  all  among 
the  first  settlers ;  most  of  them  originally  from  France,  brave,  patriotic,  and 
ready  always  to  make  any  sacrifice  for  the  country,  and  during  the  war  of 
1812  true  and  faithful,  and  of  great  service  to  the  American  army,  not  only 
as  fighting  men,  but  as  pioneers  and  spies,  under  the  most  trying  circum 
stances,  during  the  whole  war." 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  437 

EDMUNDS,  JAMES  M. He  was  born  in  Niagara  county,  New  York, 

August  23,  1810 ;  received  a  common  school  and  academical  education. 
From  1826  until  1831  he  was  a  school  teacher,  and  in  the  latter  year  he 
removed  to  Michigan  and  became  a  merchant  at  Ypsilanti.  He  took  an 
interest  in  the  schools  of  that  place,  and  was  for  ten  years  an  inspector  of 
schools,  holding  also  a  number  of  other  local  positions.  In  1839  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate;  in  1846  to  the  Lower  House;  and  in  1847  he 
was  the  Whig  candidate  for  Governor,  but  not  elected.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1851 ;  in  1853  he  removed  to  Detroit 
and  entered  extensively  into  the  lumbering  business,  extending  his  opera 
tions  to  Saginaw  and  Tuscola  counties.  From  1857  to  1861  he  was  Comp 
troller  of  Detroit,  which  office  he  resigned  to  become  Commissioner  of  the 
General  Land  Office  in  Washington  ;  resigning  that  position  in  1866  he  was 
chosen  Postmaster  of  the  United  States  Senate,  which  he  resigned  in  1869, 
to  accept  the  office  of  Postmaster  of  Washington  city,  which  he  still  holds. 
From  1855  to  1861  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State  Central  Com 
mittee  of  Michigan  ;  President  of  the  Michigan  Soldiers'  Relief  Association 
in  Washington  city  from  its  organization  in  1861 ;  and  he  was  also  Presi 
dent  of  the  National  Council  of  the  Union  League  of  America  from  its  or 
ganization  in  1862  to  1869,  when  he  retired  from  the  position. 


ELLIS,  EDWARD  D. He  was  a  descendant  of  the  Puritans  ;  emigrated 

at  an  early  day  from  New  England  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  and 
for  a  great  many  years  was  a  resident  of  Monroe,  on  the  River  Raisin,  where 
he  printed  and  edited  a  newspaper.  He  was  a  man  of  culture  and  expan 
sive  views,  and  we  regret  that  we  cannot  give  the  particulars  of  his  life. 
This  fact,  however,  we  happen  to  remember.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Con 
vention  which  formed  the  first  Constitution  of  the  State.  When  a  barren 
enactment  was  under  discussion  for  establishing  libraries  in  all  the  town 
ships  in  the  State  without  any  provision  either  to  secure  books  or  sustain 
the  libraries,  it  was  Mr.  Ellis  who  proposed  and  carried  through  the  idea 
that  all  fines  imposed  for  the  violation  of  the  penal  laws  throughout  the  State, 
and  all  sums  assessed  for  the  non-performance  of  military  duty,  should  be 
set  aside  as  a  fund  for  the  support  of  said  libraries.  The  idea  was  original 
with  him,  and  has  frequently  been  mentioned  to  his  credit. 


EVANS,  EDWARD  P. He  was  born  in  New  York  December  8,  1834; 

his  father  having  been  born  in  Wales,  and  by  profession  a  Presbyterian 
minister.  He  removed  to  Michigan  in  1850,  and  graduated  at  the  State 
University  in  1854.  For  a  year  afterwards  he  had  charge  of  an  acad 
emy  in  Mississippi,  and  was  then  appointed  a  professor  in  Carroll  College, 
Wisconsin.  In  1858  he  visited  Europe,  and  studied  in  the  various  German 
Universities  of  Gottingen,  Berlin,  and  Munich;  spent  ten  months  in  Italy 
and  a  winter  in  Paris  and  London,  and  in  1862  was  appointed  Professor  of 
Modern  Languages  and  Literature  in  the  University  of  Michigan.  Besides 
writing  for  the  North  American  Review  and  many  other  leading  periodi 
cals,  he  published  in  1866  a  translation  of  the  Life  and  Works  of  Lessiny ; 
in  1867  a  translation  of  the  "  First  Historical  Transformations  of  Christiani 
ty  ;"  and  in  1869  an  original  work  on  German  Literature  in  the  German 
language. 


438  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

EMMONS,  H.  H.— — He  was  born  in  New  York,  and  after  acquiring  the 
rudiments  of  a  good  education  at  the  common-schools,  he  became  an  assis 
tant  in  his  father's  office,  who  was  the  editor  of  a  paper ;  he  studied  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  that  State,  and  soon  afterwards  settled  in 
Detroit,  where  his  father  had  already  located  himself  as  a  lawyer,  and  with 
whom  he  became  associated  in  the  practice  of  their  profession  about  the 
year  1840.  In  1843  his  father  died,  and  in  the  year  following  Joseph  A. 
Van  Dyke  became  his  law  partner  ;  and  although  devoted  to  his  profession, 
in  which  he  had  an  extensive  practice,  he  paid  some  attention  to  politics ; 
acquired  distinction  during  a  period  of  commotion  in  Detroit  by  defending 
the  right  of  an  American  Protestant  clergyman  to  preach  against  Cathol 
icism,  Irish  repeal,  temperance,  or  secret  societies,  or  whatever  he  con 
scientiously  believed  to  be  injurious  to  the  welfare — temporal  or  eternal — of 
his  fellow-citizens.  In  1853  his  health  became  somewhat  impaired  by 
application  to  business,  and  he  partially  retired  from  active  professional 
life,  although  his  services  have  been  in  frequent  demand  by  the  railroad 
companies  of  the  State,  whose  business  he  had  made  a  specialty.  Early  in 
1870  he  was  appointed  by  the  President  Circuit  Judge  for  the  State  of 
Michigan. 


EVANS,  MUSGROVE. For  what  little  we  can  communicate  in  regard  to 

this  worthy  man  we  are  indebted  to  an  old  friend.  He  emigrated  to  Michi 
gan  from  Philadelphia  about  the  year  1823,  and  was  a  Quaker  by  educa 
tion  and  principle,  and  though  mild  and  unpretending  in  manner,  he  pos 
sessed  great  physical  endurance,  had  a  large  and  full  heart,  and  nerves  of 
steel.  He  was  a  surveyor  by  profession,  was  for  a  long  time  in  the  employ 
of  a  French  nobleman,  who  owned  land  in  the  Black  river  country  of  New 
York.  He  was,  in  conjunction  with  Wolcott  Lawrence  and  Charles  James 
Lanman,  the  founder  of  Tecumseh,  and  gave  it  its  name,  and  was  its  first 
postmaster.  From  a  letter  that  we  have  seen,  written  in  1824,  the  settle 
ment  of  Tecumseh  was  chiefly  concentrated  around  his  own  log  cabins, 
in  which  his  good  wife  had  to  provide  for  eight  children  and  thirty-six 
hired  men.  He  had  two  sons,  who  were  led  by  the  spirit  of  adventure  to 
the  Republic  of  Texas,  both  of  whom  were  killed  at  the  battle  of  the 
Alamo,  and  it  is  a  singular  fact  that,  after  he  had  lost  his  wife,  he  emi 
grated  to  Texas,  and  died  of  a  fever  in  the  land  where  his  children  had 
perished  in  battle  many  years  before.  He  was  intimately  identified  with 
the  early  history  of  Michigan,  and  will  always  be  remembered  with  respect 
by  those  he  left  behind. 


FARMER,  JOHN  W. He  was  a  kinsman,  we  believe,  of  the  eminent 

antiquarian,  John  Farmer,  of  New  Hampshire,  and  was  the  publisher  of 
several  maps  of  the  States  of  Michigan  and  Wisconsin.  His  sectional  map 
of  those  States  alone  is  sufficient  to  give  him  a  high  reputation,  and  it  is 
worthy  of  note  that  it  was  engraved  by  his  own  hand.  He  died  in  Detroit, 
March  24,  1859. 


FASQUELLE,  JEAN  Louis. He  was  born  in  France,  in  1808,  and  re 
moved  to  the  United  States  in  1834,  engaging  in  educational  pursuits.  He 
was  honored  with  the  degrees  of  F.B.  and  LL.D.,  and  was  Professor  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN.  439 

Modern  Languages  and  Literature  in  the  University  of  Michigan  from 
1846  to  1862,  performing  for  two  years  the  additional  duties  of  Librarian 
of  the  University.  In  1854  he  published  in  New  York  a  new  method  for 
learning  the  French  language,  thirty  thousand  copies  of  which  were  issued 
in  England  ;  and  he  was  also  the  author  of  the  following  productions,  viz : 
"Telemaque,  with  Notes  and  Grammatical  References,"  "The  Colloquial 
French  Reader,"  "Durnas's  Napoleon,  with  Notes,"  and  a  "General  and 
Idiomatical  Dictionary  of  the  French  and  English  Languages."  His 
works  have  all  been  eminently  successful.  Died  in  Michigan. 


FELCH,  ALPHEUS. Born  in  Limerick,  York  county,  Maine,  Septem 
ber  28,  1806.  He  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College,  and  adopted  the  law  as 
a  profession.  He  emigrated  to  Michigan  when  quite  young  ;  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  State  Legislature  in  1836  and  1837  ;  was  appointed  Bank  Com 
missioner  of  Michigan  in  1838,  and  resigned  in  1839  ;  for  a  short  time  in 
1842  Was  Auditor-General  of  the  State,  but  relinquished  that  position  for  a 
seat  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Michigan  ;  in  1845  he  was 
elected  Governor  of  Michigan,  and  having  resigned  in  1847,  was  elected  a 
Senator  in  Congress  for  six  years.  He  was  appointed  by  President  Pierce 
one  of  the  Commissioners  to  settle  Land  Claims  in  California,  under  the  act 
of  Congress  and  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  in  March,  1853 ;  the 
business  of  which  commission  was  closed  by  disposing  of  all  the  cases  be 
fore  it  in  March,  1856,  since  which  time  he  has  lived  in  retirement  in  Ann 
Arbor.  He  was  also  a  delegate  to  the  "Chicago  Convention"  of  1864. 


FENTON,  WILLIAM  M. He  was  one  of  the  earlier  emigrants  to  the 

county  of  Genesee,  in  Michigan,  and  after  taking  a  leading  part  in  found 
ing  the  village  of  Fentonville,  which  bears  his  name,  resided  there  and  at 
Flint  for  many  years,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law,  and  holding  a  num 
ber  of  the  more  important  local  offices.  In  1848  he  was  elected  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  the  State,  and  re-elected  in  1850  and  1851.  At  the  commence 
ment  of  the  rebellion  he  became  a  member  of  the  State  Military  Board,  and 
during  the  war  took  a  prominent  part  in  organizing  the  8th  infantry  of 
volunteers,  which  he  commanded,  and  led  over  such  a  number  of  the  battle 
fields  of  the  country,  that  it  came  to  be  known  as  the  "Wandering  Regi 
ment,"  and  whose  services  will  be  found  recorded  in  the  preceding  pages. 


FERRY,  THOMAS  W. He  was  born  in  Mackinaw,  Michigan,  June  1, 

1827  ;  was  self-educated,  and  bred  to  pursuits  of  business.  In  1850  he  was 
elected  to  the  Lower  House  of  the  State  Legislature ;  to  the  State  Senate  in 
1856 ;  for  eight  years  he  was  an  active  member  of  the  Republican  State 
Committee ;  was  a  delegate  at  large  to  the  Chicago  Convention  of  1860,  and 
was  one  of  the  vice  presidents ;  was  appointed  in  1863  Commissioner,  for 
Michigan,  of  the  Soldiers'  National  Cemetery  at  Gettysburg;  and  in  1864 
he  was  elected  a  Representative  from  Michigan  to  the  Thirty-ninth  Con 
gress,  serving  on  the  Committees  on  the  Post  Office  and  Post  Roads,  the 
Militia,  and  the  War  Debts  of  the  Loyal  States.  He  was  also  a  delegate 
to  the  Loyalists'  Convention  held  in  Philadelphia  in  1866 ;  was  re-elected 


440  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

to  the  Fortieth  Congress,  serving  on  the  Committee  on  Naval  Affairs;  and 
also  re-elected  to  the  Forty-first  Congress.  He  resides  in  Grand  Haven ; 
and  was  re-elected  to  the  Forty-second  Congress. 


FERRY,  WILLIAM  M. He  was  born  in  Gran  by,  Massachusetts,  Sep 
tember  8,  1796 ;  graduated  at  Union  College,  New  York,  in  1817,  and  after 
studying  theology  with  Gardiner  Spring,  he  went  as  a  missionary  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  to  Mackinaw,  where  he  located  himself  in  1821.  He 
there  established  a  school  for  white  and  Indian  children,  in  which  he  labored 
unceasingly  for  a  period  of  twelve  years.  His  health  having  failed  him,  he 
purchased  land  in  the  Grand  River  Valley,  where,  with  others,  he  founded 
a  settlement,  and  became  extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lum 
ber.  His  business  was  so  extensive  that  he  shipped  to  market  in  one  year 
not  less  than  fifteen  million  feet.  He  died  at  Grand  Haven  December  S'O, 
1866  or  '67,  and  left  bequests  for  benevolent  objects  amounting  to  one  hun 
dred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars. 


FITCH,  CHAUNCEY  W.—  —He  was  born  in  New  York,  and  graduated  at 
Middlebury  College,  in  Vermont.  He  was  subsequently  a  student  in  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  from  1825  to  1828.  During 
a  part  of  that  period  he  was  a  teacher  of  languages  in  the  Military  Gym 
nasium  of  Georgetown,  District  of  Columbia ;  and  he  was  a  professor  in 
Keiiyon  College,  Ohio,  from  1829  to  1838.  In  the  latter  year  he  removed 
to  Michigan,  and  became  the  principal  in  the  Detroit  Branch  of  the  Uni 
versity  of  Michigan,  in  which  position  he  continued  until  1841 ;  in  1842  he 
took  charge  of  the  Female  Seminary  in  Detroit;  and  while  holding  these 
several  positions,  he  performed  the  duties  of  Rector  in  various  churches 
until  1863.  In  that  year  he  was  appointed  hospital  chaplain  in  the  volun 
teer  army  of  the  United  States ;  and  as  post  chaplain,  with  the  rank  of 
captain,  he  was  on  duty  in  the  vicinity  of  Detroit  until  the  close  of  the 
rebellion. 


FITZGERALD,  THOMAS. He  was  a  lawyer  by  profession ;  served  with 

credit  in  the  war  of  1812,  under  General  Harrison;  was  appointed  a  Re 
gent  of  the  State  University  in  1837 ;  and  in  1848  and  1849  was  a  Senator 
in  Congress  from  Michigan  under  the  appointment  of  the  Governor.  A  few 
years  before  entering  Congress  he  was  appointed  a  commissioner  to  inquire 
into  the  condition  of  the  wild-cat  banks,  and  his  perseverance  and  industry 
effectually  caused  a  winding  up  of  these  discreditable  institutions.  Died  at 
Niles,  Michigan,  March  25,  1^55.  Although  not  a  brilliant  man,  he  was 
an  honest  politician  and  a  true  patriot. 


FLETCHER,  WILLIAM  A.- — He  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  where 
he  was  for  some  years  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  settled  in  Mich 
igan  about  the  year  1820.  He  subsequently  studied  law,  and  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  most  successful  lawyers  in  Detroit,  filling  with  credit  for  a 
time  the  office  of  Attorney-General  for  the  Territory.  In  1835,  on  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  441 

adoption  of  the  first  State  Constitution,  he  was  appointed  Chief  Justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  and  was  employed  by  the  Legislature  to  prepare  the 
first  codification  of  the  laws.  The  "Revised  Statutes"  of  Michigan,  pub 
lished  in  1838,  were  his  work,  and  the  Legislature  made  very  few  changes 
in  his  draft  of  them.  On  leaving  the  bench  in  1842,  he  returned  to  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  and  died  in  Ann  Arbor  about  the  year  1.855.  He 
was  reputed  a  man  of  high  character  and  ability,  and  of  strict  integrity. 


FRASER,  ALEXANDER  D. He  was  born  in  Inverness,  Scotland,  Jan 
uary  20,  1796,  and  was  educated  at  the  Inverness  Academy.  In  1813  he 
began  the  study  of  law ;  two  years  afterwards  he  removed  to  Edinburgh, 
and  prosecuted  his  studies  in  the  office  <jf  the  Writer  to  the  Signet,  and  at 
tended  the  law  lectures  of  the  University ;  and  in  1819  he  sailed  for  Amer 
ica  and  landed  at  Savannah,  Georgia;  came  to  the  bar  in  Alabama,  where 
he  spent  two  years,  and  then  removed  to  Vincennes,  Indiana.  He  prac 
ticed  his  profession  for  two  years  in  Indiana  and  Illinois  ;  and  in  1823  he 
arrived  at  Detroit,  after  a  journey  performed  on  horseback  and  in  canoes, 
where  he  permanently  settled,  and  with  which  place  and  the  State  of 
Michigan  he  has  always  been  honorably  identified.  He  was  long  a  useful 
and  active  member  of  the  bar,  engaged  in  many  important  cases,  but 
perhaps  the  most  important  was  that  known  as  the  "Great  Conspiracy 
Trial"  of  1850,  in  which  the  Michigan  Central  railroad  was  plaintiff,  and 
Mr.  Fraser  the  prosecuting  counsel,  and  the  result  of  which  trial  was  the 
conviction  of  twelve  men,  who,  with  others,  had  plotted  the  destruction  of 
the  railroad  company.  In  1856,  while  engaged  in  arguing  an  important 
case  in  the  Supreme  Court,  he  instantaneously  lost  the  use  of  his  right  eye, 
by  amaurosis,  which  compelled  him  to  give  up,  excepting  on  special  occa 
sions,  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Under  the  advice  of  his  physician,  he 
soon  decided  to  travel,  and  embarked  for  Europe,  through  which  he  trav 
elled  extensively.  Always  absorbed  in  the  duties  and  studies  of  his  pro 
fession,  he  had  but  little  time  or  inclination  to  hold  office  ;  but  in  1832  he 
was  appointed  Attorney  for  the  city  of  Detroit ;  in  1836  and  1839  he  was 
Recorder  of  the  city,  and  in  1855  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Board  of 
Water  Commissioners,  in  which  he  continues  to  this  day,  and  the  duties  of 
which  he  discharges  gratuitously.  By  common  consent,  he  is  to-day  looked 
upon  by  his  colleagues  at  the  bar  as  the  leading  lawyer  of  Michigan ;  and 
as  he  is  a  man  of  much  reading  and  culture  outside  of  his  profession,  he 
has  probably  done  as  much  as  any  other  man  to  foster  and  perpetuate  the 
history  of  the  State  of  Michigan  and  the  city  of  Detroit,  where  he  is  uni 
versally  respected  and  venerated. 


FRIEZE.  HENRY  S. He  is  at  the  present  time  Acting  President  of  the 

University  of  Michigan,  Professor  of  Latin  and  Latin  Literature  in  the 
same,  a  Doctor  of  Laws,  and  the  author  of 'several  volumes  connected  with 
classical  literature.  Some  years  ago  he  visited  Europe,  and  brought  home 
for  the  University  a  fine  collection  of  maps  and  books.  Further  particu 
lars  the  compiler  has  been  unable  to  procure. 


GALINEE. He  was  a  priest  of  St.  Sulpice,  a  companion  of  the  dis 
coverer  La  Salle,  and  the  very  first  Frenchman  or  white  man  who  is  re- 

2  B  * 


442  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

corded  to  have  visited  the  site  of  Detroit  in  1670.  After  parting  from  La 
Salle  at  the  head  of  Ontario,  he  and  a  fellow  priest,  named  Dollier,  coasted 
the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  and  entered  the  Detroit  river.  At  one  of 
their  camping  places  their  altar  service  was  washed  into  the  lake,  and  this 
calamity  was  attributed  directly  to  the  Evil  One ;  and  it  so  happened  that, 
on  reaching  Detroit,  they  stumbled  upon  a  stone  image,  which  Galiuee  be 
lieved  to  be  a  representation  of  the  Devil,  whereupon,  in  his  exasperation, 
he  demolished  the  image,  and,  with  the  help  of  his  coureurs  des  bois,  buried 
the  fragments  in^the  river.  This  man  prepared  a  map  of  the  Great  Lakes', 
(the  second  ever  attempted,  for  Champlain  attempted  one  in  1632,)  and, 
according  to  his  map,  he  seems  not  to  have  known  the  fact  that  Michigan 
was  a  peninsula. 


GOODWIN,  DANIEL. He  was  one  of  the  early  emigrants  to  the  Terri 
tory  of  Michigan,  where  he  settled  himself  in  the  practice  of  the  legal  pro 
fession.  He  was  for  many  years  the  United  States  District  Attorney  for 
Michigan  ;  subsequently  appointed  a  District  Judge ;  served  repeatedly  in 
the  State  Legislature ;  was  President  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1850 ;  appeared  for  the  People  in  the  great  trial  of  1851,  known  as  the 
Railroad  Conspiracy  Case ;  and  is  at  the  present  time  Judge  of  the  Cir 
cuit  Court  for  the  Northern  Peninsula  of  Michigan. 


GORDON,  J.  WRIGHT. He  was  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Michigan 

on  the  ticket  with  William  Woodbridge,  and  when  the  latter  resigned  to 
accept  a  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate,  he  became  the  acting  Governor. 
He  was  an  accomplished  gentleman  of  ability  and  high  character,  but  after 
leaving  the  public  service  his  health  became  impaired,  and  he  visited  South 
America,  and  died  at  Pernambuco,  from  the  effects  of  an  accidental  fall 
from  a  balcony  in  December,  1853.  His  place  of  residence  was  Marshall. 
In  1840  the  Whigs  had  possession  of  the  State,  and  when  they  came  to 
nominate  a  candidate  for  the  Senate  they  were  divided  between  Woodbridge 
and  Gordon,  but  the  latter  received  the  regular  nomination.  The  night 
before  the  joint  meeting  of  the  Legislature  was  to  be  held  for  the  election 
of  Senator,  while  Mr.  Gordon  was  enjoying  a  supper  with  his  friends,  a 
combination  of  Whigs  and  Democrats  was  made,  by  which  it  was  agreed 
that  they  would  support  Mr.  Woodbridge.  The  next  morning  the  joint 
meeting  was  held,  and  Mr.  Gordon,  as  Lieutenant-Governor,  presided. 
The  first  name  called  was  that  of  a  noted  Democrat,  and  he  was  heard  to 
repeat  the  name  of  Woodbridge.  The  Whigs  were  astounded,  and  their 
candidate  was  defeated.  The  whole  scene  was  one  of  intense  interest,  and 
was  long  laughed  over  by  the  politicians  of  Michigan. 


GRANGER,  BRADLEY  F. He  was  born  in  New  York,  and  elected  a 

Representative  from  Michigan  to  the  Thirty-seventh  Congress,  serving  on 
the  Committee  on  Revolutionary  Pensions.  Further  information  the  com 
piler  has  not  been  able  to  obtain. 


GRANT,  ULYSSES  S. As  President  Grant  spent  about  four  years  of  his 

military  life  in  Michigan  and  at  the  post  of  Detroit,  it  is  our  duty  as  well 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  443 

as  pleasure  to  introduce  his  name  in  the  present  record.  The  period  in 
question  was  from  the  close  of  the  Mexican  war  until  his  departure  for  Ore 
gon,  when  he  was  brevet  Captain  of  the  fourth  infantry  ;  and  if  ever  there 
was  any  doubt  as  to  the  attachment  of  the  people  of  Michigan  for  him  it 
was  most  satisfactorily  settled  when,  after  the  Rebellion,  he  revisited  De 
troit,  and  was  received  with  the  greatest  enthusiasm.  He  was  born  in  Point 
Pleasant,  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  April  27,  1822.  Although  originally 
named  Hiram  Ulysses,  the  Congressman  who  nominated  him  for  the  West 
Point  Academy  gave  his  name,  by  mistake,  as  Ulysses  S.,  and  by  that  name 
has  he  ever  been  recognized.  He  graduated  at  the  Military  Academy  in 
1843,  and  as  Second  Lieutenant  was  assigned  to  the  fourth  infantry.  He 
continued  in  the  army  from  that  time  for  eleven  years,  and  participated  in 
most  of  the  battles  of  the  Mexican  War  excepting  Buena  Vista,  serving  un 
der  Generals  Scott  and  Taylor,  and  receiving  two  brevets  for  gallantry  at 
Molino  del  Rey  and  Chapultepec.  While  serving  in  Oregon,  in  1852,  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain.  In  1854  he  resigned  his  commission 
and  settled  near  St.  Louis  on  a  farm ;  in  1859  he  was  a  real-estate  agent  in 
St.  Louis  ;  and  early  in  1860  he  removed  to  Galena,  Illinois,  where  he  joined 
his  father  and  a  brother  in  the  manufacture  of  leather.  When  the  Rebel 
lion  commenced  he  raised  and  took  command  of  a  company  of  volunteers, 
and  before  the  close  of  1861  he  had  command  as  Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first 
Illinois  Regiment,  and  was  made  a  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers ;  in  1862 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major-General  of  Volunteers,  from  which 
time  his  military  history  is  to  be  traced  in  his  achievements  at  Fort  Donel- 
son,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  luka,  Vicksburg,  and  Chattanooga  in  the  West  and 
South,  and  at  the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  Cold  Harbor,  and  Petersburg, 
in  Virginia,  culminating  in  the  surrender  of  General  Robert  E.  Lee  on  the 
9th  of  April,  1865.  It  was  on  the  4th  of  July,  1863,  that  he  was  appointed 
by  President  Lincoln  Major-General  in  the  regular  army,  and  he  was  ap 
pointed  Lieutenant-Gen eral  March  2, 1864,  receiving  this  commission  directly 
from  the  hands  of  the  President;  and  the  full  title  of  General  was  conferred 
upon  him  July  25,  1866.  After  the  close  of  the  Rebellion  he  took  com 
mand  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  with  his  headquarters  at  AVashirig- 
ton.  In  December,- 1863,  Congress  passed  a  joint  resolution  thanking  him 
and  the  soldiers  who  fought  under  him  for  their  gallant  services  and  award 
ing  him  a  gold  medal.  On  the  12th  of  December,  1867,  he  was  appointed 
by  President  Johnson  Secretary  of  War  ad  interim,  in  the  place  of  E.  M. 
Stanton,  suspended,  which  position  he  held  until  the  November  following, 
when  the  Senate  refused  to  sanction  the  suspension  of  Mr.  Stanton;  and  by 
the  "Republican  National  Convention"  of  1868,  held  in  Chicago,  he  was 
nominated  by  acclamation  for  the  office  of  President  of  the  United  States 
for  the  term  beginning  in  1869,  and  was  duly  elected.  For  his  subsequent 
history  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  records  of  the  General  Government. 


GRATIOT,  CHARLES. He  was  born  in  the  Territory  of  Missouri  of 

French  extraction,  and  educated  at  the  West  Point  Academy,  which  he 
left  in  1804.  He  served  as  a  Captain  and  as  Chief  of  Engineers  in  the  army 
of  General  Harrison  in  1812  and  1813,  and  in  1828  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Brigadier-General  for  meritorious  services  and  general  good  con 
duct  ;  but  he  subsequently  had  some  trouble  with  the  Government,  and  un 
der  an  act  of  Congress  was  dismissed  from  the  service  in  1838.  As  a  part 
of  his  military  duties  were  performed  on  the  soil  of  Michigan,  and  as  he  was 


444  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

honored  by  having  his  name  given  to  one  of  the  fortifications  of  the  State 
and  also  to  one  of  its  counties,  it  was  thought  proper  to  mention  him  in  this 
connection. 


GRAVES,  BENJAMIN  F. He  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  New  York, 

October  18,  1817 ;  received  a  good  education;  and  having  studied  law  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  of  that  State  in  1841.  In  May,  1843,  he  removed  to 
Michigan  and  settled  at  Battle  Creek,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  In 
1857  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  for  the  fifth  circuit,  for  the 
term  of  six  years,  having  previously  filled  the  same  position  by  appointment 
from  Governor  Bingham  for  about  one  year,  in  the  place  of  Abner  Pratt, 
resigned.  In  1863  he  was  re-elected  for  a  second  term  of  six  years,  but 
resigned  in  1866  ;  and  in  1867  he  was  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court 
for  the  term  of  eight  years,  and  is  still  in  office. 


GREGORY,  JOHN  MILTON. He  was  born  in  Sand  Lake,  Eensallaer 

county,  New  York,  July  6,  1822 ;  received  a  common-school  and  academi 
cal  education;  and  after  teaching  for  awhile  he  entered  Union  College, 
whence  he  was  graduated  in  1846.  He  then  studied  law,  but  gave  up  that 
profession  and  became  a  Preacher  in  the  Baptist  Church ;  after  much  ex 
perience  as  a  teacher  in  New  York  he  removed  to  Detroit  in  1852,  and  con 
tinued  the  same  labor;  in  1854,  in  conjunction  with  Professors  A.  S.Welch 
and  E.  O.  Haven,  he  established  the  Michigan  Journal  of  Education,  which 
he  edited  for  five  years ;  in  1859  he  was  elected  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction,  in  which  position  he  served  with  great  usefulness  for  six  years; 
and  he  published  a  Compend  of  School  Laws,  as  well  as  many  addresses  on 
topics  connected  with  the  educational  interests  of  Michigan.  In  1866,  with 
out  his  knowledge,  he  was  appointed  Regent  and  President  of  the  State  In 
dustrial  University  of  Illinois,  to  which  institution  he  has  been  devoted 
down  to  the  present  time.  In  1869  he  visited  Europe,  and  the  extensive 
observations  he  made  among  the  educational  institutions  of  the  Old  World 
have  tended  greatly"  to  enhance  his  usefulness  in  the  laborious  duties  he  has 
in  charge. 


GREENLY,   WM.  L. He  was  born  in  Hamilton,  Madison  county,  New 

York,  September  18,  1813 ;  graduated  at  Union  College,  Scheuectady,  in 
1831 ;  studied  law  and  came  to  the  bar  in  1834;  settled  in  Adrian,  Michi 
gan,  in  October,  1836  ;  was  a  State  Senator  from  1837  to  1839  ;  was  elected 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  State  in  1845;  became  acting  Governor  by  the 
resignation  of  Governor  Felch  (on  account  of  his  election  to  the  United 
States  Senate)  iii  February,  1847;  and  was  subsequently  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  twelve  years. 


HALL,  NORMAN  J. He  was  born  in  New  York  in  1837  ;  appointed 

from  Michigan  to  the  West  Point  Academy,  where  he  graduated  in  1859 ; 
was  assigned  to  the  artillery  service,  and  on  duty  in  Virginia  and  South 
Carolina.  In  1861  he  was  made  First  Lieutenant  of  the  5th  artillery,  and 
served  on  the  Upper  Potomac  ;  was  with  General  Hooker's  division  on  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  445 

Lower  Potomac ;  on  engineer  duty  in  Virginia ;  and  was  a  staff  officer  in 
the  Peninsula  campaign.  In  1862  he  was  chosen  Colonel  of  the  7th  infan 
try,  Michigan  volunteers ;  was  made  Captain  by  brevet  in  1862  for  gallantry 
at  Antietam,  and  before  the  close  of  the  year  a  Major  by  brevet  for  services 
at  Fredericksburg.  In  1863  he  was  brevetted  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  volun 
teers  for  heroic  conduct  at  Gettysburg,  and  during  the  same  year  was  as 
signed  as  Captain  to  the  5th  artillery,  regular  army.  In  1864  he  was  dis 
charged  from  the  volunteer  service  for  disability,  and  in  1865  was  on  duty 
in  Boston  as  a  mustering  officer.  Not  long  afterwards  he  was  "retired  from 
active  service  for  disability  resulting  from  long  and  faithful  services  and 
disease  contracted  in  the  line  of  duty."  From  1865  until  1867  he  resided 
in  Massachusetts,  and  died  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  May  26,  Ib67. 


HAMTRAMCK,  JOHN  FRANCIS. He  was  a  resident  of  Northern  New 

York  when  the  Revolution  commenced,  and  served  as  a  Captain  in  the  Con 
tinental  army.  He  was  made  a  Major  in  the  United  States  army  in  1789, 
and  promoted  to  be  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  1793 ;  had  command  of  the  left 
wing  of  General  Wayne's  army  at  the  battle  of  Maumee  in  1794;  was  sub 
sequently  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Colonel,  and  died  in  Detroit,  where,  in 
the  grounds  attached  to  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  St.  Anne,  is  to  be 
found  inscribed  upon  his  monument  a  touching  tribute  to  his  memory,  from 
which  we  gather  the  following  additional  particulars :  That  he  was  Colonel 
of  the  1st  United  States  regiment  of  infantry  and  commandant  of  Detroit 
and  its  dependencies;  that  he  died  April  11,  1803,  in  the  46th  year  of  his 
age ;  that  he  was  a  true  patriot  and  a  soldier  before  he  was  a  man  ;  an  ac 
tive  participator  in  the  dangers,  difficulties,  and  honors  of  the  Revolutionary 
war ;  and  that  for  his  heroism  he  was  thanked  by  General  Washington ; 
the  monument  having  been  erected  as  a  grateful  tribute  to  his  merit  and 
worth  by  the  officers  who  had  the  honor  to  serve  under  his  command. 


HAND,  GEORGE  E. — • — He  was  born  in  East  Guilford,  now  Madison, 
Connecticut,  August  16,  1809 ;  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1829 ;  and 
removing  to  Michigan,  located  in  Detroit,  and  studied  law  with  William 
A.  Fletcher,  with  whom  he  became  associated  in  business.  In  1835  he  was 
appointed  Judge  of  Probate  for  Wayne  county  ;  in  1844,  Injunction  Master 
for  Eastern  Michigan;  and  in  1846  he  was  the  sole  representative  of  Detroit 
in  the  Legislature,  taking  an  active  part  in  preparing  the  Revised  Statutes 
of  that  year,  and  introducing  the  resolution  for  selling  the  public  works  of 
the  State,  of  which  the  Central  and  Southern  railroads  were  the  principal; 
and  also  prepared  and  proposed  the  present  charters  of  those  roads,  and 
negotiated  their  final  sale — the  policy  adopted  by  him  having  been  of  great 
service  to  the  State.  In  1853  he  was  appointed  United  States  Attorney  for 
Michigan,  which  office  he  held  until  1857.  He  was  one  of  the  founders, 
and  afterwards  the  President  of  the  Detroit  Young  Men's  Society ;  and  also 
participated  in  founding  the  Bar  Society  of  Detroit,  and  was  for  many  years 
its  President.  He  was  a  warm  personal  friend  of  Lewis  Cass,  and  was  chair 
man  of  the  Democratic  State  Convention  in  1^48  when  the  General  became 
a  candidate  for  the  Presidency.  He  has  always  been  devoted  to  his  pro 
fession,  and  has  long  been  recognized  as  a  prominent  and  influential  mem 
ber  of  the  Detroit  bar. 


446  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

HARDING,  FISHER  AMES. He  was  born  in  Dover,  Massachusetts,  in 

1811 ;  graduated  at  Harvard  University  in  1833;  studied  law  with  Daniel 
Webster,  and  in  1835  removed  to  Chicago  for  the  purpose  of  following  his 
profession.  In  1837  he  settled  in  Detroit;  in  1841  he  was  elected  to  the 
State  Legislature  and  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  public  affairs ;  and  in  the 
same  year  he  became  an  associate  editor  with  Morgan  Bates,  of  the  Detroit 
Daily  Advertiser,  in  which  position  he  remained  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  Detroit,  August  4,  1846. 


HARRINGTON,  DANIEL  B.— — In  the  spring  of  1819  this  worthy  man 
arrived  at  Detroit  from  Ohio  with  his  father,  Jeremiah  Harrington,  and 
several  friends,  for  the  purpose  of  hunting  and  trapping  in  the  wilds  of 
Michigan.  They  travelled  in  a  bateau,  and,  while  obtaining  supplies  at 
Detroit,  they  called  on  the  Governor,  who  told  them  not  to  go  into  the  In 
dian  country  until  he  had  made  a  certain  treaty  with  them  during  the 
summer.  They  took  his  advice,  and  tarried  until  September  on  the  site  of 
Port  Huron,  when  they  visited  the  Valley  of  the  Saginaw,  where  they  spent 
the  winter.  The  only  white  men  then  living  in  that  region  were  Louis 
Campau  and  his  brother,  and  John  B.  Cushway,  all  of  them  Indian  traders, 
whose  cabins  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  Sagiiiaw  City.  Mr.  Harring 
ton  again  visited  Ihe  Saginaw  Valley  in  1834,  travelling  over-land.  At 
that  time  there  was  only  one  house  this  side  of  Flint,  and  only  a  bridle 
path  to  the  Saginaw  Valley.  A  man  named  Bonnell  kept  what  he  called 
a  tavern  where  Saginaw  City  now  stands,  and  there  were,  he  thinks,  about 
a  dozen  white  residents  living  there.  That  was  the  only  settlement  on  the 
river.  He  again  visited  the  Valley  in  1869  for  the  purpose  of  attending  a 
railroad  convention,  and  he  found  his  old  camping  ground  the  centre  of  an 
immense  commercial  business,  with  a  population  of  nearly  thirty  thousand 
souls.  Mr.  Harrington's  present  residence  is  Port  Huron,  and  the  story  of 
his  adventures  in  the  wilds  of  Michigan  would  make  an  interesting  volume. 


HARRISON,  WILLIAM  HENRY. Was  born  in  Charles  county,  Vir 
ginia,  February  9,  1773 ;  was  educated  at  Hampden  Sydney  College,  and 
afterwards  studied  medicine.  He  received  from  Washington  a  military 
commission  in  1791,  and  fought  under  Wayne  in  1792.  After  the  battle  of 
Miami  Kapids  he  was  made  Captain,  and  placed  in  command  of  Fort 
Washington.  In  1797  he  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Northwest  Terri 
tory,  and  in  1799  and  1800  he  was  a  delegate  to  Congress.  Being  appointed 
Governor  of  Indiana,  he  was  also  a  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and 
negotiated  thirteen  treaties.  He  gained  a  great  victory  in  the  battle  of 
Tippecanoe,  November  7,  1811.  In  the  war  with  Great  Britain  he  was 
commander  of  the  Northwest  Army,  and  was  distinguished  in  the  defence  of 
Fort  Meigs  and  the  victory  of  the  Thames,  and,  in  conjunction  with  Oliver 
H.  Perry,  rendered  important  services  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan  at  De 
troit.  From  1816  to  1819  he  was  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  Ohio  ; 
a  Presidential  elector  in  1821  and  1825,  and  from  1825  to  1828  a  United 
States  Senator.  In  1828  he  was  Minister  to  the  Republic  of  Colombia,  and 
on  his  return,  he  resided  upon  his  farm  at  North  Bend,  Ohio.  In  1840  he 
was  elected  President  of  the  United  States  by  234  votes  out  of  294,  and 
inaugurated  March  4, 1841.  He  died  in  the  Presidential  Mansion,  April  4, 
1841.  A  sketch  of  his  life  was  prepared  by  himself  for  Hon.  James  Brooks. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  447 

HARTSUFF,  GEORGE  L. He  was  born  in  New  York,  but  having  be 
come  a  citizen  of  Michigan,  he  was  appointed  in  1848  a  cadet  at  West 
Point  from  that  State,  which  has  always  been  his  nominal  home.  After 
graduating,  .in  1852,  he  was  assigned  to  duty  in  New  York,  Texas,  and 
Florida ;  in  1853  in  the  Topographical  Department ;  in  1855  he  was 
wounded  in  a  fight  with  the  Indians  at  Fort  Drane,  in  Florida ;  in  1859 
and  1860  he  was  stationed  at  Mackinaw ;  and  after  serving  with  credit 
through  the  whole  war  for  the  Union,  from  1861  to  1866,  he  attained  the 
rank  of  Major-General  in  the  United  States  Army.  He  was  present  at  the 
defence  of  Fort  Pickens  ;  Chief  of  Staff  under  General  Rosecrans  in  West 
ern  Virginia ;  engaged  in  the  affair  at  Carnifax  Ferry ;  on  special  duty  in 
the  War  Department ;  served  on  the  Rappahannock  and  in  Northwestern 
Virginia  ;  was  present  at  the  battles  of  Cedar  Mountain,  Manassas,  South 
Mountain,  and  Antietam,  where  he  was  wounded  ;  was  member  of  a  board 
to  revise  rules  and  prepare  a  code  for  the  government  of  armies;  commanded 
23d  army  corps  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  ;  was  at  the  battle  of  Peters 
burg  ;  was  Adjutant-General  of  the  Military  Division  of  the  Gulf;  and  was 
next  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  5th  Military  Division,  including 
Louisiana  and  Texas,  where  he  is  on  duty  at  the  present  time. 


HAVEN,  ERASTUS  O. He  was  born  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  in  1820; 

graduated  at  the  College  of  Middletown,  Connecticut,  in  1842  ;  in  1843  he 
became  an  instructor  in  the  New  York  Amenia  Seminary,  and  became  its 
Principal  in  1846 ;  from  1848  to  1853  he  was  pastor,  successively,  over 
three  churches  in  New  York;  from  1853  to  1854  Professor  of  Latin,  and 
from  1854  to  1856  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  English  Literature  in  the 
University  of  Michigan,  and  from  1856  to  1863  editor  of  Zioris  Herald,  in 
Boston,  the  organ  of  New  England  Methodism,  during  which  period  he 
was  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Education  and  a  Senator  in  the  State 
Legislature.  In  1863  he  was  made  President  of  the  University  of  Michi 
gan,  which  position  he  held  until  1869,  when  lie  resigned  and  became  Pres 
ident  of  the  Northwestern  University,  located  in  Chicago.  He  is  both  a 
Doctor  of  Divinity  and  a  Doctor  of  Laws,  and  by  his  untiring  and  enlight 
ened  devotion  to  the  cause  of  education,  both  in  Massachusetts  and  Michigan, 
he  has  won  a  high  position  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  of  both  States,  and 
would  seem  now  to  be  accomplishing  great  good  for  the  people  of  Illinois. 


HENNEPIN,  Louis. He  was  born  in  Flanders,  in  1640,  and  became  a 

Recollet  friar.  He  embarked  for  Quebec  in  1675,  and  spent  the  next 
seven  years  among  the  Indian  tribes  of  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  Valley  of 
the  Mississippi.  He  was  for  a  time  the  right  hand  man  of  La  Salle  during  his 
sojourn  in  the  Michigan  country,  but  subsequently  turned  against  the  great 
explorer  ;  he  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  Detroit  river  was  more  beautiful 
than  the  Niagara,  and  also,  "that  those  who  will  one  day  have  the  happi 
ness  to  possess  this  fertile  and  pleasant  strait,  will  be  very  much  obliged  to 
those  who  have  shown  them  the  way."  The  earliest  description  of  the  Falls 
of  Niagara  was  from  his  pen ;  he  named  the  river  St.  Francis  in  Canada, 
and  was  the  discoverer  of  Lake  Pepin  and  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony. 
Although  not  considered  a  reliable  writer,  he  published  a  number  of  books 
bearing  upon  his  exploits  and  adventures  in  the  wilds  of  America,  which 


448  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

have  been  immensely  popular.  Indeed,  not  less  than  twenty  editions  of  his 
travels  were  published  in  French,  English,  German,  Italian,  and  Spanish. 
In  1697  he  was  refused  permission  to  return  to  Canada,  and  became  a  citi 
zen  of  Holland  ;  also,  figured  at  the  Court  of  William  III.,  of  England; 
and,  although  he  adopted  the  secular  habit,  he  always  added  to  his  signa 
ture  the  title  of  "Missionary  Recollet  and  Apostolic  Notary."  He  died  in 
Holland  about  the  year  1700. 


HENRY,  ALEXANDER. He  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1740;  in  1760 

he  accompanied  the  expedition  of  General  Amherst,  and  was  present  at  the 
reduction  of  Fort  Levi,  on  Lake  Ontario,  and  the  surrender  of  Montreal. 
After  the  conquest  of  Canada  he  became  a  fur-trader,  and  spent  sixteen 
years  as  such  (from  1760  to  1776)  in  the  country  of  the  Great  Lakes,  and 
in  1809  he  published  an  account  of  his  adventures  at  Mackinaw  and  his 
travels  in  Canada  and  the  Indian  Territories.  He  died  in  1824.  In  his 
*book  are  to  be  found  some  good  descriptions  of  life  and  scenery  along  the 
more  northern  shores  of  Michigan. 


HORNER,  JOHN  T. He  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  in  September,  1835, 

he  was  appointed  by  President  Jackson  Secretary  of  the  Territory  of  Mich 
igan,  to  which  duties  were  very  soon  added  those  of  Acting  Governor  of  the 
same ;  but  a  few  mouths  after  the  State  Constitution  was  ratified  by  the 
people,  he  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  newly-organized  Territory  of  Wis 
consin,  beyond  which  point,  unfortunately,  we  have  not  been  able  to  pursue 
his  career.  His  appointment  to  a  leading  position  in  Michigan,  at  a  time 
when  political  feeling  ran  high,  was  very  distasteful  to  the  people  of  the 
State ;  and  so  unpopular  was  the  new  appointee,  that  in  some  instances  he 
was  treated  with  personal  discourtesy,  which  probably  accounts  for  his 
ephemeral  residence  within  the  limits  of  Michigan. 


HOSFORD,  ORAMEL. He  was  born  in  Thetford,  Orange  county,  Ver 
mont,  May  7,1820;  graduated  at  Oberlin  College,  Ohio,  in  1843;  was 
appointed  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Philosophy  in  Olivet  College,  Mich 
igan,  in  1846,  to  the  duties  of  which  position,  as  well  as  those  of  his  clerical 
profession,  as  a  clergyman  of  the  Congregational  Church,  he  was  constantly 
devoted,  in  .the  town  of  Olivet,  until  1864,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  hon 
orable  and  highly  responsible  office  of  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 
for  the  State  of  Michigan,  which  he  continues  to  retain.  His  annual  reports 
have  won  for  him  the  good  opinion  of  all  the  people  of  Michigan  who  feel 
an  interest  in  the  cause  of  education ;  and  a  revised  edition  of  the  School 
Laws  of  Michigan,  with  Notes  and  Forms,  was  published  by  authority  of  the 
State  in  1869,  a  copy  of  which  is  furnished  to  each  district,  township,  and 
county  officer  in  the  State  who  may  be  concerned  in  the  administration  of 
the  school  laws. 


HOUGHTON,  DOUGLASS. He  was  born  in  Troy,  New  York,  September 

21,  1809,  and  was  educated  for  the  medical  profession  at  the  Kensselaer 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  449 

Institute  in  his  native  place,  where  he  graduated  in  1829.  The  following 
year  he  was  appointed  Assistant  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Natural  His 
tory  in  the  Institute;  and  while  occupying  this  position  he  went  to  Detroit,  by 
request  of  the  citizens,  to  deliver  a  course  of  lectures  on  scientific  subjects. 
In  1831  he  was.licensed  to  practice  as  a  physician ;  and  in  the  same  year 
was  appointed  surgeon  and  botanist  to  the  expedition  sent  out  by  the  Gov 
ernment  to  explore  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  made  an  able 
and  valuable  report.  On  his  return  he  settled  in  Detroit,  and  practiced 
his  profession  until  1837,  when  he  was  appointed  Geologist  for  the  State. 
From  that  time  until  his  death  he  continued  faithfully  to  discharge  his 
laborious  duties,  and  accomplished  much  towards  developing  the  resources 
of  the  State,  especially  in  attracting  attention  to  its  mineral  wealth.  In 
1842  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Detroit;  and,  from  its  organization,  was  one 
of  the  professors  of  the  University.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  National 
Institute  in  Washington,  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History,  and  an 
honorary  member  of  the  Royal  Antiquarian  Society  of  Copenhagen,  and 
of  many  other  scientific  and  literary  associations.  He  was  drowned  in  Lake 
Superior,  near  the  mouth  of  Eagle  river,  during  a  violent  storm,  October 
13,  1845,  and  his  death  was  a  great  public  loss,  especially  to  the  State  of 
Michigan. 


HOWARD,  JACOB  M. He  was  born  in  Shaftsbury,  Vermont,  July  10, 

1805;  was  educated  at  the  Academies  of  Bennington  and  Brattleborough, 
and  at  Williams'  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1830 ;  studied  law,  and 
taught  in  an  academy  in  Massachusetts  for  a  time;  removed  to  Michigan 
in  1832,  and  came  to  the  bar  of  that  Territory  in  1833 ;  in  1838  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  ;  from  1841  to  1843  he  was  a  Rep 
resentative  in  Congress  from  Michigan  ;  in  1851  he  appeared  for  the  people 
in  the  great  legal  trial  known  as  the  Railroad  Conspiracy  Case,  in  Michi 
gan;  in  1854  he  was  elected  Attorney-General  of  the  State,  twice  re-elected, 
and  serving  in  all  six  years ;  and  in  1862  he  was  elected  a  Senator  in  Con 
gress,  in  the  place  of  K.  S.  Bingham,  deceased,  for  the  term  ending  in  1865, 
serving  as  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Pacific  Railroad,  and  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Committees  on  Military  Affairs,  the  Judiciary,  and  Private  Land 
Claims.  He  was  re-elected  a  Senator  in  Congress  for  the  term  commencing 
in  1865  and  ending  in  1871,  serving  on  the  Library  Committee,  and  those 
on  Claims,  Private  Land  Claims,  the  Library,  the  Special  Joint  Committee 
on  the  Rebellious  States,  and  as  chairman  of  that  of  Ordnance.  He  re 
ceived  from  Williams'  College,  in  1866,  the  degree  of  LL.D.,  and  was  a 
delegate  to  the  Philadelphia  "Loyalists'  Convention"  of  the  same  year. 
As  an  author,  he  published  in  1847  a  translation  from  the  French  of  the 
Secret  Memoirs  of  the  Empress  Josephine.  He  drew  up  the  platform  of  the 
first  convention  ever  held  of  the  Republican  party,  in  1854,  and  is  said  to 
have  given  it  its  name. 


Ho  WARD,  WILLIAM  A. He  was  born  in  Vermont;  graduated  at  Mid- 

dlebury  College  in  1839  ;  and,  having  taken  up  his  residence  in  Michigan, 
was  elected  a  Representative  from  that  State  to  the  Thirty-fourth  and 
Thirty-fifth  Congresses,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Ways  and 
Means.  In  1851  he  appeared  for  the  defendants  in  the  famous  legal  trial 
known  as  the  Railroad  Conspiracy  Case.  Having  contested  the  seat  of  G. 

2  0 


450  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

B.  Cooper  in  1860,  he  became  a  Representative  in  the  Thirty-sixth  Con 
gress,  serving  as  a  member  of  the  Select  Committee  of  Thirty-three.  In 
1861  he  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  postmaster  at  Detroit.  He 
was  also  a  delegate  to  the  Philadelphia  "Loyalists'  Convention"  of  1866. 
In  1869  he  was  appointed  by  President  Grant  Minister  to  China,  but  de 
clined  the  position. 


HULL,  WILLIAM. He  was  born  in  Derby,  Connecticut,  June  24, 1753; 

graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1772 ;  came  to  the  bar  in  1775,  but  soon  en 
tered  the  Revolutionary  army  as  a  Captain ;  was  rapidly  promoted,  and 
became  Inspector  of  the  army  under  Baron  Steuben ;  was  present  at  the 
battles  of  White  Plains,  Trenton,  Princeton,  Still  water,  Saratoga,  Monmouth, 
and  Stony  Point,  and  for  his  services  at  Morrisiana  he  received  the  thanks 
of  Washington.  Two  years  after  his  surrender  he  was  tried  by  court-mar 
tial  and  sentenced  to  be  shot,  but  on  account  of  his  age  and  public  services 
the  sentence  was  remitted  by  President  Madison,  by  whom  he  had  been 
made  commauder-in-chief.  It  is  now  agreed  among  historians  that  his  rea 
sons  for  giving  up  Detroit  to  the  British  General  Brock  were  not  founded 
in  cowardice  or  disloyalty.  In  1824  he  published  a  series  of  letters  in  vin 
dication  of  himself,  and  died  at  Newton,  Massachusetts,  November  29, 1825. 


HUMPHREY,  LEVI  S. He  was  born  in  Vermont,  and  was  among  the 

earliest  emigrants  to  Michigan  after  it  became  an  organized  Territory.  He 
was  for  many  years  the  Stage  Coach  King  of  the  Lake  Country,  and  proba 
bly  did  more  than  any  other  man  to  improve  the  breed  of  horses  in  the 
Northwest,  and  at  one  time  he  commanded  great  influence  as  a  politician. 
He  was  for  some  years  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  with  Daniel  S.  Ba 
con  ;  was  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature ;  was  one  of  the  Commissioners 
to  locate  the  Southern  and  Central  Railroads  of  Michigan  ;  and  he  was  con 
nected  with  the  Government  as  Register  of  the  Land  Office  at  Monroe,  and 
as  United  States  Marshal  for  the  District  of  Michigan.  Was  afterwards  a 
contractor  on  the  Great  Western  and  Grand  Trunk  Railroads  in  Canada, 
and  subsequently  returned  to  his  old  residence  in  Monroe,  Michigan,  where 
he  died  in  1869.  Those  who  knew  him  personally  can  never  forget  his  im 
posing  personal  appearance  (for  his  stature  was  uncommonly  large)  as  well 
as  his  gentle  manners  and  kind  heart. 


HUNT,  HENRY  I. He  emigrated  from  New  York  to  Detroit  at  an 

early  date ;  was  a  citizen  of  that  place  prior  to  the  surrender  of  Hull,  and 
a  witness  of  the  exciting  events  of  that  day ;  he  held  a  commission  as  colo 
nel  of  militia,  and  was  on  intimate  terms  of  friendship  with  General  Cass. 
His  profession  was  that  of  a  merchant,  in  which  he  occupied  a  high  rank; 
and  in  1826  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Detroit,  and  died  in  that 
year  before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office.  Col.  Thomas  L.  McKenney 
mentions  the  fact  in  his  "  Tour  to  the  Lakes  "  that  he  had  seen  "  few  men 
in  his  fife  who  possessed  more  of  the  confidence  and  affection  of  those  who 
knew  him,  and  that  the  feeling  of  regret  at  his  death  was  universal." 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  451 

HUNT,  JAMES  B. He  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  for  many  years 

law  partner  with  Michael  Hoffman.  He  removed  to  Michigan  about  the 
time  of  its  admission  into  the  Union,  and  was  soon  called  to  responsible 
public  trusts.  He  was  a  member  of  Congress  from  Michigan  from  1843  to 
1847.  He  died  in  Pontiac,  Michigan,  August  15,  1857,  aged  58  years. 


JOGUES,  ISAAC. He  was  born  in  Orleans,  France,  in  1607  ;  and  before 

he  had  attained  his  thirtieth  year  we  find  him  laboring  among  the  Huron 
Indians  as  a  Jesuit  missionary,  and  visiting  what  was  called  the  Tobacco 
Nation,  north  of  Lake  Erie.  In  1641  he,  with  Charles  Raymbault,  passed 
along  the  shore  of  Lake  Huron  northward,  entered  the  strait  through  which 
Lake  Superior  discharges  itself,  pushed  on  as  far  as  the  Saute  de  Ste.  Marie, 
and  preached  the  Faith  to  two  thousand  Ojibwas  and  other  Algonquins 
there  assembled.  Not  long  afterwards,  in  his  great  zeal  to  convert  the  In 
dians,  he  visited  Quebec  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  necessary  supplies  for 
his  mission,  wrhen  he  fell  into  an  ambuscade,  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Iro- 
quois,  with  whom  he  was  compelled  to  travel  through  Lake  George  to  the 
Mohawk  Towns,  where  he  was  cruelly  tortured,  but  from  which  he  finally 
made  his  escape,  and,  going  down  the  Hudson  to  Manhattan,  sailed  from 
that  place  to  France  in  1664.  On  reaching  Paris  he  was  the  lion  of  the 
hour,  and  having  been  summoned  into  the  presence  of  the  Queen,  Anne  of 
Austria,  she  bent  and  kissed  his  mutilated  hands,  while  the  ladies  of  the 
Court  thronged  around  to  do  him  homage  because  of  his  sufferings  while  a 
slave  of  the  Mohawks.  But  these  courtly  honors  were  not  in  keeping  with 
his  simple  tastes,  and  he  soon  returned  again  to  the  wilderness.  The  event 
ful  story  of  his  life  may  be  found  in  the  Jesuit  Relation  of  1643.  He  was 
a  finished  scholar,  and  might  have  acquired  distinction  in  literature,  but  he 
preferred  the  trials  and  dangers  of  a  missionary  life,  for  which  he  was  physi 
cally  unsuited.  A  number  of  books  were  written  of  which  he  was  the  hero, 
and  one  was  published  from  his  own  pen  entitled  Novum  Belgium. 


JOHNSON,  FRANKLIN. He  was  born  in  Vermont ;  received  a  legal 

education ;  and  became  a  resident  of  Monroe,  Michigan,  in  1835,  with 
which  place  he  was  intimately  and  honorably  identified  during  the  remain 
der  of  his  life.  While  constantly  engaged  in  practicing  his  profession,  he 
found  time  to  fill  a  variety  of  public  positions.  He  was  at  one  time  Attor 
ney  for  the  city  of  Monroe ;  also  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  the  State,  and 
Judge  of  Probate,  and  lastly,  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  for  the  First  Dis 
trict  of  Michigan  for  six  years.  He  always  maintained  a  high  position  at 
the  bar,  and  it  is  said  that  his  decisions  as  Circuit  Judge  were  very  seldom, 
reversed  by  the  Supreme  Court.  He  died  in  Monroe  October  11,  1870. 


JOHNSON,  OLIVER. He  was  a  native  of  Falley  Cross-Roads,  Massa 
chusetts,  and  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1816  ;  and  having  located  himself 
on  the  River  Raisin,  was  long  a  successful  merchant  and  trader  in  furs.  In 
1825  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  Probate,  and  held  the  office  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  a  man  of  superior  talents  ;  possessed  great  energy  of  char 
acter  ;  was  a  dignified  gentleman  in  his  bearing ;  a  leader  in  all  benevolent 


452  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

and  Christian  enterprises ;  and  did  much  to  advance  the  cause  of  religion 
in  the  new  settlements  by  his  able  advocacy  and  active  friendship.     He  was    ,  ( 
a  Presidential  Elector  in  1857.     He  died  in  Monroe  several  years  ago,  and  , 


left  a  son,  Charles  G.  Johnson,  who  has  for  many  years  been  a  prominent  citi 
zen  and  a  banker  in  that  city.  His  father-in-law,  Henry  Disbrow,  was  a 
man  of  the  same  high  character,  and  was  for  many  years  a  leading  author 
ity  throughout  the  valley  of  the  River  Kaisin  in  all  matters  appertaining 
to  horticulture  and  agriculture. 


JOHNSON,  RICHARD  M. He  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1780,  and  died 

at  Frankfort  November  19,  1850.  In  1807  he  was  chosen  a  Representative 
in  Congress  from  Kentucky,  which  post  he  held  until  1813.  In  1813  he 
raised  a  volunteer  regiment  of  cavalry  of  one  thousand  men  to  fight  the 
British  and  Indians  on  the  Lakes,  and,  during  the  campaign  that  followed, 
served  with  great  credit  under  General  Harrison  as  Colonel  of  that  regi 
ment.  He  greatly  distinguished  himself  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  and 
the  chief  Tecumseh  is  said  to  have  been  killed  by  his  hand  ;  and  for  this 
reason  we  have  thought  it  proper  to  introduce  him  in  this  collection  of 
sketches.  In  1814  he  was  appointed  Indian  Commissioner  by  President 
Madison.  He  was  again  Representative  in  Congress  from  1813  to  1819. 
In  1819  he  went  from  the  House  into  the  United  States  Senate  to  fill  an 
unexpired  term  ;  was  re-elected  to  the  House,  and  remained  there  until 
1837,  when  he  became  Vice  President,  and  as  such  presided  over  the  Sen 
ate.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  member  of  the  Kentucky  Legisla 
ture,  and  he  died  from  a  second  attack  of  paralysis.  He  was  a  kind- 
hearted,  courageous,  and  talented  man. 


JOHNSTON,  JOHN. He  was  born  near  the  Giant's  Causeway  in  Ireland 

in  1763,  and  his  connections  were  of  the  highest  character  on  the  score  of 
social  position,  intellectual  culture,  and  wealth.  He  emigrated  to  the  Uni 
ted  States  during  the  Presidency  of  Washington,  and  was  wont  to  boast 
that  he  had  shaken  him  by  the  hand.  After  enduring  many  vicissitudes  in 
Canada,  he  settled  at  the  Saute  de  Ste.  Maria  in  1793,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  until  his  death.  He  was  a  leading  frontier  merchant  for  more  than 
forty  years,  and  although  far  removed  from  the  comforts  of  civilization, 
there  was  always  a  refined  and  cultured  atmosphere  about  his  modest  home. 
In  1814  his  property  was  plundered  by  the  Americans,  through  the  instru 
mentality  of  personal  enemies  or  rivals  in  trade ;  and  in  consequence  of 
that  he  re-visited  Ireland,  sold  his  patrimonial  estate,  and  thus  obtained 
a  new  start  in  the  world.  He  did  much  as  a  writer  upon  Indian  his- 
"tory ;  had  a  well-descended  Indian  woman  for  his  wife,  who,  in  her  own 
person  did  so  much  for  the  American  cause  that  General  Cass  called  her 
his  friend  and  a  benefactress ;  and  it  was  the  eldest  daughter  of  that 
woman,  a  lovely  girl  who  was  sent  to  Europe  to  be  thoroughly  educated, 
who  subsequently  became  the  wife  of  the  historian  of  the  Indians,  Henry 
R.  Schoolcraft. 


JOLIET,  Louis. He  was  born  in  Quebec  in  1645 ;  educated  for  the 

Jesuit  Priesthood ;  but  soon  renouncing  the  cowl  and  vestments,  became 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  453 

a  fur-trader  and  an  explorer.  He  was  designated  by  Talon,  the  intendant 
of  Canada,  about  the  year  1672,  as  a  suitable  person  to  explore  the  copper 
mines  of  Lake  Superior,  and  although  the  expedition  which  he  performed 
was  unsuccessful  as  a  speculation,  it  resulted  in  the  production  of  one  of 
the  first  maps  of  that  region  of  country.  He  was  subsequently  sent  by 
Frontenac  to  discover  the  Mississippi,  and  with  La  Salle  and  Marquette 
participated,  to  some  extent,  in  accomplishing  the  discovery.  On  his  return, 
he  lost  all  his  papers  while  passing  down  the  rapids  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
above  Montreal,  and  could  only  make  a  verbal  report  to  the  Government. 
As  a  return  for  his  services,  he  was  presented  with  the  Island  of  Anticosta, 
in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  where  he  settled  with  his  family,  built  a  fort, 
and  continued  his  old  employment  of  trading  with  the  Indians.  When  the 
British  came  into  power,  his  possessions  were  all  confiscated,  and  he  was 
sent  as  a  prisoner  to  Quebec,  where  he  is  supposed  to  have  died  about  the 
year  1737. 


JONES,  DE  GARMO. -He  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Detroit,  and 

as  a  merchant  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  actor  in  all  the  important 
business  enterprises  of  the  city  and  State.  It  was  through  his  sagacity  and 
means  that  the  plaster-beds  on  the  Grand  river  were  first  brought  to  light. 
He  was  a  man  of  culture,  and  although  nothing  of  a  politician,  he  was 
elected  Mayor  of  Detroit  in  1839,  and  died  in  that  city,  at  a  good  old  age 
in  1846.  His  son,  bearing  the  same  na.me,  served  with  credit  as  an  officer 
during  the  rebellion,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Detroit. 


I 

JONES,  GEORGE  W. Born  at  Vincennes,  Indiana,  and  graduated  at 

Transylvania  University,  Kentucky,  in  1825.  He  was  bred  to  the  law,  but 
ill  health  prevented  him  from  practicing.  He  was  Clerk  of  the  United 
States  District  Court  in  Missouri,  in  1826 ;  served  as  an  Aid-de-camp  to  Gen 
eral  Henry  Dodge  in  the  Black  Hawk  war ;  was  chosen  Colonel  of  Militia 
in  1832;  subsequently  Major-General;  also  Judge  of  a  County  Court; 
in  1835  was  elected  a  Delegate  to  Congress  from  the  Territory  of  Michi 
gan,  and  served  two  years ;  in  1839  was  appointed  by  President  Van  Bu- 
ren,  Surveyor  General  of  the  Northwest ;  was  removed  in  1841  for  his 
politics,  but  re-appointed  by  President  Polk,  and  remained  in  the  office 
until  1849 ;  in  1848  he  was  elected  a  United  States  Senator  from  Iowa  for 
six  years,  and  re-elected  in  1852  for  six  years,  officiating  as  Chairman  of 
the  Committees  on  Pensions,  and  on  Enrolled  Bills,  and  as  a  member  of 
the  Committee  on  Territories.  At  the  conclusion  of  his  last  term  he  was 
appointed,  by  President  Buchanan,  Minister  to  New  Granada.  In  1861  he 
was  charged  with  disloyalty,  and  imprisoned  in  Fort  Warren. 


JOUETT,  C. All  that  the  compiler  happens  to  know  in  regard  to  this 

person  is,  that  in  1803,  he  was  an  Indian  agent  for  the  General  Govern 
ment,  and  was  located  in  Detroit.  He  deserves  mention  in  this  place, 
however,  if,  for  no  other  reason,  because  he  wrote  an  account  of  the  con 
dition  of  Detroit  and  the  surrounding  country,  in  the  year  above-named, 
which  will  be  found  printed  in  the  American  State  Papers,  and  is  of  great 
value  to  all  persons  interested  in  the  early  history  of  Michigan. 


454  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

KEARSLEY,  JONATHAN. He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  entered 

the  army  as  a  First  Lieutenant  in  1812;  was  made  an  Adjutant  in  1813; 
served  with  distinction  in  1814,  in  the  defence  of  Fort  Erie,  in  which  he 
was  severely  wounded,  having  lost  a  leg,  and  for  which  he  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  Captain,  and  that  of  Major  by  Brevet ;  and  he  retired  from 
the  military  service  in  1815.  In  1817  he  was  appointed  a  Collector  of  In 
ternal  Revenue  in  Pennsylvania ;  in  1820  he  was  appointed  by  President 
Monroe  Receiver  for  the  Land  Office  at  Detroit,  which  highly  responsible 
position  he  held  until  1*47;  in  1829  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Detroit;  was 
four  times  appointed  a  Regent  of  the  State  University ;  and  after  a  long 
career  of  usefulness  and  honor,  and  lamented  by  a  large  circle  of  friends, 
he  died  in  Detroit  in  1855. 


KELLOGG,  FRANCIS  W. Born  in  Worthington,  Hampshire  County, 

Massachusetts,  May  30,  1810;  received  a  limited  education,  and,  having 
removed  to  Michigan,  entered  into  the  business  of  lumbering.  He  served 
in  the  Legislature  of  Michigan,  and  was  elected  a  Representative  from  that 
State  to  the  Thirty-sixth  Congress,  serving  as  a  member  of  the  Committee 
on  Invalid  Pensions;  was  re-elected  to  the  Thirty-seventh  Congress,  serving 
on  the  Committees  on  Public  Lands,  and  on  Expenditures  in  the  Post  Office 
Department ;  and  was  also  re-elected  to  the  Thirty-eighth  Congress,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Military  Affairs.  He  performed  the  remark 
able  task  of  raising  six  regiments  of  cavalry  during  the  rebellion.  In  1865 
he  was  appointed,  by  President  Johnson,  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue  for 
Alabama ;  and  subsequently  elected  to  Congress  from  that  State. 


KINGSBURY,  JACOB. He  was  born  in  Connecticut,  in  1755,  and  entered 

the  United  States  army  as  a  lieutenant  in  17S9 ;  removed  to  the  western 
frontier  about  the  commencement  of  the  present  century,  and  was  for  many 
years  on  duty  at  Detroit  and  Mackinaw,  and  subsequently  at  Belfontaine, 
then  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  river,  at  Fort  Adams  on  the  same  river, 
and  at  New  Orleans.  He  rose,  by  regular  course,  to  the  rank  of  Inspector 
General,  and  for  gallant  services  performed  on  the  Ohio  river  in  1791,  he 
was  highly  complimented  by  General  Josiah  Harmar.  He  retired  from 
the  army  in  1815,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Missouri,  where  he  died  in 
1837.  He  was  the  father  of  Julius  J.  B.  Kingsbury,  the  worthy  son  of  a 
distinguished  father;  and  Harmar's  handsome  letter  to  the  former,  as  well 
as  an  original  drawing,  made  by  him  of  Detroit  as  it  appeared  in  1800,  are 
among  the  historical  treasures  of  the  compiler  of  this  volume. 


KINGSBURY,  JULIUS  J.B. He  was  the  son  of  General  Jacob  Kingsbury, 

and  born  in  Connecticut  in  1801 ;  and  educated  at  West  Point,  where  he 
graduated  in  1823.  The  first  eight  years  of  his  official  life  as  Second  Lieu 
tenant  were  spent  at  Fort  Brady  and  Fort  Gratiot,  in  Michigan ;  in  1831 
he  was  made  a  First  Lieutenant  and  stationed  at  Fort  Niagara,  New  York ; 
was  on  the  "  Black  Hawk  Expedition  "  in  1831,  and  also  stationed  at  Fort 
Dearborn,  Illinois;  in  1833  he  was  again  returned  to  Fort  Brady,  and  also 
stationed  at  Saute  de  Ste.  Marie  and  Mackinaw  ;  and  in  1837  he  was  made 
a  Captain,  and  after  some  service  in  Florida,  Maine,  and  New  York,  was 
returned  for  the  third  time  to  Fort  Brady  in  1845.  He  served  with  dis- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  455 

tinction  in  the  Mexican  war,  participating  in  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz,  the 
battles  of  Cerro  Gordo,  of  Contreras,  Churubusco,  Molino  del  Rey,  and  in 
the  capture  of  the  City  of  Mexico,  and  for  his  gallant  and  meritorious 
conduct,  he  was  made  a  Brevet  Major  in  1847,  and  full  Major  in  1849.  In 
the  latter  year  he  went  to  California,  and  after  remaining  there  three  or 
four  years  on  frontier  duty,  he  tired  of  his  profession,  and  was  dismissed 
from  the  army  for  absence  from  duty  without  authority.  He  died  in  Wash 
ington  city,  June  26,  1856. 


KIRKLAND,  CAROLINE  M. As  this  accomplished  woman  spent  two 

years  in  Detroit  and  nearly  another  year  in  the  interior  of  Michigan,  and 
as  her  experiences  in  the  West  resulted  in  not  less  than  three  popular  books 
associated  with  Michigan,  a  notice  of  her  in  this  place  is  most  appropriate. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Stansbury,  and  she  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
On  becoming  the  wife  of  William  Kirkland,  himself  an  author  of  repute, 
she  lived  for  some  years  in  Geneva,  New  York  ;  then  settled  in  Michigan  ; 
and  in  1843  she  returned  to  her  native  city.  Her  books  respecting  Michigan 
were  published  under  the  assumed  name  of  Mary  Clavers,  and  entitled 
"A  New  Home;  Who' II  Follow  ?"  "  Forest  Life ;"  and  "Western  Clearings" 
They  made  their  appearance  in  1839,  1342,  and  1846 ;  in  the  latter  year 
she  published  an  edition  of  Edmund  Spencer's  Writings ;  in  1847  became  the 
editress  of  the  Union  Magazine;  in  1848  she  visited  Europe  and  published 
Holidays  Abroad;  in  1852  she  published  two  gift  books,  and  in  1853,  the 
Book  of  the  Home  Circle.  Subsequently  her  pen  was  somewhat  idle, 
although  her  productions  were  always  popular,  but  none  of  them  as  much 
so  as  those  associated  with  Michigan.  She  died  April  6,  1864. 


KNAGGS,  JAMES. He  was  born  at  Roche  de  Bout,  on  the  river  Mau- 

mee,  about  the  year  1780,  and  from  early  life  was  familiar  with  the  woods 
and  their  savage  inhabitants.  During  the  war  of  1812  he  rendered  the 
Government  important  aid  as  a  volunteer  soldier  and  Indian  fighter  ;  and 
soon  after  Wayne's  campaign  he  settled  at  Frenchtowu  and  became  a 
farmer.  In  1811  he  established  a  regular  ferry  at  the  Huron  river,  on  the 
road  between  Frerichtown  and  Detroit,  with  only  Indians  for  his  neighbors. 
These,  excited  against  all  Americans  by  British  emissaries,  were  very 
troublesome,  and  Knaggs  had  frequent  and  desperate  conflicts  with  them. 
On  one  occasion  he  thrashed  an  Indian  for  some  misconduct,  and  when  a 
brother  of  the  vagabond  came  at  midnight  to  avenge  the  insult,  a  struggle 
ensued,  which  resulted  in  the  breaking  of  every  bone  in  the  body  of  the 
Indian  by  means  of  a  club.  He  was  a  leading  man  among  the  "  Raisin 
men,"  who  were  called  by  General  Harrison  "  the  best  troops  in  the  world," 
and  with  them  he  was  engaged  in  the  various  conflicts  near  Detroit,  and 
under  Colonel  Richard  M.  Johnson,  was  present  at  the  battle  of  the 
Thames,  and  was  the  man  who  identified  the  body  of  Tecumseh,  with  whom 
he  had  been  acquainted.  He  performed  a  great  many  brave  and  patriotic 
deeds  as  a  spy,  scout,  ranger,  and  general  fighter ;  and  a  British  officer 
named  McGreggor,  whom  he  had  captured  and  carried  to  Hull's  camp, 
subsequently  offered  a  reward  of  five  hundred  dollars  for  his  head.  He 
was  the  youngest  of  five  brothers,  all  of  whom  were  active  in  the  military 
service,  while  one  of  them  was  killed  at  Chicago,  and  another  captured  and 
carried  to  Halifax.  Knaggs'  mother  lived  near  Frenchtown  tit  the  time 


456  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

of  the  battle  there,  and  was  one  of  those  whom  Proctor  ordered  away.  She 
was  then  in  her  eightieth  year,  and  having  been  robbed  of  her  clothing, 
thinly  clad,  she  proceeded  in  an  open  traineau  and  reached  Detroit  in  safety. 
When  asked  how  it  happened  that  she  did  not  perish,  she  replied,  "  My 
spunk  kept  me  warm."  The  noted  sou  of  this  worthy  woman  died  iu  De 
troit  on  the  23d  of  December,  1860. 


KNIGHT,  HENRY  C. He  was  born  in  East  Bethlehem,  Washington 

County,  Pennsylvania,  September  3,  1817  ;  graduated  at  Jefferson  College, 
Cauonsburg,  in  1836  ;  and  after  spending  one  year  at  the  Yale  Law  School, 
he  removed  in  1837  to  Michigan,  and  continued  his  legal  studies.  On 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1839,  he  settled  in  Pontiac,  where  he  remained 
until  1848.  From  that  time  until  1853  he  was  devoted  to  teaching  in  a 
classical  school,  and  to  the  ministry,  when  his  health  became  impaired,  and 
he  settled  in  Detroit,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was 
a  useful  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  several  terms,  and  one  of 
the  foremost  of  that  body  in  caring  for  the  wants  of  the  children  of  Detroit, 
and  furthering  the  cause  of  education  generally  ;  and  he  was  for  ten  years 
the  much-beloved  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School,  attached  to  the 
Fort  Street  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  twice  elected  to  the  Councils  of 
Detroit  as  Alderman  ;  was  a  Regent  of  the  State  University  for  nearly  four 
years ;  and  also  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  Wayne  County,  which  last  two 
positions  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Detroit  March 
26,  1867.  When  in  the  Council  of  Detroit,  he  was  the  Republican  candi 
date  for  President  of  that  body;  and  although  there  were  two  hundred  bal 
lots  cast,  extending  through  a  period  of  two  months,  a  tie  vote  prevented 
his  election.  Taken  as  a  whole,  his  life  was  highly  useful  and  honorable, 
and  his  name  will  long  be  treasured  with  respect  by  the  bar  as  well  as  the 
citizens  of  Detroit. 


LAHONTAN,  BARON. He  was  a  native  of  France ;  bred  a  soldier  ; 

emigrated  to  Canada  in  his  sixteenth  year ;  and  was  for  several  years  in 
command  of  a  fort  in  Northern  Michigan,  chiefly  at  Michilirnackinac.  He 
spent  about  eleven  years,  from  1683  to  1694,  in  explorations  along  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  in  the  country  of  the  Great  Lakes.  He  published  the  result 
of  his  adventures  and  observations  in  Paris,  and  some  of  his  views  so 
offended  the  Government  of  France  he  was  obliged  to  take  up  his  residence 
in  Holland.  He  subsequently  removed  to  England ;  and  his  letters  from 
the  wilderness,  which  had  been  revised  by  Count  Frontenac,  were  "done 
into  English,"  and  with  much  information,  omitted  in  the  original  French 
edition,  were  published  in  London  in  1735.  The  work  contained  a  number 
of  maps,  which  have  an  interest  for  lovers  of  history.  He  cherished  a 
strong  animosity  toward  the  Government  of  France;  and  in  speaking  of 
his  letters  in  the  English  edition,  he  says  they  were  "addressed  to  an  old 
bigoted  relation  of  mine,  who  fed  on  devotion,  and  dreaded  the  influence  of 
the  court."  When  in  the  employ  of  the  French,  he  gloried  in  the  title  of 
"  Lord  Lieutenant  of  the  French  Colony  at  Placentia,  in  Newfoundland." 
In  his  work  there  are  no  less  than  four  chapters  devoted  to  affaiz's  in  and 
about  Michilimackinac  ;  and  the  place  and  date  of  his  death  are  unknown. 
In  the  preceding  pages  his  name  is  misprinted  Lalionton. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  457 

LANMAN,  CHARLES. Born  in  Monroe,  Michigan,  June  14,  1819,  and 

was  the  son  of  Charles  James  Lanman ;  received  an  Academical  educa 
tion  in  Plainfield,  Connecticut ;  was  a  clerk  in  the  house  of  Suydam,  Jack- 
son  &  Co.,  New  York,  from  1835  to  1845,  when  he  revisited  his  birth  place, 
and  for  a  few  months  edited  the  Monroe  Gazette;  was  associate  editor  in 
1846  of  the  Cincinnati  Chronicle,  with  Edward  D.  Mansfield ;  and  after 
making  a  canoe  tour  of  the  Mississippi  and  through  Lake  Superior,  returned 
to  New  York,  and  was  associated  as  a  writer  with  The  Daily  Express.  In 
1848  he  visited  Washington,  and  became  a  writer  and  travelling  corres 
pondent  of  the  National  Intelligencer ;  and  while  residing  in  Georgetown, 
D.  C.,  continued  in  the  service  of  that  journal  until  the  death  of  its  editors, 
Gales  &  Seaton.  As  an  amateur,  he  paid  some  attention  to  art,  and  trav 
elled  extensively  throughout  the  United  States.  In  Washington,  he  held 
the  positions  of  Librarian  o'f  the  War  Department,  Librarian  of  Copyrights 
in  the  State  Department,  and  Private  Secretary  of  Daniel  Webster,  Libra 
rian  of  the  Interior  Department,  and  Librarian  of  the  House  of  Repre 
sentatives.  Besides  writing  for  the  Press  and  the  Magazines  at  home,  in 
1857  he  became  the  American  correspondent  of  the  Illustrated  London 
News,  and  in  1869  of  the  London  Athenaeum.  As  an  author  he  has  pub 
lished  the  following:  Essays  for  Summer  Hours,  three  editions;  A  Summer 
in  the  Wilderness ;  A  Tour  to  the  River  Saguenay,  republished  in  England  ; 
Letters  from  the  Alleghany  Mountains ;  Occasional  Records  of  a  Tourist ;  Pri 
vate  Life  of  Daniel  Webster,  republished  in  England  ;  Adventures  in  the 
Wilds  of  America,  made  from  previous  publications,  printed  in  two  volumes, 
and  republished  in  England,  with  introductory  letters  from  Washington 
Irving;  Dictionary  of  Congress,  six  editions,  three  of  them  published  by  the 
General  Government;  Life  of  William  Woodbridge;  and  as  editor  he  has 
published  Prison  Life  of  Alfred  Ely,  and  two  volumes  of  Sermons,  by  Rev. 
Octavius  Perinchief. — [Abridged  from  Allibone's  Dictionary  of  Authors. 


LANMAN,  CHARLES  JAMES. He  was  the  son  of  James  Lanman,  for 
merly  a  Judge  and  Senator  in  Congress,  and  born  in  Norwich,  Connecticut, 
June  5, 1795.  He  graduated  with  honors  at  Yale  College  in  1814  ;  studied 
law  with  his  kinsman,  Roger  Griswold,  as  well  as  with  his  father;  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  early  in  1817,  in  New  London.  Soon  afterwards  he 
was  invited  by  Henry  Clay  to  settle  in  Kentucky,  but  decided  to  seek  his 
fortune  in  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  on  the  invitation  of  his  friends,  Wm. 
Woodbridge  and  Lewis  Cass.  He  made  the  journey  from  Buffalo  to  De 
troit  chiefly  on  horse  back.  Joining  Mr.  Woodbridge  in  his  law  office,  he 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  while  riding  the  circuit,  he  visited 
Frenchtown,  on  the  River  Raisin,  (now  called  Monroe,)  where  he  perma 
nently  settled.  In  that  place  he  held  many  local  positions,  such  as  Attor 
ney  for  the  Territory,  Judge  of  Probate,  Colonel  of  Militia,  and  he  was  also 
Inspector  of  Customs,  and  Postmaster  of  Freuchtown.  In  1823  President 
Monroe  appointed  him  Receiver  of  Public  Moneys  for  the  District  of  Mich 
igan,  and  he  was  re-appointed  by  President  Adams,  holding  the  office  eight 
years.  In  those  early  days  specie  was  the  only  currency  in  vogue,  and  the 
receipts  of  silver  alone,  in  one  year  amounted  to  a  hundred  thousand  dol 
lars,  which  had  to  be  transmitted  to  Detroit,  through  the  wilderness,  on  pack 
horses;  and  it  is  worth  mentioning,  that  when  he  visited  Washington  twenty- 
five  years  afterwards,  he  was  officially  informed  that  there  was  a  handsome 
balance  of  money  due  him  by  the  United  States  Treasury  on  account  of 

2  C  * 


458  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

his  services  as  Receiver.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Tecumseh,  Mich 
igan  ;  was  a  Commissioner  to  locate  the  county  seats  of  many  of  the  lead 
ing  counties  in  the  State,  including  Ionia,  Kent,  and  Clinton ;  was  the  Sur 
veyor,  and  once  the  sole  owner  of  the  land  where  now  stands  the  city  of 
Grand  Rapids ;  while  the  same  is  true  of  several  other  flourishing  towns  in 
the  State.  Although  not  a  practical  farmer,  at  one  period  of  his  life,  he 
indulged  his  agricultural  tastes  by  carrying  on  one  or  two  farms,  and  he 
was  among  the  very  first  to  introduce  into  Michigan,  from  Kentucky  and 
Virginia,  the  best  breeds  of  blooded  horses.  In  1835,  from  family  consid 
erations,  he  returned  to  Norwich.  During  the  financial  revulsion  of  1837 
he  lost  the  bulk  of  his  property,  all  of  which  was  located  in  Michigan ; 
and  in  1838  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Norwich;  was  subsequently  Presi 
dent  of  the  Norwich  Water-Power  Company ;  and  at  the  conclusion  of 
that  service  he  lived  chiefly  in  retirement.  In  1862,  lured  by  early 
recollections,  and  because  of  his  intense  love  of  the  scenery  and  air  of  the 
ocean,  he  came  to  New  London  to  reside;  died  in  this  city  July  25,  1870, 
and  was  buried  among  his  kindred  in  Norwich. — [Abridged  from  a  New 
London  paper. 


LANMAN,  JAMES  H. He  was  the  son  of  James  Lanman,  of  Connecti 
cut,  and  born  in  Norwich,  in  that  State,  December  4,  1812.  He  was  edu 
cated  at  Washington,  now  Trinity  College,  Hartford ;  and  having  studied 
law  at  Harvard  College,  came  to  the  bar,  and  for  a  few  years  practiced  his 
profession  in  Norwich  and  New  London,  and  also  for  a  short  time  in  Balti 
more,  Maryland.  A  short  time  before  Michican  became  a  State,  he  visited 
it  on  a  tour  of  pleasure,  by  invitation  of  his  brother,  J.  Lanman,  and 
having  become  interested  in  the  country  and  people,  he  spent  one  or  two 
years  there,  and  then,  under  authority  of  the  new  State,  published  in  1839, 
his  History  of  Michigan.  Two  years  afterwards  he  prepared  and  published 
an  abridgment  of  this  work  in  Harper's  Family  Library,  and  which,  with 
the  author's  consent,  has  been  freely  used  in  the  first  part  of  the  present 
volume.  He  was  also  a  contributor  to  the  National  Portrait  Gallery,  the 
North  American  and  American  Quarterly  Reviews,  and  the  Jurist,  and 
for  several  years  was  the  leading  writer  for  Hunt's  Merchant's  Magazine, 
to  which  he  contributed  a  large  number  of  highly  useful  and  important 
articles  connected  with  the  commerce  of  the  country.  Of  late  years  he  has 
lived  in  retirement  in  his  native  town. 


LARNED,  CHARLES. He  was  born  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts  ;  edu 
cated  at  Williams'  College  in  that  State;  and  in  1811  he  emigrated  to  Ken 
tucky,  where  he  became  a  law  student  in  the  office  of  Henry  Clay.  In  1813 
he  joined  the  army  of  General  Harrison  as  an  officer,  on  its  way  to  the 
Lake  country,  and  was  present  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  settled  in  Detroit,  and  for  many  years,  was  one  of  the  most 
active  lawyers  in  that  place,  and  a  most  influential  citizen.  His  profes 
sional  learning  was  highly  respectable,  but  his  great  strength  lay  in  his 
eloquence  before  a  jury.  Here,  as  Senator  Howard  informed  the  writer,  he 
was  highly  distinguished — recognized  by  all  his  associates  as  an  ingenious 
and  powerful  advocate  in  a  contested  case,  depending  upon  close  analysis 
of  testimony,  and  an  appeal  to  the  feelings.  On  such  occasions  he  showed 
great  power,  and  his  eloquence  was  enhanced  by  the  imposing  appearance 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  459 

of  his  person,  and  the  wonderful  music  of  his  voice.  Another  tribute  to  his 
ability  will  be  found  in  the  "Life  of  William  Woodbridge."  He  died  in 
Detroit  many  years  ago.  He  was  a  cousin,  we  believe,  of  General  Benja 
min  F.  Larned,  and  left  a  son,  who  is  a  well  known  lawyer  in  Detroit. 


LAKNED,  BENJAMIN  F. He  was  born  in  Massachusetts ;  entered  the 

army  as  an  Ensign  in  1813  ;  rose  within  one  year  to  the  rank  of  First 
Lieutenant,  and  as  such,  served  with  honor  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Erie,  under 
General  Gaines,  and  for  his  gallant  conduct  was  made  a  Captain  ;  soon 
after,  he  entered  the  Paymaster's  service ;  in  1847  was  made  Deputy  Pay 
master  General,  and  in  1854  became  the  Paymaster  General,  serving  his 
country  in  that  capacity  for  many  years  with  rare  fidelity.  A  large  pro 
portion  of  his  early  official  life  was  spent  in  Michigan,  and  among  the  older 
citizens  of  Detroit  will  always  be  remembered  with  peculiar  gratification. 
Charles  Larned,  long  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Detroit,  was  a  relative  of  his, 
(we  believe  his  cousin,)  and  he  had  two  sons  in  the  army,  one  of  whom 
distinguished  himself  as  an  officer  at  the  battle  of  Chepultepec  in  Mexico. 
He  died  in  Washington  City,  September  6, 1862,  lamented  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends. 


LA  SALLE,  ROBERT  CAVELIER. He 'was  born  at  Rouen,  France,  in 

1643,  came  of  a  wealthy  family  and  was  highly  educated.  He  arrived  in 
Canada  in  1666,  obtained  a  grant  of  land  which  he  named  Le  Chine,  by 
way  of  commemorating  his  pet  idea  that  he  was  to  discover  a  new  pathway 
across  the  continent  to  China.  In  1670  he  started  upon  his  discoveries,  spent 
much  of  his  time  on  the  soil  of  Michigan,  and  discovered  the  Ohio  and 
Illinois  rivers.  He  arrived  at  Detroit  in  1679,  in  his  sailing  vessel  called 
the  Griffin,  which  was  the  first  craft  of  the  kind  that  ever  plowed  the  waves 
of  Lake  Erie.  Her  burthen  was  sixty  tons,  and  she  carried  five  guns.  As  a 
reward  for  his  first  explorations,  La  Salle  was  made  a  nobleman  ;  he  sub 
sequently  performed  two  important  exploring  expeditions;  and  in  1687  was 
assassinated  on  Trinity  river  in  Texas.  The  filling  up  of  this  man's  life, 
constitutes  one  of  the  most  romantic  and  interesting  chapters  of  bold  ex 
ploits  and  wild  adventure,  blended  with  disappointments  and  hardships, 
which  can  anywhere  be  found.  He  spent  800,000  francs  of  his  own  money, 
on  his  various  expeditions,  and  died  with  debts  amounting  to  100,000  livres. 
His  purpose  was  an  inspiration,  and  he  clung  to  it  with  a  certain  fanaticism 
of  devotion.  It  was  the  offspring  of  an  ambition  vast  and  comprehensive, 
yet  acting  in  the  interest  both  of  France  and  civilization.  The  family  bear 
ing  the  same  name,  which  settled  on  the  River  Raisin,  at  a  later  day,  was 
allied  to  that  of  the  great  discoverer. 


LAUGHTON,  JOHN  B. He  was  born  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  but  having 

at  an  early  day,  taken  up  his  residence  on  the  Canadian  side  of  the  Detroit 
river,  he  has  always  been  a  British  subject.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Kent 
Militia  in  1812 ;  and  from  Sandwich  he  saw  the  white  flag  which  proclaim 
ed  the  surrender  of  Detroit.  He  was  then  in  his  twenty-second  year.  .  He 
was  afterwards  engaged  in  the  affair  of  Long  Woods,  in  Canada  ;  also  at 
the  battle  of  Chippevva,  where  he  lost  a  brother ;  and  at  Niagara,  where  he 


460  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

was  captured  and  taken  as  a  prisoner  to  Greenbush,  opposite  Albany.     At 
the  present  writing  lie  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Sandwich. 


LAWRENCE,  WOLCOTT. He  was  born  in  Berkshire  county,  Massa 
chusetts,  in  1786,  and  was  among  the  earliest  settlers  on  the  River  Raisin, 
arriving  there  in  1816,  where  he  was  for  many  years  an  able  and  success 
ful  lawyer,  for  which  profession  he  had  prepared  himself  before  leaving 
Massachusetts.  There  were  times,  however,  when  the  law  business  was  stag 
nant,  and  then  it  was  that  he  turned  some  attention  to  the  manufacture  of 
flour.  He  served  a  number  of  terms  in  the  State  Legislature;  held  the 
oiiice  of  Judge ;  and  during  his  long  and  very  active  career,  worked  quite 
as  hard  for  tiie  public  weal  as  for  his  own  advantage,  and  he  died  at  Mon 
roe  in  April,  1843.  One  of  his  daughters,  who  was  the  first  American  child 
born  in  Monroe,  became  the  wife  of  Alpheus  Felch,  and  he  left  a  number 
of  sous,  one  of  whom  served  with  credit  in  the  army  during  the  late  rebel 
lion  ;  while  another,  Edwin  Lawrence,  became  a  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court 
of  the  State.  By  his  ability  and  high  moral  character  he  exerted  a  happy 
influence  upon  the  community,  where  he  was  always  highly  honored.  He 
participated  with  Musgrove  Evans  and  Charles  J.  Lanman  in  founding  the 
town  of  Tecumseh,  in  1824;  and  in  conjunction  with  Daniel  S.  Bacon, 
erected  the  first  frame  house  ever  built  in  Monroe. 


LEFEVERE,  PETER  PAUL. He  was  born  in  Roulers,  Belgium,  near 

Ghent,  in  May,  1804 ;  after  passing  through  a  course  of  theological  studies 
he  offered  himself  to  the  American  mission,  and  was  ordained  a  Roman 
Catholic  priest  at  St.  Louis  in  1831 ;  after  laboring  in  that  region  for  eight 
years  he  visited  Europe,  and  in  1841  was  appointed  Bishop  of  Zela  in  part, 
coadjutor  administrator  of  the  diocess  of  Detroit,  and  was  consecrated  in 
November  of  that  year.  His  administration  as  Catholic  Bishop  of  Michi 
gan  extended  through  a  period  of  twenty-eight  years,  until  his  death  in 
Detroit,  March  4, 1869.  His  immediate  predecessor  as  Bishop  was  Fredric 
Rese,  who  held  the  office  from  1833  to  l!S40;  while  the  administration  of 
Gabriel  Richard  (elsewhere  mentioned  in  this  volume)  extended  back  to 
the  year  1799  ;  and  the  successor  of  Bishop  Lefevere  was  C.  H.  Borgess, 
who  entered  upon  his  duties  in  May,  1870.  The  work  accomplished  by 
Bishop  Lefevere,  for  his  church  was  perhaps  more  extensive,  but  not  more 
important  than  that  performed  by  Bishop  Richard.  Leaving  out  of  view 
the  See  of  Marquette,  it  appears  that  within  the  diocess  of  Detroit  there 
are  now  one  hundred  and  sixty  organized  parishes,  in  the  city  itself,  not  less 
than  eight  churches,  and  among  the  institutions  founded  by  the  late  Bishop 
are  the  following:  St.  Mary's  Hospital,  the  Michigan  State  Retreat,  the 
College  of  Lourain,  together  with  several  orphan  asylums,  convents,  acade 
mies  and  schools,  while  his  administration  of  the  merely  temporal  affairs 
of  the  church  within  the  State  became  pre-eminently  successful.  In  his 
day  he  traversed  the  State  from  one  extremity  to  another,  making  long 
journeys  in  his  cause,  and  administering  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  his  people 
among  the  Indian  tribes  and  miners  of  Lake  Superior.  By  way  of  show 
ing  his  disinterested  character,  it  has  been  said  of  him,  that  his  death 
brought  no  profit  to  his  kindred. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  461 

LEWIS,  WILLIAM. He  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  entered  the  army 

from  that  State  as  a  Captain  in  1791 ;  was  with  General  St.  Clair  in  his 
expedition  against  the  Indians  on  the  Miami ;  and  resigned  his  commission 
in  1797.  On  the  renewal  of  hostilities  in  1812  he  took  charge  of  a  Ken 
tucky  regiment  of  volunteers  as  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  was  with  General 
Winchester  in  his  operations  in  Michigan ;  and  served  with  credit  in  the 
action  against  the  British  and  Indians  at  Frenchtown,  in  1813,  but  was  un 
fortunate  in  being  taken  prisoner,  with  General  Winchester  and  Major 
Madison,  and  transported  to  Quebec,  where  he  was  retained  until  1814, 
when  a  general  exchange  of  prisoners  took  place.  He  was  subsequently 
on  duty  in  Arkansas,  and  died  near  Little  Rock,  January  17,  1825. 


LEACH,  DE   WITT   C. Born  in  Clarence,  Erie  County,  New  York, 

November  23,  1822.  He  was  self-educated  ;  bred  a  farmer ;  chosen  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Michigan  Legislature  in  1849  and  1850,  and  a  member  of  the 
Convention  to  revise  the  State  Constitution  in  1850 ;  he  was  also  State 
Librarian  in  1855  and  1856,  and  was  elected  a  Representative  to  the  Thirty- 
fifth  Congress  from  Michigan,  serving  as  a  member  of  the  Committee  on 
Revisal  and  Unfinished  Business ;  also  elected  to  the  Thirty-sixth  Congress, 
serving  on  the  Committee  on  Indian  Affairs.  After  leaving  Congress  he 
was  appointed  an  agent  for  the  Indians  of  Michigan,  and  subsequently 
published  some  interesting  papers  on  the  soil,  climate,  and  productions  of 
the  northern  part  of  the  Lower  Peninsula  of  Michigan. 


LONGYEAR,  JOHN  W. He  was  born  in  Shandaken,  Ulster  county, 

New  York,  October  22, 1820 ;  received  a  good  academic  education  ;  removed 
to  Michigan  in  1844 ;  studied  law,  and  came  to  the  bar  in  1846 ;  and  was 
elected  a  Representative  from  Michigan  to  the  Thirty-eighth  Congress,  serv 
ing  on  the  Committee  on  Commerce,  and  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Expenditures  on  the  Public  Buildings.  Re-elected  to  the  Thirty-ninth  Con 
gress,  serving  on  the  same  committees  ;  he  was  also  a  Delegate  to  the  Phil 
adelphia  "  Loyalist's  Convention  "  of  1866.  In  1870  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Grant  United  States  Judge  for  the  Southern  District  of  Michigan. 


LOOMIS,  CYRUS  O. He  was  educated  for  the  bar;    and  when  the 

rebellion  commenced  was  practicing  his  profession  in  Cold  Water.  As 
already  stated  in  this  volume,  he  greatly  distinguished  himself  as  an  officer 
of  artillery ;  and  what  proved  to  be  one  of  the  most  heroic  fighting  batte 
ries  of  the  war  was  honored  with  his  name.  He  rose  to  the  rank  of  Brig 
adier-General  ;  and  the  writer  regrets  that  he  cannot  give  the  particulars 
of  his  life. 


LOVELL,  Louis  S. He  was  born  in  Grafton,  Windham  County,  Ver 
mont,  November  15,  1816  ;  after  due  preparation  he  entered  Middlebury 
College,  where  he  graduated  in  1832 ;  and  then  he  went  South  and  taught 
school  until  1838.  He  then  read  law  in  Springfield,  Vermont,  and  also  in 
New  York  City,  and  removed  to  the  West  in  1841,  locating  himself  in 


462  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Ionia,  Michigan.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1842 ;  and  in  1849  he 
was  appointed  by  President  Taylor  Register  of  the  General  Land  Office  at 
Ionia,  which  he  held  until  the  accession  of  President  Pierce.  In  1857  he 
was  elected  Circuit  Judge  of  the  Eighth  Judicial  Circuit  of  Michigan  for 
six  years  ;  re-elected  in  1863  for  a  second  term  ;  and  in  1869  was  re-elected 
for  a  third  term,  the  party  opposed  to  him  declining  to  make  any  nomina 
tion.  Although  earnestly  devoted  to  his  judicial  duties,  he  finds  time  to 
participate  in  the  local  affairs  of  his  town,  and  is  Vice  President  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Ionia,  where  he  resides. 


LYON,  Lucius. — He  was  born  in  Vermont,  but  emigrated  to  Michigan 
when  quite  a  young  man ;  devoted  himself  for  a  number  of  years  to  the 
business  of  surveying  the  wild  lands  of  the  Territory ;  was  a  Delegate  in 
Congress  from  that  Territory,  during  the  years  1833,  1834,  and  1835 ;  ap 
pointed  a  Regent  of  the  State  University  in  1837 ;  was  a  Senator  iii  Con 
gress  from  the  State  of  Michigan  from  1<S36  to  1840;  and  a  Representative 
in  Congress  from  1843  to  1845.  His  last  public  position  was  that  of  Sur 
veyor-General  in  the  North-west.  Died  at  Detroit,  September  25,  1851. 
He  left  a  son  who  served  in  the  army  during  a  part  of  the  Rebellion,  and 
subsequently  became  honorably  identified  with  the  Press  of  Detroit ;  and 
before  entering  Congress  he  had  himself  edited  the  Democratic  Expounder  in 
Marshall. 


MACK,  STEPHEN  AND  ANDREW. — The  first  of  these  worthy  men  located 
himself  in  Detroit  as  early  as  the  year  1799,  and  was  the  pioneer  merchant 
of  the  town.  Soon  after  his  arrival,  he  erected  with  true  Yankee  enterprise 
a  shanty  in  the  heart  of  the  place,  and  spread  out  his  goods  to  the  admir 
ing  gaze  of  thronging  customers.  He  was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  and 
had  performed  military  duty.  In  1819  he  participated  with  other  Detroit 
citizens  in  building  the  first  grain  and  saw  mills  in  Pontiac.  He  was  the 
father,  as  we  have  been  informed,  of  Andrew  Mack,  who  was  bred  a  sea 
man,  was  a  Superintendent  of  Light  Houses,  Collector  of  Customs  for  the 
Port  of  Detroit  for  many  years,  and  in  1834  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city 
for  the  unexpired  term  of  Charles  C.  Trowbridge,  who  had  resigned.  He 
died  in  1854  at  an  a*dvanced  age. 


MACOMB,  ALEXANDER. — He  was  the  son  of  William  Macomb,  a  fur  mer 
chant  in  Detroit,  where  he  was  born  on  the  third  of  April,  1782.  On  his 
mother's  side  he  was  descended  from  the  Navarre  family  of  the  River  Rai 
sin.  After  receiving  a  good  education  in  New  Jersey,  was  a  member  of  the 
"New  York  Rangers,"  a  volunteer  corps  raised  in  1779;  was  on  the  staff* 
of  General  North  in  the  Revolution ;  subsequently  made  himself  useful  as 
a  dragoon;  he  was  with  General  Wilkinson  in  the  South-west;  was  for  a 
time  connected  with  West  Point,  where  he  compiled  a  treatise  on  martial 
law;  became  a  Captain  in  1805;  a  Major  in  1808  ;  had  command  of  an 
artillery  corps  in  1812;  and  after  many  creditable  exploits  won  special 
honor  at  the  battle  of  Plattsburg  for  which  he  received  the  thanks  of  Con 
gress  with  a  gold  medal.  After  the  war,  he  was  stationed  at  Detroit  for 
many  years ;  in  1821  he  was  made  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Army,  and  re- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  463 

moved  to  Washington ;  and  in  1835  he  was  elevated  to  the  position  of  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  of  the  Army  of  the  United  States.  He  died  in  Washing 
ton  June  25,  1841 ;  was  buried  with  military  honors,  (all  of  which  he  de 
served,)  in  the  Congressional  Cemetery,  and  his  resting  place  was  soon 
marked  by  a  handsome  marble  manument.  He  was  a  pure  and  accom 
plished  gentleman,  as  well  as  an  able  officer,  and  had  unnumbered  friends 
in  the  National  Metropolis  as  well  as  the  State  of  his  nativity.  He  was 
the  author  of  a  "  Treatise  on  Martial  Law  and  Courts  Martial  as  prac 
ticed  in  the  United  States,"  published  in  1809. 


MACOMB,  WILLIAM  H. He  is  the  son  of  Alexander  Macomb,  and  was 

born  in  Detroit,  Michigan.  In  1834  he  was  appointed  a  Midshipman  in 
the  Navy  from  New  York;  became  a  Passed-midshipman  in  1840  ;  and  a 
Lieutenant  in  1847.  After  continuous  service  in  several  parts  of  the  world 
for  nine  years,  he  was  attached  to  the  Portsmouth  frigate,  and  participated 
in  the  capture  of  the  Barrier  Forts,  in  the  Canton  river  in  1856,  when  he 
was  made  a  Lieutenant;  in  1859  he  had  command  of  the  steamer  Metacomet 
on  the  Brazil  station;  in  1860  he  was  transferred  to  the  steamer  Pulaski ; 
in  1862  he  sailed  in  the  Genessee  of  the  blockading  squadron  ;  was  made 
Commander  in  1862,  and  performed  much  arduous  duty  at  Port  Hudson  ; 
and  during  the  years  1864  and  '65,  he  had  command  of  the  steamer  Sham 
rock,  and  for  gallantry  on  the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  was  advanced  sev 
eral  numbers  in  the  Navy  Register.  After  the  war,  he  was  stationed  at  the 
Philadelphia  Navy  Yard,  and  in  1869,  was  attached  to  the  Squadron  in 
European  waters. 


MADISON,  GEORGE. He  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1763,  and  while  quite 

a  mere  boy,  was  a  good  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  He  commanded  a  com 
pany  under  General  St.  Clair  in  the  Northwest,  and  was  wounded  ;  was 
Lieutenant  of  a  company  of  mounted  volunteers,  under  Major  John  Adair 
of  Kentucky ;  was  wounded  in  an  attack  upon  the  Indians  at  Fort  St.  Clair 
in  1792  ;  \vas  a  Major  of  Kentucky  volunteers  under  General  Winchester, 
and  with  Colonel  Lewis  in  the  battle  with  the  British  and  Indians  at  French- 
town,  and  also  in  the  defeat  on  the  River  Raisin  in  1813,  when  he  was  cap 
tured,  and  with  Winchester  and  Lewis  sent  a  prisoner  to  Quebec ;  but  was 
released  in  1814.  He  was  for  many  years  Auditor  of  public  accounts  in 
Kentucky.  In  1816  he  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Governor,  and  was  so 
popular  and  beloved,  that  his  opponent  withdrew  in  the  heat  of  the  canvass, 
and  he  was  duly  elected;  but  died  on  the  14th  of  October  of  the  same  year 
at  Paris,  in  Kentucky. 


MAYHEW,  IRA. He  was  born  in  Ellesburgh,  Jefferson  County,  New 

York,  in  1814;  after  receiving  a  classical  education,  he  became  a  school 
teacher  in  1832 ;  in  1836  he  visited  Newfoundland  for  the  benefit  of  his 
health;  on  his  return  in  1837  became  Principal  of  Adam's  Seminary; 
in  1841  Superintendent  of  the  Jefferson  County  schools;  and  in  1843  he 
removed  to  Michigan,  and  took  charge  of  the  Monroe  Branch  of  the  State 
University.  In  1845  he  was  elected  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction; 
in  1848  received  the  degree  of  M.  A.  from  Middletown  University;  and  in 


464  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

1850  he  published  a  work  entitled  "Means  and  Ends  of  Universal  Educa 
tion  ;"  in  1851  a  work  on  Practical  Book-keeping,  which  went  through  sixty 
editions  in  ten  years.  In  1853  he  was  appointed  President  of  Albion  Col 
lege  ;  in  1854  he  was  again  elected  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction, 
and,  altogether,  held  the  office  for  eight  years;  in  1860  he  established  what 
was  called  the  Albion  Commercial  College;  in  1862  he  was  appointed  Col 
lector  of  Internal  Kevenue  for  the  United  States;  and  then  tiring  of  that 
kind  of  employment,  resigned  the  position,  and  returned  to  the  management 
of  his  Commercial  College,  in  which  he  is  still  engaged. 


MARQUETTE,  JACQUES. He  was  born  at  Laon,  France,  in  1637;  in  his 

seventeenth  year  he  joined  the  order  of  Jesuits;  and  in  1666  was  sent  as  a 
missionary  to  Canada.  Having  a  taste  for  language,  he  soon  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  six  Indian  dialects,  and  in  1668  entered  upon  his  duties  in 
the  country  of  the  Great  Lakes.  Mackinaw  and  La  Pointe,  on  Lake  Su 
perior,  were  each  his  home  for  a  time,  after  which  he  accompanied  Joliet  in 
his  discoveries,  visiting  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers,  preaching  in  far- 
off  Arkansas,  and  founding  a  mission  at  Kaskaskia;  and  having  died  on  his 
return  from  these  extensive  labors  on  the  river  which  now  bears  his  name, 
he  was,  after  some  delay,  buried  with  much  ceremony  on  the  Island  of 
Mackinaw.  The  ruling  idea  of  his  mind  was  an  extravagant  affection  for 
the  Virgin  Mary,  and  this  peculiarity,  blended  with  his  many  noble  quali 
ties  as  a  man,  won  the  sympathy  of  those  who  knew  him,  and  made  him  a 
universal  favorite.  A  journal  of  his  adventures,  and  a  map  of  the  North 
west  which  he  designed,  have  been  published  and  found  useful  and  interest 
ing  to  the  historical  writers  of  this  country.  The  date  of  his  death  was 
May  18,  1675,  and  it  is  said  that  his  last  words,  were  expressive  of  his  grati 
tude  to  Heaven,  because  he  was  about  to  die  in  peace,  a  Jesuit,  a  mission 
ary,  and  alone. 


MARTIN,  GEORGE. He  was  born  in  Middlebury,  Vermont,  in  1825; 

acquired  a  good  education,  and  having  adopted  the  profession  of  law,  re 
moved  to  Michigan  and  settled  at  Grand  Rapids.  After  holding  a  number 
of  local  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  he  was  elected  a  Judge  of  the  Su 
preme  Court  of  the  State,  and  was  for  several  years  the  Chief  Justice.  He 
died  in  Detroit,  December  15,  1867. 


MASON,  STEVENS  THOMSON. He  was  the  son  of  General  John  Mason 

of  Kentucky,  but  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1812.  When  nineteen  years  of 
age  he  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  performing 
also  the  duties  of  Governor,  and  when  the  State  was  admitted  into  the 
Union,  he  was  elected  its  first  Governor,  and  re-elected  to  the  position  in 
which  he  served  with  credit  to  himself,  and  to  the  advantage  of  the  people. 
He  died  January  4,  1843. 


MAY,  JAMES. He  was  a  native  of  England  and  settled  in  Detroit 

in  1778.     The  compiler  regrets  that  he   cannot  furnish  the  particulars 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  465 

of  this  judicial  pioneer,  who  was  for  many  years  honorably  identified 
with  the  early  history  of  Michigan.  He  was  a  Colonel  of  Militia;  was 
appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  about  the  year  1800; 
held  the  office  for  seven  years ;  and  died  in  January,  1829.  A  good  por 
trait  of  him  may  be  found  in  the  "  Early  History  of  Michigan,"  by  E.  M. 
Sheldon.  When  the  American  Flag  was  hauled  down,  by  order  of  Hull 
when  he  surrendered  Detroit,  Colonel  May  got  possession  of  the  flag,  and 
keeping  it  in  a  safe  place  until  the  arrival  of  General  Harrison,  he  hoisted 
it  again  to  the  breeze.  An  account  which  was  published  from  his  pen, 
respecting  the  condition  of  Detroit  in  1778,  is  a  document  of  very  great 
interest  and  value. 


MEIGS,  RETURN  J. He  was  born  in  Middletown,  Connecticut,  in  1765 ; 

graduated  at  Yale  College;  and  adopted  the  profession  of  law,  which  he 
began  to  practice  in  his  native  town.  In  1^02  he  was  chosen  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Connecticut ;  in  1804  President  Jefferson  appointed 
him  commandant  of  United  States  troops  and  militia  in  Upper  Louisiana, 
and  soon  afterwards  he  became  one  of  the  Judges  of  that  Territory.  In 
1807  he  was  commissioned  a  Judge  in  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  which  he 
resigned  in  1808,  and  was  elected  Governor  of  Ohio,  which  election  was 
declared  invalid,  as  he  had  not  resided  the  required  time  in  the  new  State. 
He  was  at  once  chosen  a  Senator  in  Congress,  where  he  served  from  1808  to 
1810 ;  and  he  was  Governor  of  Ohio  from  1810  until  1814,  and  by  his  co 
operation  with  General  Harrison,  did  much  to  help  the  American  cause  in 
Michigan  against  the  operations  of  the  British.  In  1814  he  was  appointed 
to  take  charge  of  the  General  Post  Office  Department  in  Washington,  where 
he  remained  until  1823,  and  in  which  position  his  services  were  important. 
He  died  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  March  29, 1825.  His  singular  name  is  accounted 
for  as  follows:  When  his  mother  was  a  girl,  and  had  discarded  her  lover, 
Jonathan  Meigs,  she  suddenly  repented  her  conduct,  and  running  to  the 
door,  called  out,  "Return  Jonathan!  Return  Jonathan!"  He  did  return, 
and  they  were  married,  and  their  first  child  they  thought  proper  to  identify 
with  this  domestic  joke. 


McAimnjR,  DUNCAN. He  was  born  in  Duchess  County,  New  York, 

in  1772.  When  he  was  eight  years  of  age  he  removed  with  his  father  to 
Pennsylvania,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  volunteered  in  defence  of  the 
frontier  settlement  of  Ohio  against  the  Indians.  He  studied  surveying,  and 
acquired  great  wealth  in  the  business  of  buying  and  selling  lands  in  addi 
tion  to  surveying  them.  In  1805  he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  and 
in  1806  was  appointed  Colonel,  and  in  1808  Major-General  of  Militia.  He 
performed  valuable  services  during  the  war  of  1813,  especially  within  the 
limits  of  Michigan,  in  which  he  held  a  General's  commission,  and  although 
elected  to  Congress  in  1812,  declined  leaving  his  command;  in  1815  was 
again  a  member  of  the  Legislature  ;  in  1816  was  appointed  Commissioner 
to  conclude  treaties  with  the  Indians ;  from  1817  to  1819  was  in  the  Legis 
lature,  and  Speaker  of  the  House  in  1815.  He  was  a  Representative  in 
Congress  from  Ohio  from  1823  to  1825,  and  in  1830  was  chosen  Governor 
of  the  State,  which  position  he  held  until  1833,  and  while  in  that  service 
met  with  an  accident,  from  the  effects  of  which,  he  never  recovered. 
2  D 


466  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

MCCLELLAND,  ROBERT. Born  in  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 

1807.  He  graduated  at  Dickinson  College ;  practiced  law  for  a  year  or  so 
in  Pittsburg,  and  in  1833  removed  to  Michigan,  and  established  himself  at 
Monroe,  where  his  practice  for  many  years  was  particularly  successful. 
He  served  for  several  years  in  the  Legislature  of  that  State,  and  was  a  Rep 
resentative  in  Congress  from  1843  to  1849.  He  was  Governor  of  Michigan 
in  1852  and  1853  ;  and  in  1853  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Interior 
Department  by  President  Pierce,  the  duties  of  which  position  he  performed 
with  recognized  ability  until  1857.  He  subsequently  settled  in  Detroit  and 
practiced  his  profession  there.  In  1870  he*  made  a  visit  to  Europe  for  the 
benefit  of  his  health. 


McCosKRY,  SAMUEL  ALLEN. He  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania, 

November  9,  1804,  and  was  the  sou  of  Dr.  Samuel  A.  McCoskry,  an  emi 
nent  physician  of  that  place,  and  grandson  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Nisbet, 
called  by  the  trustees  of  Dickinson  College  to  be  its  first  President.  After 
receiving  the  ordinary  school  education,  he  was  appointed  a  cadet  in  the 
United  States  Military  Academy,  and  numbered  among  the  five  distin 
guished  cadets  of  the  first  year ;  he  resigned  in  the  Spring  of  his  second 
year,  and  entered  Dickinson  College.  He  passed  through  the  regular 
course  in  two  years  and  three  months,  and  was  numbered  fourth  in  his  class. 
After  he  was  graduated  he  read  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  his 
native  town  when  twenty-one  years  of  age.  At  the  close  of  his  first  year  at 
the  bar  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Attorney  General  of  the  County  of  Cum 
berland,  which  office  he  held  two  years.  He  remained  at  the  bar  six  years, 
and  then  became  a  candidate  for  Holy  Orders  in  the  Episcopal  Church, 
and  studied  Divinity  under  Bishop  Onderdouk,  of  Pennsylvania.  At  the 
close  of  one  year  he  was  ordained  a  Deacon,  and  was  called  as  the  Rector 
of  Christ  Church,  Reading,  Peim.  He  received  Priest's  orders  during  that 
rectorship,  which  continued  one  year.  He  was  then  called  to  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Philadelphia,  where  he  remained  two  years.  He  was  appointed 
first  Bishop  of  Michigan  by  the  House  of  Bishops,  and  was  consecrated  in 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Philadelphia,  July  9,  1836.  He  was  also  called  to  St. 
Paul's  Church,  in  Detroit.  He  entered  upon  his  duties  as  Bishop  and  Rec 
tor,  and  held  the  latter  office  twenty-seven  years.  As  the  fund  for  the  office 
of  Bishop  was  thought  sufficient  for  his  support,  he  resigned  the  rectorship, 
and  devoted  his  energies  to  the  Episcopal  office.  He  had  originally  four  cler 
gymen  in  his  diocess,  but  now  there  are  eight  parishes  in  Detroit  alone,  inclu 
ding  missionary  stations,  and  seventy-four  clergymen  in  the  diocess,  and 
eighty-one  parishes.  The  Right-Reverend  Bishop  is  not  only  n  Doctor  of 
Divinity,  but  also  a  Doctor  of  Laws,  the  latter  conferred  upon  him  by  the 
University  of  Oxford. 


MCKENNEY,  THOMAS  LORRAINE. He  was  born  at  Hopewell,  near 

Chestertown,  Maryland,  March  21,  1785 ;  received  a  good  education  at 
Washington  College,  in  Chestertown,  and  was  bred  a  merchant,  which  busi 
ness  he  followed  in  Georgetown,  D.  C.  In  1816  he  was  appointed  by  Pres 
ident  Madison  Superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  ;  in  1824  he  was  appointed 
to  preside  over  the  Bureau  of  Indian  Affairs,  then  for  the  first  time  organ 
ized  in  connection  with  the  War  Department ;  and  in  1826  he  was  appointed 
a  special  commissioner  with  Lewis  Cass  to  negotiate  an  important  treaty 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  467 

with  the  Chippeway  Indians  at  Fond  du  Lac,  in  the  Territory  of  Michigan. 
In  1827  he  published  a  "  Tour  to  the  Lakes,"  with  illustrations,  in  which 
are  many  graphic  sketches  of  Michigan  life  and  scenery  ;  and  he  also  orig 
inated  and  published  in  conjunction  with  James  Hall,  "  History  of  the 
Indian  Tribes,"  a  very  splendid  work,  in  three  folio  volumes,  and  illustrated 
with  one  hundred  and  twenty  colored  Indian  portraits.  He  also  published 
in  1846  two  additional  volumes,  "  Memoirs,  Official  and  Personal,  with 
Sketches  of  Travel  among  the  Northern  and  Southern  Indians."  He  was  at 
one  time  a  Colonel  in  the  militia,  or  regular  army,  and  that  was  the  title  by 
which  he  was  generally  known.  In  his  manners  and  accomplishments  he 
was  a  gentleman  of  the  Old  School ;  and  his  personal  appearance  was  so 
imposing  that  the  famous  artist,  Charles  Loring  Elliott,  requested  him  to  sit 
for  his  picture,  when  was  produced  one  of  the  most  superb  portraits  ever 
painted  in  this  country,  and  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  James  C. 
McGuire,  of  Washington.  Colonel  McKenney  died  in  New  York  City  Feb 
ruary  19th,  1859.  In  1823  an  effort  was  made  by  interested  parties  to 
injure  his  fair  fame;  and  a  speech  or  defence  that  he  made  before  a  com 
mittee  of  Congress  greatly  increased  his  reputation  for  ability;  and  that  his 
enemies  were  unsuccessful  was  proven  by  his  continuance  in  the  public  ser 
vice  in  a  higher  sphere  than  that  he  had  previously  occupied. 


McKENZiE,  ALEXANDER. This  man  was  a  native  of  Inverness  in 

Scotland  ;  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  as  a  fur-trader  in  the  wilds  of 
Canada;  and  in  1801  he  published,  in  London,  an  extensive  work  entitled 
"  Voyages  from  Montreal,  on  the  River  St.  Lawrence  through  the  Continent 
of  America,  to  the  Frozen  and  Pacific  Oceans,  in  the  years  1789  and  1793." 
For  his  services  as  an  explorer,  and  for  discovering  the  great  river  which 
bears  his  name,  he  received  a  title  from  his  Government;  but  with  all  the 
honors  showered  upon  his  head,  he  did  not  scruple,  on  one  occasion,  to  visit 
Detroit,  dressed  and  painted  like  a  common  savage,  for  the  purpose  of  insti 
gating  the  neutral  Indians  to  become  the  allies  of  his  Government,  and  the 
enemies  of  the  American  Republic.  He  played  the  part  of  a  savage  so 
well,  that  he  partially  succeeded  in  his  trickery;  and  he  died  as  Sir  Alex 
ander  McKenzie  in  1820. 


MCKNIGHT,  SHELDON. He  was  the  founder  of  the  Detroit  Free  Press 

in  1^29,  which  soon  became,  and  has  ever  continued,  to  be  the  leading  organ 
of  the  Democratic  party  in  the  State  of  Michigan.  He  was  at  one  time 
Postmaster  of  Detroit  for  several  years ;  reputed  a  man  of  ability ;  and 
prior  to  his  death,  was  engaged  in  the  Lake  Superior  shipping  interest,  and 
constructed  the  marine  railway  at  the  Saute  de  Ste.  Marie,  over  which  the 
first  vessels  that  ever  navigated  Lake  Superior  were  transported.  Died  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  in  July,  1860. 


McLEAN,  JOHN. As  his  judicial  powers  extended  over  the  State  of 

Michigan,  from  the  time  it  was  admitted  into  the  Union  until  his  death, 
it  is  entirely  proper  that  his  services  should  be  recorded  in  this  volume. 
He  was  born  in  Morris  County,  New  Jersey,  in  1785.  Four  years  after 
his  birth  his  father  emigrated  with  his  family  to  Virginia,  whence  he  re- 


468  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

moved  to  Kentucky,  and  finally  settled  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  Here  the 
son  received  a  scanty  education  ;  and,  having  determined  to  pursue  the 
legal  profession,  he  engaged  at  the  age  of  eighteen  to  write  in  the  Clerk's 
office  at  Cincinnati,  in  order  to  maintain  himself,  by  devoting  a  portion  of 
his  time  to  that  labor,  while  engaged  in  his  studies.  In  1807  he  was  admit 
ted  to  the  bar,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  the  law  at  Lebanon,  Ohio. 
In  1812  he  became  a  candidate  to  represent  his  district  in  Congress,  and 
was  elected  by  a  large  majority.  He  professed  the  political  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party,  being  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  war,  and  of  Presi 
dent  Madison's  administration.  In  1814  he  was  again  elected  to  Congress 
by  a  unanimous  vote — a  circumstance  of  rare  occurrence — and  remained 
a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  until  1816,  when,  the  Legisla 
ture  of  Ohio  having  elected  him  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State, 
he  resigned  his  seat  in  Congress  at  the  close  of  the  session.  He  remained 
six  years  upon  the  Supreme  Bench  of  Ohio.  In  1822  he  was  appointed 
Commissioner  of  the  General  Land  Office  by  President  Monroe;  and  in 
1823  he  became  Postmaster-General.  In  the  year  1S29  he  was  appointed 
by  President  Jackson,  a  Justice  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court,  after 
he  had  refused  the  offer  of  the  War  and  Navy  Departments.  He  entered 
upon  the  discharge  of  his  judicial  duties  at  the  January  term  of  1830,  and 
died  in  Cincinnati,  April  4,  1861. 


MILLER,  DAN  B. He  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  among  the 

earliest  emigrants  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  and  settled  in  Monroe  in 
1823.  As  n  merchant  and  a  devoted  friend  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  he  exercised  an  important  influence  for  many  years  in  the  village 
and  city  of  Monroe,  where  he  held  the  office  of  Receiver  of  Public  Moneys 
for  the  General  Land  Office  for  several  years,  and  where  he  died  in  1850, 
lamented  by  a  large  circle  of  devoted  friends.  He  left  two  sons,  Van 
Home  and  Sidney,  the  first  a  resident  of  Monroe,  and  the  second  a  lawyer 
in  Detroit. 


MINTY,  ROBERT  H.  G. He  was  born  in  Mayo,  Ireland,  December  4, 

1831 ;  entered  the  British  army  in  1*49  as  an  Ensign  ;  served  five  years  in 
the  West  Indies,  Honduras,  and  on  the  coast  of  Africa  ;  in  1853  he  retired 
from  the  English  service  and  came  to  America.  When  the  rebellion  com 
menced  he  was  a  citizen  of  Michigan ;  joined  the  Third  Cavalry  as  Major, 
at  Grand  Rapids,  in  1861,  and  soon  became  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  he  next 
became  Colonel  of  the  Fourth  Cavalry,  and  afterwards  commanded  a  brig 
ade;  and,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  preceding  pages,  acquited  himself  with 
great  ability  on  many  battle-fields.  The  fact  that  it  was  his  regiment  which 
captured  Jefferson  Davis,  will  long  be  remembered  by  the  people  of  Michi 
gan,  but  that  exploit  was  only  one,  of  very  many,  that  the  regiment  per 
formed  in  its  long  and  arduous  career. 


MIZNER,  JOHN  K. He  was  born  in  New  York,  but  appointed  from 

Michigan  to  the  West  Point  Academy,  where  he  graduated  in  1856.  His 
first  service  was  rendered  at  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania;  in  1857  he  was  assigned 
to  the  Second  Dragoons  as  Second  Lieutenant ;  and  was  on  duty  in  Kansas 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  469 

and  the  neighboring  frontiers.  In  1861  he  was  appointed  a  Captain  in  the 
Second  Cavalry ;  in  1862  was  made  Colonel  of  the  Third  Cavalry  of  Mich 
igan;  was  made  Major  in  1-^62  for  services  at  the  battle  of  Corinth  ;  and 
in  1863  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel,  for  heroic  conduct  at  Panola,  Missis 
sippi.  In  1865  he  was  appointed  a  Brigadier-General  by  brevet  of  volun 
teers,  for  his  meritorious  services  during  the  rebellion.  In  1866  he  was 
mustered  out  of  the  volunteer  service;  and  was  subsequently  assigned  to 
duty  on  the  frontiers  and  in  Nebraska,  according  to  his  Rank  in  the  Regular 
Army. 


MORRELL,  GEORGE. He  was  born  in  Lenox,  Massachusetts,  in 

graduated  at  Williams'  College;  was  a  United  States  Judge  for  the  Terri 
tory  of  Michigan ;  subsequently  an  Associate  Justice,  and  in  1842  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State ;  and  died  in  Detroit  in  March, 
1845. 


MOSELEY,  JONATHAN  OGDEN. Born  at   East  Haddom,  Middlesex 

County,  Connecticut ;  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  in  17^0 ;  and  a  Rep 
resentative  in  Congress,  from  his  native  State,  from  1805  to  1821.  He  sub 
sequently  removed  to  Michigan,  with  which  he  became  identified  in  all 
his  family  and  business  interests,  and  died  at  Saginaw,  in  that  State,  Sep 
tember  9,  1839,  aged  seventy-seven  years. 


MUNDY,  EDWARD. He  was  among  the  earlier  emigrants  to  the  Terri 
tory  of  Michigan,  and  a  lawyer  by  profession.  He  was  the  first  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  the  State  under  the  first  State  Constitution  in  1835  and  1836, 
and  again  held  the  same  office  from  1837  to  1840 ;  in  1847  he  was  chosen 
Attorney-General,  which  office  he  only  held  until  1843,  when  he  was  made 
an  Associate  Justice  on  the  Supreme  Bench ;  and  from  1844  until  1848  he 
was  Regent,  by  appointment,  of  the  State  University.  He  died  in  Detroit 
in  1851. 


NAVARRE,  PETER. He  was  the  grand-son  of  Robert  Navarre,  a  French 

officer  who  came  to  America  in  1745  and  settled  at  Detroit,  where  he  was 
born  in  1790.  In  1807  the  whole  family  removed  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Maumee.  At  that  time,  the  widow  of  Pontiac  was  living  there  with  her 
son  Otussa.  She  was  very  old,  and  held  in  great  reverence.  Navarre  was 
at  the  Prophet's  town  on  the  Wabash  with  a  French  trader,  when  General 
Harrison  arrived  there,  just  before  the  battle  of  Tippe canoe,  but  escaped. 
He  joined  Hull's  army  at  the  Maumee  Rapids,  was  with  him  at  Detroit, 
and  after  the  surrender,  returned  to  the  Raisin  and  enlisted  in  Colonel  An 
derson's  regiment.  He  was  there  when  Brock  was  ordered  to  surrender, 
but  was  afterwards  compelled  to  go  with  the  British  as  a  guide  up  the 
Maumee,  where  he  deserted  and  joined  Winchester's  army.  He  was  an  eye 
witness  of  the  massacre  at  the  River  Raisin.  After  that  he  and  two  brothers, 
Francois  and  Antoine,  were  employed  as  scouts,  and  performed  excellent 
service,  he,  himself,  having  been  one  of  the  most  trusty  of  Harrison's  guides 
and  scouts.  The  brothers  were  for  many  years  among  the  most  respectable 


470  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

inhabitants  living  in  the  valley  of  the  River  Raisin.  As  late  as  1^67  the 
subject  of  this  notice  was  still  living  on  the  Maumee,  in  the  enjoyment  of 
a  peaceful  old  age. 


NEWBURY,  OLIVER. He  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  as  we  have 

been  informed,  and  emigrated  to  Michigan  about  the  year  1816,  locating  in 
Detroit,  where  he  was  for  many  years  a  successful  merchant.  But  it  was  as 
a  builder  of  steamboats  that  he  was  chiefly  known,  and  it  was  on  account 
of  the  splendor  of  his  vessels  and  the  number  of  lines  that  he  established, 
extending  throughout  the  length  of  all  the  Great  Lakes,  that  he  became 
popularly  known  as  "  the  steamboat  king."  He  was  a  plain  man  in  his 
life  and  manners,  and  his  business  sagacity  and  abilities  were  of  the  high 
est  order.  He  was  a  man  of  indomitable  enterprise,  and  far-seeing  in  his 
business  calculations.  It  was  said  of  him  that  for  many  years  he  carried 
all  his  business  papers  in  his  hat,  and  was  rarely  seen  uncovered.  He  was 
never  married,  and  was  the  brother  of  Walter  Newbury,  long  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Chicago ;  and  he  died  many  years  ago  in  Detroit,  leaving  a  name 
that  was  universally  respected  throughout  the  State. 


,  CHARLES. He  wras  born  in  Williamstown,  Massachusetts,  and 

emigrated  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan  in  1818,  locating  at  French  town,  on 
the  River  Raisin.  Having  received  a  liberal  education,  he  adopted  the 
profession  of  law,  and  was  for  nearly  half  a  century  one  of  the  most  influ 
ential  citizens  in  that  part  of  the  country,  where  he  held  a  great  number  of 
public  positions  of  a  local  character.  In  1824  he  was  appointed  Prosecu 
ting  Attorney,  and  held  the  office  several  years ;  was  also  Postmaster  of 
Monroe,  a  County  Judge,  Register  of  Probate,  and  Fund  Commissioner  for 
the  State.  In  1^25  and  '26  he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislative  Council; 
was  largely  interested  in  the  Michigan  Southern  Railroad,  one  of  its  pro 
jectors,  and  at  one  time  President  of  the  Company.  In  1^50  he  received 
from  President  Taylor  the  appointment  of  Surveyor  of  the  Territory  north 
west  of  the  Ohio,  holding  the  position  until  the  close  of  President  Fillmore's 
term.  Most  of  the  country  about  the  Upper  Lakes,  including  the  copper 
and  iron  regions,  were  surveyed  and  brought  into  market  under  his  admin 
istration  of  the  oflice,  besides  much  of  the  Lower  Peninsula ;  it  was  during 
that  time,  also,  that  the  solar  compass  was  brought  into  general  use,  and 
adopted  by  the  Government.  To  speak  in  general  terms,  he  was  always 
deeply  interested  in  the  settlement,  growth,  and  prosperity  of  Michigan  ;  in 
its  schools  and  other  institutions  of  learning,  and  in  the  moral  and  religious 
character  of  its  people;  and  as  a  leading  man  on  the  River  Raisin,  he  took 
an  active  part  in  all  the  canals  and  roads,  and  in  every  enterprise  connected 
with  the  well  being  and  prosperity  of  Monroe  and  the  State  generally.  He 
wras  followed  to  the  West  by  a  number  of  brothers,  all  of  whom  were  hon 
orably  identified  ^wth  the  State  of  Michigan  as  legislators  or  business  men. 
In  this  connection  we  may  remark  that  the  early  Anglo-Saxon  settlers  of 
Michigan,  who  congregated  on  the  River  Raisin,  as  a  body  of  men  were 
uncommonly  intelligent  and  cultivated,  and  exceedingly  enterprising. 
However  much  they  might  differ,  practically  or  otherwise,  on  general  sub 
jects,  they  were  always  alive  to  the  interests  of  Monroe,  and  in  that  partic 
ular  always  acted  as  a  unit,  and  lost  no  political  or  other  influence  to  which 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  471 

perfect  unanimity  of  thought  and  action  would  entitle  them.  They  pos 
sessed  a  commanding  influence  in  the  Legislature,  and  all  over  the  State, 
and  for  many  years  went  by  the  soubriquet  of  the  "  Independent  State  of 
Monroe" 


NOBLE,  DAVID  A. He  was  born  in  Massachusetts  ;  liberally  educa 
ted  ;  adopted  the  profession  of  law ;  and  on  removing  to  Michigan  was 
elected  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  that  State  from  1853  to  1855. 
Has  always  been  a  successful  practitioner  at  the  bar.  He  is  the  brother  of 
Charles  Noble,  mentioned  in  the  preceding  notice. 


NOBLE,  Louis  LEGRAND. He  was  born  in  Otsego  County,  New  York, 

in  1812;  in  1824  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan, 

who  located  themselves  on  the  River  Huron,  where  his  poetical  sensibilities 
were  stimulated  by  the  beauty  of  the  scenery  with  which  he  was  surrounded. 
He  was  educated  chiefly  at  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  in  New 
York,  and  in  1840  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church.  The  several  parishes  over  which  he  has  presided  were,  first,  in 
Elizabeth  City,  North  Carolina;  second,  Catskill,  New  York  ;  third,  Chi 
cago,  Illinois ;  and  lastly,  in  Hudson  City,  New  Jersey.  He  published  an 
Indian  poem  entitled  Ne-mah-min  about  the  year  1842,  the  scenes  of  which 
are  laid  in  Michigan  ;  in  1*57  he  published  a  volume  of  miscellaneous 
poems ;  and  his  best  productions  are  The  Cripple  Boy,  A  Ballad  of  the 
Ottawas,  and  Lines  to  a  Flying  Swan  in  the  Vale  of  the  Huron,  all  of  which 
are  associated  with  the  State  in  which  he  spent  his  boyhood.  He  is  also 
the  author  of  the  Life  of  Thomas  Cole,  the  famous  landscape  painter,  and 
also  of  a  delightful  volume  entitled  "After  Icebergs  with  a  Painter"  which 
commemorates  a  voyage  that  he  made  to  Labrador  with  another  famous 
landscape  painter,  Frederick  E.  Church.  Mr.  Noble's  attachment  to  Mich 
igan  is  so  strong  that  he  frequently  visits  the  State,  where  members  of  his 
family  still  continue  to  reside.  That  he  is  a  true  poet,  and  fully  appreci 
ates  the  grandeur  and  beauty  of  the  forests  of  Michigan,  may  be  readily 
Been  by  the  following  extract  from  the  "  Groves  of  the  River  Huron :" 

"  0,  I  am  glad  you  still  are  hand  in  hand 
In  the  grand  round  of  solitude  !     I  joy 
That  yet  in  your  magnificence  ye  move 
With  the  rich  summer  garlanded  ;  and  feel 
Ye  bear  for  me  a  welcome  on  your  brows. 
For  I  have  loved  you  from  a  very  boy 
With  a  most  tender  and  unfailing  love  ; 
Nay,  of  your  beauty  spoken  with  a  zeal 
That  has  begotten  many  a  wish  to  come 
And  kindle  cottage  (ires  beneath  your  green. 
And  here  I  own  that  I  have  never  gone 
Beyond  the  reach  of  your  broad  shadows;  never 
Beyond  the  music  of  your  rustling  ;  never 
Beyond  the  music  of  your  dropping  dews. 
Your  image  has  pursued  me  to  the  waves, 
Fleecing  the  rocks  with  whiteness  ;  to  the  clouds, 
Fleecing  the  mountain  summits  with  their  snow. 
I  own  it  here,  you  have  possess'd  me  so, 
So  cooled  and  shaded  me  in  feverish  dreams, 
So  haunted  me,  and  with  ray  feelings  wrought, 


472  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

In  gardens,  city  parks,  and  walks  embowered, 
That  I  no  less  could  do  than  seek  once  more 
Your  presence  and  your  blessing.     I  am  here, 
Thou  Gothic  forest,  to  be  young  again. 
A  benison,  ye  venerable  forms, 
0  shed  upon  me  from  your  outspread  hands  ! 
0  bless  me  with  my  boyhood  !     Be  to  me 
All  that  ye  were  !  " 


NORVELL,  JOHN. He  was  bred  a  printer;  was  for  a  time  the  editor 

of  a  newspaper  in  Philadelphia ;  was  appointed  by  President  Jackson  Post 
master  of  Detroit ;  and  having  become  identified  with  the  Territory  of 
Michigan,  became  one  of  the  Senators  in  Congress  from  the  new  State,  hav 
ing  served  in  that  capacity  from  its  admission  into  the  Union  until  1841. 
He  was  also  for  several  years  Attorney  for  the  State,  in  which  position  he 
acquitted  himself  with  ability;  and  in  1837  was  appointed  a  Kegent  of  the 
State  University.  He  died  of  apoplexy  in  April,  1850. 


OLNEY,  EDWARD. He  was  born  in  Moreau,  Saratoga  County,  New 

York,  July  24,  1827  ;  when  six  years  of  age  he  removed  with  his  father  to 
Michigan,  who  soon  afterwards  settled  in  Ohio  as  a  farmer.  He  received 
a  common  school  education,  under  many  disadvantages ;  for  several  years, 
before  becoming  of  age,  he  studied  Latin,  and  was  engaged  in  teaching ; 
he  next  devoted  his  attention  to  the  study  of  Greek  and  French,  and  had 
charge  of  the  Perrysburg  Union  School ;  in  1853  he  received  from  Madi 
son  University,  in  New  York,  the  degree  of  A.  M.,  and  shortly  afterward 
removed  to  Kalamazoo,  in  Michigan,  and  was  made  Professor  of  Mathe 
matics  in  the  Literary  Institute  of  that  place ;  taught  for  ten  years  in  the 
Kalamazoo  College,  and  for  a  time  edited  the  Michigan  Christian  Herald  ; 
and  in  1863  he  received,  without  personal  knowledge  or  solicitation,  the 
appointment  of  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  the  University  of  Michigan. 
He  is  the  author  of  a  Mathematical  Series,  the  first  of  which  has  been  pub 
lished  and  pronounced  eminently  successful. 


PALMER,  A.  B. He  was  born  in  Richfield,  Otsego  County,  New  York, 

October  6,  1815,  and  was  the  son  of  Benjamin  Palmer,  a  worthy  farmer, 
who  was  made  blind  by  an  accident  four  years  before  the  birth  of  his  son. 
He  received  an  academical  education,  attended  lectures  at  the  Fairfield 
Medical  College,  and  graduated  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons 
of  Western  New  York ;  in  1S3S  he  removed  to  Michigan  and  settled  in 
Tecumseh,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  for  twelve  years  ;  between  the 
years  1847  and  1850  he  attended  the  Hospitals  of  New  York  and  Phila 
delphia;  in  the  latter  year  he  removed  to  Chicago,  where  he  remained 
seven  years,  during  which  period,  in  1854,  however,  he  delivered  a  course 
of  Medical  Lectures  in  the  University  of  Michigan,  and  in  which  he  has 
been  a  Professor  of  two  important  departments  down  to  the  present  time. 
From  1852  to  1859  he  was  the  Editor  of  the  Peninsula  "Journal  of  Medi 
cine"  and  "Independent  Medical  Journal;"  in  1859  he  visited  Europe;  and 
when  the  rebellion  commenced  in  1861  hevolunteered  his  services  and  was 
appointed  a  Surgeon  in  the  army,  and  iu  that  capacity,  when  his  duties  as 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  473 

a  Professor  would  allow,  served  during  the  whole  war.  In  1864  he  was  ap 
pointed  a  Professor  in  the  Berkshire  Medical  College,  Massachusetts,  and 
subsequently  to  a  similar  position  in  the  Medical  School  of  Maine,  associ 
ated  with  Bowdoin  College  ;  has  been  a  prominent  member  and  Vice  Presi 
dent  of  the  American  Medical  Association  ;  and  his  long  connection  with 
the  University  of  Michigan  is  the  best  proof  that  his  services  have  been 
highly  valued.  During  his  residence  in  Chicago  he  had  much  to  do  with 
the  cholera,  and  published  a  pamphlet  upon  the  subject,  which  went  through 
several  editions  and  was  highly  commended ;  and  he  has,  besides  his  many 
lectures,  written  a  number  of  reports  on  questions  connected  with  his  pro 
fession. 


PARKMAN,  FRANCIS. As  this  distinguished  author  has  done  much  to 

illustrate  the  history  of  Michigan  by  his  writings,  we  must  claim  the  privi 
lege  of  inserting  his  name  in  the  present  record.  He  was  born  in  Boston, 
September  16,  1823,  and  resides  in  that  city.  Soon  after  leaving  Harvard 
College,  about  twenty-five  years  ago,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  writing  the 
history  of  France  and  England  in  North  America.  The  determined  man 
ner  in  which  he  began  his  work  inspired  commendation  at  the  time,  and  his 
subsequent  success  may  well  be  considered  a  satisfactory  reward.  He  made 
summer  tours  into  the  wilds  of  Canada  and  the  region  of  the  Great  Lakes ; 
cast  a  thought  upon  the  legal  profession,  but  gave  it  the  cold  shoulder ;  vis 
ited  Europe,  and  then  made  a  pilgrimage  over  the  prairies  and  among  the 
mountains  westward  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  gave  the  public  a  charm 
ing  book  of  personal  adventures.  This  last  frolic  over,  he  then  entered 
upon  the  chosen  business  of  his  life  with  decided  earnestness.  He  threw 
aside  the  "sandal  shoon,"  and,  taking  up  his  pen,  began  to  explore  the  pub 
lished  and  unpublished  records  bearing  upon  his  subject,  and  was  so  per 
severing  in  his  labors  as  seriously  to  impair  his  health.  Indeed,  he  was 
well  nigh  losing  his  sight  altogether,  and  for  several  protracted  periods  was 
compelled  to  suspend  his  labors.  But  he  continued  the  battle,  revisited 
Europe,  delved  into  the  archives  of  France,  and  may  to-day  be  congratu 
lated  on  having  accomplished  much  the  largest  proportion  of  bis  self- 
assigned  task,  by  the  publication  of  four  volumes.  The  first  issued  of  these 
productions  was  the  "  History  of  the  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac,"  and  while  it 
may  be  read  and  enjoyed  as  a  separate  work,  will  hereafter  be  considered 
as  a  kind  of  sequel  to  the  fellow  volumes.  Of  these,  three  have  already 
been  published,  viz :  the  "  Pioneers  of  France  in  the  New  World,"  the 
"  Jesuits  in  North  America  in  the  Seventeenth  Century,"  and  the  "Dis 
covery  of  the  Great  West;"  and  the  idea  of  the  author,  which  includes  the 
achievements  of  both  France  and  England  on  this  continent,  will  not  be 
completed  until  the  publication  of  several  additional  volumes. 


PARSONS,  ANDREW. He  was  born  in  Hoosaac,  Renssalear  County, 

New  York,  July  22,  1817  ;  brought  up  on  a  farm  in  Oswego  County ;  re 
ceived  a  common  school  education,  and  became  a  teacher  in  his  sixteenth 
year ;  removed  to  Michigan  in  1835  and  became  a  teacher  in  Ann  Arbor ; 
was  County  Clerk  of  Shiawasse  County  from  1836  to  1838 ;  was  subse 
quently  County  Register  for  eight  years,  and  also  a  Prosecuting  Attorney  ; 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  in  1846  ;  was  for  a  time  a  Regent  of  the 
University  of  Michigan,  by  election,  from  1852  to  1854 ;  was  elected  Lieu- 

2  D  * 


474  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

tentant-Governor  of  the  State  in  1852,  and  on  the  resignation  of  Robert 
McClellan  in  1853  he  became  the  Acting  Governor,  which  office  he  held 
until  1854.  He  was  next  elected  to  the  Legislature,  but  returning  home 
at  the  end  of  the  first  session  in  very  feeble  health,  he  died  in  June  of  that 
year,  lamented  by  many  friends. 


PECK,  GEORGE  W. He  was  born  in  New  York  about  the  year  1818  ; 

removed  to  Michigan,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  that  State 
in  1846  and  1847,  serving  as  Speaker  during  the  latter  year;  was  after 
wards  chosen  Secretary  of  State ;  and  was  a  Representative  in  Congress 
from  Michigan,  from  1855  to  1857. 


PENNIMAN,  EBENEZER  JENCKES. He  was  born  in  Lansingburgh,  New 

York  ;  when  thirteen  years  of  age  was  apprenticed  to  the  business  of  print 
ing,  in  the  office  of  the  "  New  Hampshire  Sentinel,"  at  Keene ;  when  eigh 
teen  years  of  age  he  purchased  his  indentures,  and  entered  upon  mercantile 
pursuits  in  the  City  of  New  York;  removed  to  Michigan  in  1835,  and 
was  elected  a  Representative  from  that  State  to  the  Thirty-Second  Con 
gress. 

PERRATJLT,  JOHN  BAPTISTE. He  was  born  in  Lower  Canada,  1759, 

and  belonged  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  Quebec.  After  receiving  a 
collegiate  education  in  that  city,  he  visited  Montreal  on  business  for  his 
father,  when  he  was  smitten  with  a  love  of  wild  life,  and  in  1783  became  a 
bourgeois.  He  went  to  what  was  then  the  metropolis  of  the  Indian  trade, 
Michilimackinac,  and  after  some  primary  trips  to  the  Illinois,  he  chose  the 
Lake  country  as  the  theatre  of  his  life  and  adventures,  and  there  passed 
nearly  sixty  years.  He  died  at  Saute  de  Ste.  Marie  on  the  12th  Novem 
ber,  1844 ;  and  a  sketch  of  his  career  was  published  by  Henry  R.  School- 
craft  in  1853. 


PERRY,  OLIVER  HAZARD. As  this  man,  during  his  brief  but  splen 
did  career  in  the  West,  did  as  much  as  any  other  to  secure  the  people  of 
Michigan  in  their  civil  and  political  rights,  it  would  not  be  proper  to  omit 
his  name  in  this  place.  He  was  born  in  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  in  1785; 
entered  the  Navy  as  a  Midshipman  in  1798  ;  served  in  the  Tripolitan  war  ; 
was  made  a  Master-commandant  in  1812,  and  in  the  following  year  he  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  squadron  on  Lake  Erie,  where,  as  already 
related  in  this  volume,  he  triumphed  over  the  British  and  restored  peace  to 
the  people  of  Michigan,  and  won  imperishable  renown.  For  this  service 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain,  received  the  thanks  of  Congress 
and  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  After  the  war  he  sailed  totheMediter- 
anean  under  Decatur ;  was  subsequently  on  duty  in  the  West  Indies,  and 
in  August,  1820,  he  was  attacked  with  the  yellow  fever,  which  in  a  few 
days  closed  his  bright  career  of  honor  at  the  age  of  thirty-five. 


PIERCE,  JOHN  D. He  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  February  18, 

1797 ;  brought  up  in  Massachusetts,  were  he  remained  until  his  twentieth 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  475 

year;  and  was  educated  at  Brown  University  in  Rhode  Island,  with 
money  saved  chiefly  from  presents  and  his  own  earnings.  After  graduating 
with  honors  in  1822,  he  became  Principal  of  an  Academy  in  New  England, 
and  at  the  end  of  a  year  entered  the  Seminary  at  Princeton,  where  he 
studied  theology  for  one  year.  In  1824  he  settled  in  Oneida  County  aa 
Pastor  of  a  Congregational  Church,  where  he  remained  until  1830 ;  spent 
another  year  in  New  England  as  Principal  of  Goshen  Academy  in  Connect 
icut,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Michigan  in  1831.  In  1847  he  was  elect 
ed  to  the  State  Legislature ;  re-elected  in  1848 ;  and  was  a  member  of  the 
State  Constitutional  Convention  of  1*50.  While  in  the  Legislature  he 
secured  the  passage  of  bills  for  Homestead  Exemptions,  and  for  the  Pro 
tection  of  Women  in  their  Rights  of  Property,  which  were  the  first  of  that 
character  passed  in  any  of  the  States.  Of  Lectures  and  Addresses  on  Ed 
ucational,  Theological,  and  Historical  subjects,  he  has  published  a  goodly 
number;  and  during  the  two  years  that  he  was  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction,  he  edited  and  published  the  Journal  of  Education.  He  also 
edited  at  one  Lime  the  Democratic  Expounder,  at  Marshall.  By  general  con 
sent  the  credit  has  been  awarded  to  him  of  having  been  the  author  of  the 
Michigan  Free  School  System,  and  he  will  long  be  remembered  by  the  chil 
dren  and  youth  of  the  State,  as  one  who  had  wisely  and  earnestly  labored 
to  promote  their  welfare.  As  a  preachej  he  has  accomplished  much  good 
in  various  parts  of  the  State  ;  his  last  public  position  was  that  of  Superin 
tendent  of  Public  Schools  in  Washtenaw  County;  and  he  is  a  resident  of 
Ypsilanti. 


PITCHER,  ZINI. He  was  born  in  Washington  County,  New  York,  April 

12,  1797  ;  received  a  common-school  and  academical  education  ;  at  the  age 
of  twenty  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  Vermont,  and  in  1822  received 
the  degree  of  M.  D.  from  Middlebury  College ;  and  shortly  afterwards  he 
was  appointed  by  President  Monroe  Assistant  Surgeon  in  the  United  States 
Army,  and  promoted  to  full  Surgeon  by  President  Jackson,  in  which  posi 
tion  he  continued  until  1836,  when  he  became  a  permanent  citizen  of  Mich 
igan.  While  in  the  army  he  saw  much  service  in  the  far  Southwest,  the 
South,  and  the  Southeast,  as  well  as  in  the  country  of  the  Great  Lakes.  In 
1835  he  became  the  President  of  the  Army  Medical  Board  ;  from  1837  to 
1852  he  was  a  Regent  of  the  University  of  Michigan  ;  took  an  active  part 
in  the  organization  of  its  Medical  Department,  and  was  made  Professor  of 
the  Emeritus  chair  of  that  institution;  in  1839  he  was  appointed  a  visitor 
to  West  Point;  in  1840,  '41,  and  '43,  he  was  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Detroit; 
and  from  1848  to  1867  he  was  the  physician  and  surgeon  to  St.  Mary's  Hos- 
pitol  in  Detroit,  and  also  of  the  United  States  Marine  Hospital.  During 
all  these  years  he  did  not  neglect  his  engagements  as  a  private  practitioner, 
but  found  time  to  prepare  various  professional  and  literary  papers  for  pub 
lication,  and  to  attend  the  annual  meetings,  at  least  nine  of  them,  of  the 
American  Medical  Association,  and  was  President  of  the  meeting  held  in 
Detroit.  He  was  also  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the  New  York  and 
Rhode  Island  Medical  Societies,  corresponding  member  of  the  Philadelphia 
Academy  of  Natural  Science,  of  the  New  York  Lyceum  of  Natural  His 
tory,  also  of  the  New  York  and  Minnesota  Historical  Societies,  and  a  Trus 
tee  of  the  Michigan  State  Asylum.  He  is  still  living  in  Detroit,  with  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  which  he  has  now  been  honorably  identified  foi 
more  than  a  third  of  a  century. 


476  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

PHELPS,  WILLIAM  W. He  was  born  in  Oakland  County,  Michigan, 

June  1,  1826;  he  graduated  at  the  University  of  Michigan  in  1846 ;  stud 
ied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1848;  and  edited  a  Democratic 
newspaper  in  Oakland  County,  from  1851  to  1855.  In  1852  and  1853  he 
held  the  office  of  Commissioner  for  his  native  County,  performing  the  duties 
of  Judge  at  Chambers  ;  in  1854  was  appointed,  by  President  Pierce,  Reg- 
ister  of  the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Red  Wing,  in  Minnesota;  and  in 
1^57  he  was  elected  a  Representative  to  the  Thirty-fifth  Congress,  from  that 
State,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Mileage.  In  i860  he  assum 
ed  the  editorship  of  the  " Red  Wing  Sentinel" 


PONTIAC. He  was  born  in  the  year  1720  on  the  Ottawa  river,  but 

early  settled  near  Michilimackinac,  and  was  an  ally  of  the  French  in  the 
Northwest.  He  made  his  appearance  as  an  historical  character  by  stopping' 
Robert  Rogers  on  his  way  to  Detroit.  He  was  the  head  chief  of  the  Otta 
wa  nation,  but  he  held  a  kind  of  despotic  sway  over  the  Ojibway  and  Pot- 
tawattomie  nations,  the  whole  of  whom  had  their  camps  on  the  soil  of  Mich 
igan.  As  his  principal  deeds  are  chronicled  in  the  first  part  of  this  work, 
and  as  Francis  Parkman  has  made  him  the  subject  of  an  admirable  vol 
ume,  our  allusions  to  him  will  be  brief.  His  intellect  was  strong  and  capa 
cious  ;  he  possessed  a  commanding  energy,  and  was  as  crafty  as  any  of  his 
race;  and  though  capable  of  acts  of  magnaminity,  he  was  a  thorough  sav 
age,  treacherous  and  cruel.  His  faults,  however,  were  those  of  his  race; 
and  they  cannot  eclipse  his  nobler  qualities,  the  great  powers  and  heroic 
virtues  of  his  mind.  He  was  the  first  Indian  who  ever  issued  such  things 
as  promissory  notes,  which  were  written  upon  birch  bark,  signed  with  the 
figure  of  an  otter,  which  was  his  totum,  and  all  of  which  notes  he  faithfully 
redeemed.  From  the  year  1760,  when  he  first  met  Robert  Rogers  on  the 
shores  of  Lake  Erie,  until  he  left  the  Lake  country  in  1769,  he  exerted  an 
influence  and  performed  deeds  of  barbaric  heroism  which  have  seldom  been 
equalled  ;  and  it  was  in  the  latter  year,  when  he  was  on  a  visit  to  St.  Louis, 
that  he  was  murdered  in  cold  blood  near  that  town,  by  a  savage  enemy  of 
the  Illinois  tribe,  who  had  been  bribed  for  that  purpose  by  a  not  less  sav 
age  English  trader  named  Williamson.  Over  the  grave  of  Pontiac,  says 
Parkman,  more  blood  was  poured  out  in  atonement,  than  flowed  from  the 
hecatombs  of  slaughtered  heroes  on  the  corpse  of  Patroclus ;  and  the  rem 
nant  of  the  Illinois  who  survived  the  carnage  remained  for  ever  after  sunk 
in  utter  insignificance. 


PORTER,  AUGUSTUS  S. Born  in  Canandaigua,  New  York,  January 

18,  1798  ;  graduated  at  Union  College  in  1813  ;  studied  law  as  a  profes 
sion,  and  practiced  for  twenty  years  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  of  which  city  he 
was  chosen  Mayor  in  1838.  He  was  a  Senator  in  Congress  from  Michigan 
from  1840  to  1845  ;  and  in  1843  he  removed  to  Niagara  Falls,  the  residence 
of  his  father,  where  he  has  since  lived  in  retirement.  He  was  also  a  Dele 
gate  to  the  Philadelphia  "  National  Union  Convention  "  of  1866. 


PORTER,  GEORGE  B. He  was  a  native  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania  ; 

received  a  liberal  education,  and  adopted   the  profession  of  law ;  was  an 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  477 

active  and  thorough  business  man ;  served  as  Governor  of  the  Territory  of 
Michigan  from  1831  to  1834,  and  died  in  the  latter  year,  leaving  behind 
him  troops  of  friends  and  a  bright  reputation. 


PROCTOR,  HENRY  A. He  was  born  in  Wales  in  1787,  and  entered 

the  British  army  when  quite  young.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of 
1812,  he  was  dispatched  to  Amherstburg  by  General  Brock  to  prevent  the 
landing  of  General  Hull,  whom  he  defeated  at  that  place  and  at  Browns- 
town.  He  was  the  man  whom  the  Americans  charged  with  sanctioning  the 
massacre  on  the  River  Raisin  in  1813,  after  the  defeat  of  General  Winches 
ter,  and  for  which  conduct  he  was  made  a  Brigadier-General  by  his  Gov 
ernment.  For  his  subsequent  conduct  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  he  was 
court-martialed,  and  suspended  from  rank  and  pay  for  six  months.  He 
commanded  again  during  the  war ;  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Lieuten 
ant-General  ;  and  died  at  his  seat  in  Wales  in  1859. 


RANSOM,  EPAPHRODITUS. He  was  born  in  Massachusetts ;  received  a 

collegiate  education ;  and  having  studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
his  native  State.  He  removed  to  Michigan  about  the  time  that  it  became  a 
State,  and  settled  at  Kalamazoo;  he  served  a  number  of  years  in  the  Legis 
lature  ;  was  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  where  his  field  of  labor  was  very 
extensive ;  and  subsequently,  taking  a  special  interest  in  the  building  of 
plank  roads  in  his  section  of  country,  he  became  involved,  and  in  that  man 
ner  lost  the  bulk  of  his  property.  He  resigned  his  Judgeship  in  1845  ;  and 
his  term  of  service  as  Governor  of  the  State  was  from  1847  to  1849 ;  and 
he  afterwards  made  himself  useful  to  the  State  by  acting  as  President  of 
the  Michigan  Agricultural  Society.  By  President  Buchanan  he  was  ap 
pointed  Receiver  of  the  Land  Office  for  one  of  the  districts  of  Kansas,  and 
died  there  before  the  expiration  of  his  term.  He  was  a  man  of  sound  sense, 
and  left  a  worthy  reputation  in  Michigan.  He  was  on  several  occasions 
appointed  a  regent  of  the  State  University. 


REYNOLDS,  ROBERT. He  was  born  in  Detroit  about  the  year  1788; 

was  Deputy  Assistant  Commissary  General  in  the  British  army  in  the  war 
of  1812,  and  was  at  the  taking  of  Detroit.  He  also  participated  in  the 
battle  of  the  Thames ;  was  subsequently  stationed  at  Burlington  Heights, 
on  Lake  Ontario ;  and  then  took  up  his  residence  near  Amherstburg,  on 
the  Detroit  River.  He  knew  both  Proctor  and  Tecumseh  well,  and  never 
scrupled  to  denounce  the  conduct  of  the  former  while  on  the  Michigan 
frontier,  as  shameful,  and  fully  justifying  the  condemnation  of  the  noted 
Indian  warrior. 


RICE,  HENRY  M. He  was  born  in  Vermont  November  29, 1816 ;  and 

having  emigrated  to  Michigan  when  it  was  a  Territory,  was  a  resident  of 
Kalamazoo  during  the  greater  part  of  his  early  manhood.  Much  of  his 
life  was  spent  among  the  Indian  tribes  of  the  North-western  States ;  in  1840 


478  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

he  was  appointed  a  Sutler  in  the  army  ;  was  employed  as  a  commissioner 
in  making  many  Indian  treaties  of  great  importance;  in  1853  he  was  elec 
ted  a  .Delegate  to  Congress  from  Minnesota ;  re-elected  in  1855,  and  was 
active  in  securing  the  passage  of  the  act  authorizing  the  people  of  Minne 
sota  to  form  a  State  constitution ;  and  in  1857,  he  was  elected  a  Senator  in 
Congress  for  the  term  of  six  years,  serving  on  the  Committees  on  Indian 
Affairs  and  Post  Offices  and  Post  Roads.  He  was  also  a  Delegate  to  the 
Philadelphia  National  Union  Convention  of  1866,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  devoted  to  his -private  affairs. 


RICE,  R.  N. He  was  born  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  May  30,  1814  ; 

received  a  Public  School  education,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  in 
Concord  of  that  State,  where  he  remained  until  1844.  In  that  year  he  en 
gaged  in  the  service  of  the  Fitchburg  Railroad  Company,  where  he  remain 
ed  until  1846  ;  when  he  removed  to  Michigan  and  became  Disbursing  Offi 
cer  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  and  after  occupying  that  position 
for  two  years,  he  became  Master  of  Transportation,  or  what  is  now  styled 
Assistant  General  Superintendent;  and  in  1855  he  was  appointed  the 
General  Superintendent,  in  which  position  he  continued  until  1867,  when 
he  resigned.  It  would  thus  appear  that  Mr.  Rice  was  connected,  in  a 
prominent  manner,  with  the  vital  business  interests  of  Michigan  for  about 
twenty  years.  The  gross  receipts  of  the  Michigan  Central  for  one  month 
in  1846,  when  he  joined  the  company,  amounted  to  $14,000  on  143  miles; 
while  the  receipts  for  the  corresponding  month  in  1867,  when  he  left  the 
company,  amounted  to  $300,000  on  269  miles,  and  the  earnings  of  some  of  the 
fall  months  of  the  same  year,  amounted  to  nearly  half  a  million  of  dollars. 
According  to  Henry  M.  'Flint)  in  his  History  of  Railroads,  the  admirable 
and  successful  management  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  is  due,  in  a 
great  measure,  to  the  personal  exertions  and  experience  of  its  late  General 
Superintendent. 


RICHARD,  GABRIEL. He  was  born  at  Saintes,  France,  October  15, 

1764;  was  educated  at  Angiers ;  received  orders  as  a  Priest  at  Paris  in  1791; 
was  made  Vicar-General  of  the  order  of  Sulpitians ;  came  to  America  in 
1792 ;  was  for  a  time  Professor  of  Mathamatics  in  St.  Mary's  College,  Mary 
land  ;  subsequently  labored  as  a  Missionary  in  Illinois,  and  settled  at  De 
troit  in  1798.  In  1809  he  visited  Boston,  and  took  a  printing  press  to  De 
troit,  where  he  started  a  Journal  called  the  Michigan  Essay,  which  was  not 
successful ;  he  then  published  several  Roman  Catholic  books  and  the  Laws 
of  the  Territory,  all  in  French ;  in  1812  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Brit 
ish,  and,  after  his  release,  finding  his  people  destitute,  purchased  wheat  at 
his  own  expense  and  distributed  freely  among  them.  During  his  ministry 
it  became  his  duty,  according  to  the  rules  of  the  Church,  to  excommuni 
cate  one  of  his  parishioners  who  had  been  divorced  from  his  wife.  The  un 
happy  husband  prosecuted  him  for  defamation  of  character,  and  obtained 
a  verdict  of  one  thousand  dollars.  This  money  the  Priest  could  not  pay, 
and  he  was  consequently  imprisoned  in  the  common  jail ;  but  just  before 
this  event  in  1823,  he  had  been  elected  a  delegate  to  Washington,  and  he 
went  directly  from  his  prison  to  the  floor  of  Congress.  He  wrote  several 
languages,  and  was  a  man  of  superior  ability  and  rare  benevolence;  and 
died  in  Detroit,  September  13,  1832,  universally  lamented. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  479 

RICHARDSON,  ISRAEL  B. He  was  born  in  Fairfax,  Vermont,  in  1819 ; 

appointed  from  Michigan  to  ^he  West  Point  Academy,  where  he  graduated 
in  1841  ;  as  a  Lieutenant  was  on  duty  in  Florida,  Missouri,  and  Louisiana; 
served  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  a-nd  was  with  General  Taylor  at  the  battles 
of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca;  with  General  Scott  at  Vera  Cruz,  Puebla,  and 
Molino  del  Rey ;  in  1851  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain,  and  as 
signed  to  duty  in  Mexico  and  Texas;  and  in  1855  he  resigned  his  commis 
sion  in  the  army,  and  settled  as  a  farmer  in  Pontiac,  Michigan.  On  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  he  took  an  active  interest  in  military  affairs; 
organized,  and  took  to  the  field  as  Commander  the  Second  Infantry  of  Michi 
gan  ;  was  soon  transferred  to  the  command  of  a  Brigade ;  served  with  dis 
tinction  in  the  Virginia-Peninsula  Campaign,  and  was  made  a  Brigadier, 
and  soon  afterwards  a  Major-General  of  Volunteers ;  and  having  been 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  Maryland,  died  from  his  wounds  at 
Sharpsburg,  November  3,  1862.  He  was  a  brave  and  able  officer,  and  his 
loss  was  deeply  lamented  by  the  army. 


ROBERTS,  E.  J. He  was  born  in  New  York  and  bred  a  printer ;  after 

publishing  and  conducting  a  paper  at  Rochester  for  some  years,  he  removed 
to  Michigan,  and  was  long  associated  with  the  newspaper  press  of  Detroit; 
he  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1850 ;  subsequently 
settled  in  the  Lake  Superior  Region,  where  he  carried  on  an  extensive  busi 
ness  ;  served  a  number  of  years  in  the  State  Legislature ;  and  after  a  long, 
useful,  and  honorable  life,  died  many  years  ago. 


ROBERTS,  ROBERT  E. He  settled  in  Detroit  as  early  as  1827,  and  has 

been  intimately  identified  with  the  progress  of  that  city  down  to  the  present 
time.  In  1855,  for  the  gratification  of  his  old  friends,  he  published  a  small 
volume  entitled  "Sketches  of  the  City  of  Detroit,"  which  abounds  in  origi 
nal  information  gathered  from  his  long  experience.  Possessing  a  taste  for 
letters  and  the  arts,  he  has  long  been  foremost  among  those  who  take  pleas 
ure  in  fostering  the  public  taste.  When  the  water-works  of  Detroit  were 
projected,  he  took  a  special  interest  in  the  important  enterprise,  was  made 
Secretary  of  the  Board  which  had  them  in  charge,  and  has  ever  since  de 
voted  himself  to  bringing  them  to  their  present  perfection. 


ROBERTSON,  JOHN. He  was  born  in  Banffshire,  Scotland,  January  2, 

1814,  and  educated  at  one  of  the  best  schools  in  that  section  of  country. 
He  preferred  a  military  profession,  and  desired  to  enter  the  British  army, 
but  was  opposed  in  this  by  his  uncle,  the  late  Sir  John  Forbes,  of  London, 
through  whose  influence  he  expected  to  obtain  a  commission.  In  place 
of  a  position  in  the  army,  his  uncle  secured  for  him  an  appointment  in  the 
General  Post  Office  in  Edinburgh,  and  in  1829  he  entered  that  Office.  Dis 
appointed  at  not  getting  into  the  army,  and  disliking  the  confinement  of 
that  office,  he  left  it  in  1833.  Making  up  his  mind  fully  for  a  military  life, 
lie  concluded  to  immigrate  to  the  United  States  and  enter  the  army.  Arri 
ving  at  Montreal,  he  started  on  foot  for  the  nearest  American  rendezvous, 
which  he  reached  at  Burlington,  Vermont,  where,  on  the  2d  of  July,  1833, 


480  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

he  entered  as  a  private  in  the  United  States  Army.  In  the  spring  of  1834 
he  was  sent  to  the  5th  United  States  Infantry,  stationed  at  Fort  Howard, 
Green  Bay,  then  in  Wisconsin  Territory.  Soon  after  joining  the  regiment 
he  was  appointed  a  non-commissioned  officer,  and  served  the  most  part  of 
six  years  as  Quartermaster-Sergeant  and  Sergeant-Major  of  the  regiment. 
After  his  term  of  service  expired,  lie  was  engaged  in  the  Quartermaster 
and  Commissary  Departments  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  went  with  the  regi 
ment  from  that  post  to  Detroit  in  1840.  Soon  after  arriving  at  Detroit  he 
was  employed  by  Brady  &  Trowbridge,  merchants  of  that  city,  and  a  few 
years  afterwards  went  with  one  of  the  partners  to  Mexico,  and  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  connected  with  the  United  States  army,  and  remained 
there  about  eighteen  months.  Returning  to  Detroit,  he  rejoined  Mr.  Trow 
bridge,  and  a  few  years  later  became  his  partner,  the  two  doing  business  as 
commission  merchants,  under  the  firm  of  C.  A.  Trowbridge  &  Co.  In 
March,  1861,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Blair,  Adjutant-General  of  the 
State,  serving  in  that  capacity  throughout  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  has 
held  the  office  until  the  present  time.  He  has  been  identified  with  the 
militia  and  State  troops  of  Michigan  for  about  twenty  years,  and  received 
his  first  commission  as  a  Lieutenant  of  Independent  State  troops  from  Gov 
ernor  Bingham,  in  November,  1855. 


ROGERS,  RANDOLPH. According  to   a  statement   already  made  iu 

these  pages,  this  eminent  sculptor  was  born  in  Michigan,  and  in  early  life 
was  a  resident  of  the  State;  but  Henry  T.  Tuckerman,  in  his  book  of 
American  artists,  gives  Virginia  as  the  native  State  of  the  sculptor.  At 
any  rate  he  is  performing  a  great  work,  commemorative  of  the  patriotism 
of  Michigan,  and  for  that  reason  he  must  be  noticed  here.  He  abandoned 
mercantile  pursuits  in  early  life,  and  turned  his  attention  to  sculpture. 
After  a  few  years  of  study  in  Rome,  he  returned  to  this  country  and  made 
his  mark  by  the  exhibition  of  "  Nydia,  the  Blind  Girl  of  Pompeii,"  "A  Boy 
and  Dog"  and  other  similar  productions.  Returning  to  Rome,  he  made  a 
statue  of  John  Adams,  designed  bas-reliefs  for  the  bronze  doors  of  the  new 
Capitol  extension  in  Washington,  also  a  monumental  work  entitled  The 
Angel  of  the  Resurrection,  and  occupied  himself  in  furnishing  the  designs  for 
the  Washington  Monument  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  which  work  had  been 
commenced  by  the  lamented  Crawford.  Among  his  more  popular  produc 
tions  may  be  mentioned  one  entitled  Ruth  and  another  called  Isaac.  In 
1867,  and  while  engaged  upon  a  monumental  work  for  the  State  of  Rhode 
Island,  he  received  an  order  from  the  citizens  of  Michigan  for  the  design 
and  building  of  the  elaborate  and  costly  monument  already  described  in 
this  volume,  to  be  erected  in  Detroit  in  memory  of  the  heroes  who  lost  their 
lives  in  defending  their  country  from  the  assaults  of  the  late  Rebellion. 


ROGERS,  ROBERT. He  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire ;  a  sturdy 

and  adventurous  soldier ;  commanded  a  body  of  provincial  rangers,  and 
stood  in  high  repute  as  a  partisan  officer,  whose  chief  theatre  of  action  was 
in  the  region  of  Lake  George ;  and  for  a  time  he  was  Governor  of  Michili- 
mackinac.  To  him  was  entrusted  the  expedition  which  was  sent  out  by 
General  Amherst,  after  the  surrender  of  Michigan  by  France  to  England 
in  1759,  and  his  first  meeting  with  Pontiac  and  subsequent  services  in  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  431 

Northwest  will  be  found  duly  recorded  in  another  part  of  this  volume. 
He  subsequently  served  in  Algiers ;  at  the  opening  of  the  war  of  Inde 
pendence  be  returned  to  his  country,  espoused  the  British  cause  and  re 
ceived  a  Colonel's  commission  from  the  Crown ;  was  proscribed  by  the  act 
of  New  Hampshire  in  1778,  and  died  in  obscurity.  Besides  a  work  entitled 
"  A  Concise  Account  of  North  America,"  he  published  a  Journal  of  his 
Expedition  to  Detroit,  when  he  took  possession  of  the  ports  of  Michigan; 
and  also  a  drama  entitled  "  Ponteach,  or  the  Savages  of  America."  .The 
name  of  "  Roger's  Rangers "  has  passed  into  history,  and  a  prominent 
mountain  on  Lake  George  bears  his  name  to  this  day. 


ROMEYN,  THEODORE. He  was  born  in  Hackinsack,  New  Jersey,  in 

August,  1810,  and  is  descended  from  the  Knickerbocker  stock  of  that  re 
gion  ;  educated  at  Rutger's  College ;  and  studied  law  with  Peter  D.  Vroom 
and  Samuel  L.  Southard  in  New  Jersey,  and  with  Benjamin  F.  Butler  in 
Albany,  coming  to  the  bar  in  1832.  In  the  summer  of  1835  he  visited 
Michigan  on  a  tour  of  pleasure,  going  in  a  Mackinaw  boat  as  far  as  Lake 
Superior  with  a  party  of  ladies,  and  in  the  spring  of  1836  he  returned  and 
settled  in  Detroit.  After  remaining  in  that  city  for  twelve  years  in  the 
constant  practice  of  his  profession,  and  uniformly  declining  all  proffers  of 
office,  he  removed  to  New  York  city  in  1848,  and  in  1858  he  again  became 
a  resident  of  Detroit,  to  which  he  is  bound  by  many  endearing  associations, 
and  where  he  expects  to  spend  the  remainder^of  his  days.  Although  brought 
up  in  the  Democratic  school  of  politics,  he  was  an  earnest  supporter  of 
President  Lincoln,  and  of  the  war  for  the  Union,  and  in  consequence  of 
his  popularity  as  a  speaker,  was  frequently  called  upon  to  deliver  speeches 
of  encouragement  or  welcome  to  the  troops  assembled  in  Detroit  during  the 
war.  Among  his  more  notable  successes  as  a  lawyer  may  be  mentioned,  first, 
his  efforts,  single-handed,  to  prove  the  unconstitutionality  in  both  the  State 
and  Federal  courts  of  the  general  banking  laws  of  the  State,  which  resulted 
in  so  much  financial  disaster  many  years  ago  ;  secondly,  his  efforts  in  bring 
ing  about  a  change  in  the  policy  of  the  General  Government  respecting 
the  locating  of  public  lands  in  the  mineral  region  of  Lake  Superior,  under 
what  were  called  "  Mineral  leases"  which  he  maintained  were  invalid  ;  and 
although  his  legal  services  in  behalf  of  the  State  and  country  have  been 
recognized  as  important,  he  has  never  asked  or  received  a  single  dollar  in 
the  way  of  compensation  for  such  services.  His  declared  hostility  to  what 
was  known  as  the  "  wild  cat  banks,"  naturally  raised  a  great  deal  of  oppo 
sition  to  him  personally;  and  when  he  subsequently  thought  proper  to 
accept  a  commission  from  the  contracting  parties  in  New  York  for  negoti 
ating  an  important  loan  in  that  city  for  the  benefit  of  the  State,  he  was 
subjected  to  much  further  animosity  ;  but  these  unhappy  and  semi-political 
differences  have  been  well  nigh  forgotten,  and  all  men  acquainted  with  the 
history  of  those  times,  acknowledge  that  his  course  in  the  whole  transac 
tion  was  only  fair  and  honorable. 


ROWLAND,  THOMAS. — r-He  was  born  in  Ohio ;  served  as  a  Major  of 
Infantry  under  General  Hull,  in  1813  and  '14;  and  retired  from  the  army 
in  1815,  locating  in  Detroit.  He  held  the  position  of  Secretary  of  the 
Territory  of  Michigan ;  was  subsequently  appointed  United  States  Marshal 

2  E 


482  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

for  the  Detroit  district ;  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  that  city  by  General 
Harrison  ;  was  also  elected  Secretary  of  State  in  1840,  and  died  in  Detroit 
in  August,  1848.  He  was  a  man  of  culture  and  highly  esteemed,  and  in. 
1819  he  read  a  paper  before  the  Detroit  Lyceum  on  Hull's  Campaign,  which 
has  frequently  been  quoted  with  commendation. 


RUCKER,  DANIEL  H. He  was  born  on  Grosse  Isle,  Detroit  River,  and 

was  a  resident  of  Michigan,  when  appointed,  in  1837,  a  Second  Lieutenant 
in  the  Light  Dragoons,  and  subsequently  performed  much  official  duty 
within  the  limits  of  the  State.  In  1838  he  became  an  assistant  in  the  Sub 
sistence  Department  of  the  Army  ;  in  1844  a  First  Lieutenant ;  and  a  Cap 
tain  in  1847.  He  served  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  had  command  of  a 
squadron  at  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  and  for  his  gallantry  and  meritori 
ous  conduct  he  was  breveted  a  Major.  In  1849  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Quartermaster's  Department,  with  which  he  has  ever  since  been  connected, 
and  in  which,  during  the  Rebellion,  he  performed  at  Washington  an  im 
mense  amount  of  the  most  arduous  labor.  Although  holding  the  rank  of 
Colonel  in  the  army,  he  was  made  a  Brigadier-General,  and  also  a  Major- 
General  by  brevet,  for  diligent  and  faithful  services  during  the  late  Rebel 
lion.  After  the  war  he  was  made  Chief  Quartermaster  for  the  District  of 
the  East,  with  his  headquarters  at  Philadelphia ;  but  was  subsequently  as 
signed  to  similar  duty  in  the  North-west,  with  his  headquarters  at  Chicago. 


SCHOOLCRAFT,  HENRY  ROWE. He  was  born  in  Albany,  New  York, 

March  28,  1793;  educated  at  Middlebury  College;  in  1817  he  visited  the 
West,  and  published  a  work  entitled  "A  View  of  the  Lead  Mines  of  Mis 
souri  ; "  in  1820  he  was  appointed  geologist  of  the  exploring  expedition, 
under  General  Cass,  to  Lake  Superior  and  the  head  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
published  an  account  of  it  in  1821  ;  made  a  second  tour  to  the  West,  and 
published  "  Travels  in  the  Central  Portions  of  the  Mississippi  Valley ;"  in 
1822  he  was  appointed  an  Indian  agent  for  the  Northwest ;  from  1828  to 
1832  he  was  a  member  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  of  Michigan ;  in  the 
former  year  founded  the  Michigan  Historical  Society  at  Detroit,  and  in 
1831  the  Algic  Society ;  in  1832  he  made  another  expedition  to  the  West, 
and  discovered  the  source  of  the  Mississippi,  of  which  he  published  an 
account  in  1834 ;  in  1836  he  made  an  Indian  treaty,  which  secured  sixteen 
million  acres  of  land  to  the  United  States;  removed  to  New  York  City  in 
1841;  visited  Europe  in  1842;  published,  by  authority  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  in  1848,  "Notes  on  the  Iroquois ;"  about  that  time  published  a  book  of 
Indian  legends,  entitled  "Algic  Researches;"  commenced  the  publication  in 
1850  for  the  Government,  of  "  Historical  Information  Respecting  the  History, 
Condition,  and  Prospects  of  the  Indian  Tribes  of  the  United  States,"  which 
resulted  in  six  quarto  volumes,  illustrated  by  Captain  Seth  Eastman;  and 
after  many  years  of  suffering  from  rheumatic  affections,  which  he  bore  with 
rare  Christian  fortitude,  he  died  at  his  residence  in  Washington  City  Decem 
ber  10,  1864.  The  total  number  of  his  publications,  as  his  widow  informed 
the  writer,  was  thirty-one;  and  as  the  historian  of  the  American  Indians, 
he  will  always  be  considered  the  leading  authority.  While  he  did  not 
aspire  to  the  title  of  poet,  he  nevertheless  wrote  verses  occasionally ;  and 
one  of  his  poems,  because  of  its  association  with  Michigan  and  the  fate  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  483 

its  aborigines,  may  with  propriety  be  appended  to  this  notice.     It  is  enti 
tled  Geefiale,  an  Indian  Lament: 

The  black-bird  is  singing  on  Michigan's  shore, 

As  sweetly  and  gaily  as  ever  before  ; 

For  he  knows  to  his  mate  he  at  pleasure  can  hie, 

And  the  dear  little  brood  she  is  teaching  to  fly. 

The  sun  looks  as  ruddy  and  rises  as  bright, 

And  reflects  o'er  the  mountains  as  beamy  a  light 

As  it  ever  reflected,  or  ever  expressed, 

When  my  skies  were  the  bluest,  my  dreams  were  the  best. 

The  fox  and  the  panther,  both  beasts  of  the  night, 

Retire  to  their  dens  on  the  gleaming  of  light; 

And  they  spring  with  a  free  and  sorrowless  track, 

For  they  know  that  their  mates  are  expecting  them  back. 

Each  bird  and  each  beast  it  is  bless'd  in  degree  ; 

All  nature  is  cheerful,  all  happy  but  me. 

I  will  go  to  my  tent  and  lie  down  in  despair  ; 
I  will  paint  me  with  black,  and  will  sever  my  hair ; 
I  will  sit  on  the  shore,  where  the  hurricane  blows, 
And  reveal  to  the  God  of  the  tempest  my  woes. 
I  will  weep  for  a  season  on  bitterness  fed, 
For  my  kindred  are  gone  to  the  hills  of  the  dead ; 
But  they  died  not  by  hunger,  or  lingering  decay, 
The  steel  of  the  white  man  hath  swept  them  away. 

This  snake-skin,  that  once  I  so  sacredly  wore, 
I  will  toss  with  disdain  on  the  storm-beaten  shore  ; 
Its  charms  I  no  longer  obey  or  invoke, 
Its  spirit  has  left  me,  its  spell  is  now  broke. 
I  will  raise  up  my  voice  to  the  source  of  the  light, 
I  will  dream  on  the  wings  of  the  blue-bird  at  night ; 
I  will  speak  to  the  spirits  that  whisper  in  leaves, 
And  that  minister  balm  to  the  spirit  that  grieves  ; 
And  will  take  a  new  Manitou — such  as  shall  seem 
To  be  kind  and  propitious  in  every  dream. 

0,  then  I  shall  banish  these  cankering  sighs, 
And  tears  shall  no  longer  gush  salt  from  my  eyes. 
I  shall  wash  from  my  face  every  cloud-colored  stain  ; 
Red,  red  shall  alone  on  my  visage  remain  ! 
I  will  dig  up  my  hatchet  und  bend  my  ash  bow, 
By  night  and  by  day  I  will  follow  the  foe  ; 
Nor  lakes  shall  impede  me,  nor  mountains,  nor  snows, 
His  blood  can  alone  give  my  spirit  repose. 

They  came  to  my  cabin  when  heaven  was  black, 
I  heard  not  their  coming,  I  knew  not  their  track  ; 
But  I  saw  by  the  light  of  their  blazing  fucees 
They  were  people  engendered  beyond  the  big  seas. 
My  wife  and  my  children— 0  spare  me  the  tale  I 
For  who  is  there  left  that  is  kin  to  Geehale  ? 


SIBLEY,  EBENEZER  S. He  was  the  son  of  Solomon  Sibley,  and  born 

in  Ohio ;  entered  the  West  Point  Academy  from  Michigan  and  was  grad 
uated  in  1827  ;  as  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  Artillery  he  served  at  Fort 
Monroe  in  Virginia,  Fort  Independence  in  Massachusetts,  Fort  Moultrie  in 
South  Carolina,  and  then  on  Engineer  duty  until  1834,  when  he  was  made 
First  Lieutenant.  In  1836  he  was  in  the  Florida  war ;  in  1837  and  1838, 
on  Indian  duty,  and  as  aid  to  General  Brady;  from  1838  to  1840  he  was 


434  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

on  duty  at  Savannah,  Georgia;  was  again  in  the  Florida  war  from  1840  to 
1842;  also  as  Captain  on  duty  in  Maine,  Massachusetts, and  Texas;  served 
in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  and  for 
gallant  conduct  was  appointed  a  Major  by  brevet  in  1848;  from  1848  to 
Idol  he  was  on  duty  in  Detroit;  and  after  service  in  New  Mexico  and 
Kansas,  he  became  an  Assistant  in  the  Quartermaster's  Department  at 
Washington  in  1856,  with  the  title  of  Staff  Major;  and  from  1861  to  1864 
he  was  Principal  Assistant  and  Deputy  Quartermaster  General,  with  the  rank 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  Staff.  He  "resigned  his  Commission  in  the  army 
in  1864,  since  which  time  he  has  been  the  Vice  President  of  two  important 
mining  companies  of  Lake  Superior. 


SIBLEY,  HENRY  H. He  was  the  son  of  Solomon  Sibley,  and  born  in 

Detroit  in  1811 ;  spent  much  of  his  early  life  on  the  Northwestern  frontier; 
and  was  for  many  years  an  Indian  trader  in  the  employ  of  the  American 
Fur  Company  at  Mackinaw  and  at  Fort  Snelling.  From  1849  to  1853  he 
was  a  Delegate  to  Congress  from  the  Territory  of  Minnesota;  and  having 
witnessed  its  progress  from  a  wilderness  to  an  organized  State,  he  was  elect 
ed  in  1857  its  first  Governor,  serving  until  1858.  He  was  a  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  of  volunteers  during  the  great  Rebellion;  commanded  an  expedition 
against  the  Indians  in  1863,  and  was  subsequently  breveted  a  Major-Gen 
eral  of  volunteers.  He  was  also  a  Delegate  to  the  Cleveland  "Soldiers' 
Convention"  of  1866;  and  in  1867  was  appointed  a  visitor  to  the  West 
Point  Academy. 


SIBLEY,  SOLOMON. He  was  born  in  .Sutton,  Massachusetts,  October 

7,  1769.  He  studied  law,  and  removed  to  Ohio  in  1795,  establishing  him 
self  first  at  Marietta,  and  then  at  Cincinnati,  in  the  practice  of  his  profes 
sion.  He  removed  to  Detroit  in  1797,  and  in  ^1799  was  elected  to  the  first 
Territorial  Legislature  of  the  Northwestern  Territory.  In  1819  he  took 
part  in  what  was  called  the  "Pontiac  Mill  Company,"  which  erected  the 
first  flouring  and  saw  mills  in  that  town.  He  was  a  Delegate  to  Congress 
from  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  from  1820  to  1823;  in  1824  he  was  appoint 
ed  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  held  the  office  until  1836,  when  he 
resigned  in  consequence  of  increasing  deafness.  He  died  at  Detroit,  April 
4,  1846.  He  was  universally  respected  for  his  talents  and  manifold  virtues. 
He  left  three  sous,  two  born  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  all  of  whom  have 
conferred  honor  upon  the  family  name  as  public  men. 


SHEARMAN,  FRANCIS  W. He  was  born  in  Vernon,  Oneida  County, 

New  York;  graduated  at  Hamilton  College  in  that  State,  in  his  nineteenth 
year;, soon  afterwards  removed  to  Michigan  and  settled  at  Detroit;  and 
was  for  a  time  an  assistant  of  Henry  R.  Schoolcraft  when  engaged  in  mak 
ing  treaties  with  the  Indians.  He  subsequently  studied  law,  and  after  his 
admission  to  the  bar,  became  a  resident  of  Marshall,  about  the  year  1840. 
Besides  a  variety  of  local  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  he  was  elected  to 
the  Legislature,  and  was  for  some  years  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruc 
tion;  and  although  always  devoted  to  his  profession,  he  officiated  for  sev- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  435 

eral  years  as  Editor  of  the  "Democratic  Expounder'''  in  Marshall.  In  1852 
he  published  a  very  useful  work  on  the  System  of  Public  Instruction,  and 
the  Primary  School  Laws  of  Michigan.  He  is  still  a  citizen  of  Marshall. 


SHELDON,  ELECTRA  M. With  the  personal  history  of  this  lady,  the 

writer  is  unacquainted,  but  he  does  know  that  she  has  reflected  honor  upon 
herself  and  the  State  of  Michigan  with  her  pen.  While  editing  a  literary 
periodical  in  Detroit,  in  1853,  she  commenced  the  publication  of  such  facts 
as  she  could  obtain  concerning  the  early  history  of  Michigan.  General 
Cass  took  an  interest  in  her  enterprise,  and  presented  her  with  a  mass  of 
interesting  documents  bearing  upon  her  studies,  which  he  had  obtained  in 
Paris.  These,  with  her  own  materials,  she  worked  up  into  a  valuable  work, 
which  she  published  in  1^56,  entitled  "  The  Early  History  of  Michigan, 
from  the  first  settlement  to  1815."  In  1860  Mrs.  Sheldon  published  an 
other  work  entitled  "  The  Clevelands;  showing  the  influence  of  a  Christian 
Family  in  the  New  Settlements." 


SHELDON,  JOHN  P. He  was  the  founder,  in  1817,  of  the  Detroit  Ga 
zette,  which  continued  to  flourish  until  1830,  when  the  office  was  burned  and 
the  paper  suspended.  During  the  term  of  William  Woodbridge  upon  the 
bench,  a  man  named  John  Reed  was  tried  in  the  court  before  a  jury  and 
found  guilty,  and  in  noticing  the  case,  Mr.  Sheldon  was  very  severe  upon 
the  court,  declared  that  he  had  a  perfect  right  to  print  his  own  opinion,  and 
uttered  the  curious  boast  that  he  had  "scourged  one  set  of  Judges  off  the 
Bench,  and  most  of  them  out  of  the  Territory."  For  this  assault  he  was 
himself  tried  and  fined  five  hundred  dollars,  which  sum,  although  abund 
antly  able,  he  refused  to  pay,  and  consequently  suffered  a  short  imprison 
ment. 


SMITH,  HENRY. He  was  born  in  New  York;  graduated  at  the  United 

States  Military  Academy  in  1815,  and  at  once  appointed  a  Third  Lieu 
tenant  of  Artillery  ;  in  1816  he  was  made  a  Second  Lieutenant  of  Infantry, 
serving  in  the  Garrison  at  Greenbush  from  1816  to  1819.  During  the  four 
following  years  he  was  on  Quartermaster's  duty  at  Sackett's  Harbor  and 
Plattsburgh,  New  York;  Green  Bay,  in  Wisconsin;  Fort  Brady, in  Michi 
gan;  and  Fort  Smith,  in  Arkansas;  from  1823  to  1826,  as  a  First  Lieu 
tenant,  he  served  on  the  Staff  of  General  Scott;  and  during  the  following 
ten  years  he  was  stationed  at  Jefferson  Barrack,  in  Missouri;  served  as  a 
Captain  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Bad  Axe, 
and  also  served  as  an  Engiifter,  resigning  his  commission  in  1836.  From 
1<S36  to  1840  he  was  a  Civil  Engineer  in  the  service  of  the  Unite;!  States, 
•-superintending  harbor  improvements  on  Lake  Erie;  was  a  member  of  the 
Michigan  Legislature  in  1837  and  1840;  Disbursing  Agent  for  the  Indian 
Department  in  1838;  Major-General  of  the  Michigan  Militia  from  1841  to 
1846 ;  and  Mayor  of  Monroe  in  the  latter  year.  In  1847  he  was  reappointed 
in  the  Army  with  the  rank  of  Major,  performing  quartermaster's  duty  at 
Detroit  and  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  and  died  at  Vera  Cruz,  July  24, 1847. 
lie  always  took  a  special  interest  in  the  public  affairs  of  Michigan,  and 
left  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


486  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

SMITH,  JOSEPH  R. He  was  born  in  New  York,  and  graduated  at  the 

West  Point  Military  Academy  in   1823.     As  a  Lieutenant  he  served  at 
Saute  de  Ste.  Marie  frcm  1823  to  1825;  in  1826  was  assigned  to  Topo- 

fraphical  duty  in  New  York  and  on  the  frontiers;  was  stationed  at  Fort 
lackinaw  from  1832  to  ]>33;  at  Fort  Brady  from  1833  to  1835;  after 
which  he  was  sent  to  Florida,  and  for  his  services  there  and  elsewhere,  he 
was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  war 
with  Mexico ;  was  present  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz,  the  battles  of  Cerro 
Gordo,  Oka  Laka,  Contreras,  and  Churubusco,  in  which  he  was  twice 
wounded,  and  for  his  gallant  and  meritorious  services  was  appointed  Brevet 
Major  in  1847.  In  1851  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major  of  the 
Seventh  United  States  Infantry,  and  was  absent  from  duty  on  sick  leave 
from  1851  to  1862.  Jn  1861  he  was  retired  for  disability  from  wounds 
received  in  battle;  but  as  the  Rebellion  progressed  he  was  again  called  upon 
and  performed  much  important  duty  as  Mustering  and  Disbursing  officer 
in  Michigan,  as  Military  Commander  of  the  District  of  Michigan,  as  Com 
missary  of  Musters  in  the  Northern  Department,  and  the  Department  of 
Ohio  and  of  the  Great  Lakes.  In  1865  he  was  made  a  Brevet-Colonel  for 
meritorious  services  during  the  Rebellion;  and  shortly  afterwards  was  bre 
veted  Brigadier-General  for  "  long  and  faithful  services  "  in  behalf  of  his 
country. 

SPRAGUE,  WILLIAM. He  was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  and,  removing 

to  Michigan,  was  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  that  State,  from  1849 
to  1851 ;  and  died  soon  afterwards. 


STANLEY,  J.  M. He  was  born  in  Canandaigua,  New  York,  in  1814 ; 

spent  his  boyhood  chiefly  in  Buffalo ;  removed  to  Michigan  in  1834,  and  in 
the  following  year  commenced  his  profession  of  Portrait  Painting  in  De 
troit;  between  the  years  1837  and  1839  he  resided  in  Chicago  and  Galena, 
painting  much  among  the  Indians  at  Fort  Suelling ;  subsequently  practiced 
his  art  in  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore  and  Troy ;  in  1842  travelled 
extensively  over  the  western  prairies,  painting  the  portraits,  in  full  costume, 
of  leading  chiefs  around  Fort  Gibson,  in  Texas  and  New  Mexico ;  crossed 
the  Rocky  Mountains  with  the  Kearney  and  Emory  Expeditions,  and  after 
performing  much  important  labor  for  the  Government  in  California,  he 
visited  Oregon,  travelled  extensively  along  the  Columbia  River,  taking 
sketches  and  painting  pictures  of  many  varieties,  in  great  numbers ;  after 
which  he  spent  more  than  a  year  in  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  in  1851  set 
tled  in  Washington  City,  where  he  resided  until  1863,  when  he  returned  to 
Detroit,  where  it  is  likely  he  will  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days.  For 
several  years,  a  chief  attraction  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution  in  Washing 
ton,  was  a  very  extensive  collection  of  Indian  Portraits  and  miscellaneous 
pictures,  painted  by  Mr.  Stanley,  but  they  were  unfortunately  destroyed  by 
fire.  As  a  delineator  of  Indian  character  he  has  never  had  a  superior  in 
this  country,  and  among  his  historical  paintings  are  several  of  great  inter 
est  depicting  events  in  the  history  of  Michigan,  which  have  been  reproduced 
in  chromo-lithograph.  Admirable  portraits  from  his  pencil,  of  distinguished 
men,  are  to  be  fond  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 


STEVENS,  HESTOR  L. He  was  born  in  Lima,  Livingston  County,  New 

York,  in  October,  1803 ;  received  a  good  English  and  classical  education ; 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  487 

adopted  the  profession  of  law ;  was  for  several  years  connected  with  the 
press  in  Rochester;  and  having  taken  up  his  residence  in  Michigan,  was 
elected  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  that  State  from  1853  to  1855. 
Died  in  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  May  7,  1864. 


ST.  CLAIR,  ARTHUR. He  was  born  in  Edinburgh  ;  was  a  Lieutenant 

under  General  Wolfe,  and  subsequently  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
became  a  naturalized  citizen.  At  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution 
he  joined  the  American  Army ;  and  in  1777  was  appointed  a  Major  Gen 
eral,  and  served  with  distinction.  In  1783  he  was  elected  President  of  the 
Cincinnati  Society  of  his  adopted  State ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  Continental 
Congress  from  1785  to  1787,  and  in  the  latter  year  was  chosen  President  of 
that  body.  He  was  afterwards  appointed  Governor  of  the  Northwest  Ter 
ritory,  which  then  included  Michigan,  and  in  1790  he  commanded  an  army 
against  the  Miami  Indians.  He  resigned  his  commission  as  Major  General 
in  1792,  and  the  closing  years  of  his  life  were  passed  in  obscurity  and  pov 
erty.  He  died  in  1818 ;  and  although  some  of  his  military  acts  caused 
much  discussion,  he  was  honored  by  having  his  name  affixed  to  one  of  the 
counties  of  the  State ;  but  the  beautiful  lake  which  borders  the  Detroit 
region  of  Michigan  was  so  named  by  the  early  missionaries  on  account  of 
the  purity  of  its  waters,  and  not,  as  many  suppose,  after  the  General. 


STOUGHTON,  WILLIAM  L. He  was  born  in  New  York  March  20, 

1827  ;  studied  law,  and,  on  coming  to  the  bar,  settled  in  Sturges,  Michigan, 
in  1851 ;  from  1856  to  1860  he  was  a  Prosecuting  Attorney ;  in  1861  he 
was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  United  States  District  Attorney  for 
Michigan,  which  he  soon  resigned  ;  he  then  entered  the  volunteer  army  as 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  was  promoted  a  Colonel,  and  commanded  in  all  the 
operations  of  his  regiment  until  wounded  at  Atlanta.  During  the  war  he 
was  breveted  a  Brigadier-General  for  "  gallantry  in  the  field,"  and  after 
the  war  he  was  breveted  a  Major-Gen eral.  He  had  the  credit  of  firing  the 
first  gun  at  Chickamauga ;  commanded  a  brigade  at  Mission  Ridge,  and 
in  the  Atlanta  campaign ;  and  lost  a  leg  by  a  cannon-ball  at  Rupp's  Sta 
tion,  in  front  of  Atlanta.  In  1866  he  was  elected  Attorney-General  of 
Michigan,  and  in  1868  a  Representative  from  that  State  to  the  Forty-first 
Congress,  serving  on  the  Committees  on  Military  Affairs  and  Revolutionary 
Pensions.  He  resides  in  Sturgis,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  Forty-second 
Congress. 

STRICKLAND,  RANDOLPH.-* — He  was  born  in  Danville,  Steuben  County, 
New  York,  February  4,  1823 ;  received  a  common  school  education  and 
engaged  in  teaching;  removed  to  Michigan  in  1844,  and  studied  law;  came 
to  the  bar  in  1849;  was  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  Clinton  County  in  1852, 
1854,  1856,  1858,  and  1862;  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  in  1861  and 
1862;  was  a  Provost  Marshal  from  1863  to  1865;  member  of  the  State 
Republican  Committee;  a  Delegate  to  the  National  Conventions  of  1856 
and  1868 ;  and  was  elected  a  Representative  from  Michigan  to  the  Forty- 
First  Congress,  serving  on  the  Committees  on  Invalid  Pensions,  and  Mines 
and  Mining.  He  resides  in  St.  John. 


488  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

STRICKLAND,  WILLIAM  P. He  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania, 

in  1809;  was  educated  at  the  Athens  University  of  Ohio;  entered  the 
Methodist  ministry  in  1832;  was  for  four  years  agent  of  the  American 
Bible  Society;  and  was  subsequently  associate  editor  of  the  Christian  Ad 
vocate  and  Journal  in  New  York  city.  He  is  also  a  Doctor  of  Divinity ; 
and  is  the  author  of  an  interesting  and  useful  work  entitled  Old  Macki 
naw ;  or  the  Fortress  of  the  Lakes  and  its  Surroundings,  published  in  1860; 
and  also  of  A  History  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  published  in  1849;  A 
History  of  the  Missions  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  1850;  Manual  of 
Biblical  Literature,  1853;  and  Light  of  the  Temple,  1854.  He  has  been  an 
extensive  contributor  to  the  leading  periodicals  of  the  country,  and  is  re 
cognized  as  a  man  of  ability. 


STUART,  CHARLES  E. He  was  born  in  Columbia  County,  New  York, 

November  25,  1810,  and  adopted  the  profession  of  law.  He  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Michigan  Legislature  in  1842;  a  Representative  in  the  Thirtieth 
and  Thirty-Second  Congresses;  and  was  elected  in  1853,  for  six  years,  a 
Senator  in  Congress,  serving  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Public 
Lauds.  He  was  also  a  Delegate  to  the  Philadelphia  National  Union  Con 
vention  of  1866. 


STUART,  DAVID. He  was  born  in  New  York,  and  was  a  Representa 
tive  in  Congress  from  Michigan,  from  1853  to  1855. 


SUTHERLAND,  JABEZ  G. He  was  born  in  Onondaga  County,  New 

York,  October  6,  1825;  removed  with  his  Father  to  Michigan  in  1836,  and 
has  ever  since  resided  in  the  Counties  of  Genesee  and  Saginaw.  lie  stud 
ied  law,  and  came  to  the  bar  in  1848;  in  1849  he  settled  in  Saginaw  City, 
and  was  made  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  that  County ;  he  was  a  Delegate  to 
the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1850,  and  it  was  through  his  efforts  that 
the  Counties  of  Tuscola,  Saginaw,  Midland,  Montcalm,  and  Newaygo,  were 
named  as  entitled  to  one  Representative  each  in  the  Legislature,  without 
regard  to  the  number  of  their  inhabitants.  In  1853  he  was  elected  to  the 
State  Legislature;  during  the  next  ten  years,  was  wholly  devoted  to  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  with  unusual  success;  in  1858  he  was  the  unsuc 
cessful  Democratic  candidate  for  the  office  of  Attorney-General ;  in  1863 
he  Avas  elected  Circuit  Judge  of  the  Tenth  Circuit,  and  re-elected  to  the 
same  position  in  1869  without  opposition.  His  Circuit  was  for  a  time  the 
largest  in  the  State,  and  the  character  of  the  business  important,  and  his 
written  decisions  would  fill  many  volumes,  tie  was  also  a  Delegate  to  the 
Constitutional  Convention  of  1867.  In  August,  1870,  he  was  nominated 
for  Congress  by  the  Democrats,  with  the  help  of  the  Republicans,  and  con 
trary  to  his  will,  and  at  the  election  in  November,  was  elected  to  the  Forty- 
Second  Congress. 


SWAYNE,  NOAH  II. As  the  successor  of  John  McLean,  and  because 

of  his  judicial  connection  with  the  State  of  Michigan,  we  submit  the  follow 
ing  particulars  respecting  Mr.  Justice  Swayne.     He  was  born  in  Culpepper 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  489 

County,  Virginia,  December  27,  1804.  While  performing  the  duties  of  a 
clerk  iii  an  Apothecary  store  in  Alexandria,  he  acquired  the  rudiments  of 
an  English  and  classical  education,  and  prepared  himself  for  the  Medical 
profession.  He  soon  began  the  study  of  law,  however,  at  Warren  ton,  and 
immediately  after  his  admission  to  the  bar  in  1824,  he  removed  to  Ohio  and 
settled  at  Coshoctou.  In  1829  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  of  that 
State;  in  1830  he  was  appointed  by  President  Jackson,  United  States  Dis 
trict  Attorney  for  Ohio,  holding  the  position  nine  years,  and  residing  in 
Columbus.  In  1834  he  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas, 
but  declined  the  office.  In  1836  he  was  again  elected  to  the  State  Legisla 
ture,  and  took  a  leading  part  in  organizing  Institutions  or  Asylums  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Blind,  the  Lunatic,  and  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  of  the  State; 
and  in  1861  he  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  a  Justice  of  the  Su 
preme  Court  of  the  United  States,  his  District  comprehending  the  States  of 
Ohio,  Michigan,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee. 


SWEET,  WILBER. He  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1760;  served  as  a  boy 

in  the  Army  of  the  Revolution,  and  as  a  soldier  throughout  the  entire  war 
of  1812;  settled  in  Michigan  in  1818;  became  an  active  member  of  the 
Church  when  in  the  eighty-third  year  of  his  age;  and  died  at  Kalamazoo, 
August  19,  1857. 


TAPPAN,  HENRY  PHILIP. He  was  born  in  Rhinebeck,  early  in  the 

present  century;  graduated  at  Union  College  in  1825;  was  for  two  years 
pastor  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  in  Schenectady ;  in  1828  became  Pas 
tor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  which  posi 
tion  he  resigned  in  1831,  and  visited  the  West  Indies;  was  a  Professor  in 
the  University  of  New  York  from  1832  to  1838;  subsequently  devoted 
himself  to  literary  pursuits;  iii  1851  and  again  in  1853,  he  visited  Europe; 
in  1852  he  was  again  invited  to  the  New  York  University,  (which  Institu 
tion  he  left  by  resignation,)  but  declining  that  offer,  became  Chancellor  of  the 
University  of  Michigan,  in  which  position  he  remained  for  many  years, 
when  his  connection  with  it  was  broken  off,  and  he  again  visited  Europe. 
His  publications  are  as  follows:  Freedom  of  the  Will,  Doctrine  of  the  Will, 
Elements  of  Logic,  University  Education,  and  A  Step  from  the  New  World  to 
the  Old  World.  It  was  through  his  personal  efforts  that  a  first  class  Astro 
nomical  Observatory  was  established  in  connection  with  the  University,  the 
necessary  funds  having  been  obtained  from  liberal  citizens  of  Detroit. 


TECUMSEH. He  was  born  in  Ohio  on  the  Sciota  River,  about  the  year 

1770;  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  predatory  incursions  against  the  white 
inhabitants  of  the  Northwest,  and  to  a  considerable  extent  in  the  Territory 
of  Michigan;  and  in  1806,  as  elsewhere  mentioned  in  this  volume,  he  ma 
tured  the  project  of  a  Confederacy  of  all  the  Indian  tribes  in  tjie  Lake 
country,  for  the  extermination  of  the  white  race  in  that  region.  The  bat 
tle  of  Tippecanoe,  fought  November  7,  1811,  in  which  General  Harrison 
defeated  the  brother  of  Tecumseh,  more  generally  known  as  the  Prophet, 
completely  annihilated  the  hopes  of  the  barbarian  brothers.  Tecumseh  was 
not  present  at  this  battle.  During  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  he  was  an 

2  E  * 


490  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

ally  of  King  George;  had  under  his  command  about  two  thousand  fellow 
Indians,  and  held  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General.  He  was  present  with  his 
forces  in  several  engagements,  and  was  killed  by  Colonel  Richard  M.  John 
son  in  the  battle  of  Moravian  Towns,  October  5,  1813.  He  has  been  made 
the  hero  of  many  poems  and  tales,  and  was  a  warrior  of  much  renown;  and 
his  life  was  written  by  Benjamin  Drake.  Henry  J.  Morgan,  in  his  work  on 
Celebrated  Canadians,  makes  the  remark  that  the  Provinces  of  Canada 
might  have  been  lost  to  the  British  Crown,  had  it  not  been  for  such  "  brave 
and  devoted  men"  as  Tecumseh  and  his  brother,  the  Prophet. 


THURBER,  JEFFERSON  G. He  was  born  in  1807,  and  become  a  resi 
dent  of  Monroe,  Michigan,  in  1833.  He  was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and 
earnestly  devoted  to  its  practice;  was  a  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  the  State; 
Judge  of  Probate  for  Monroe  County;  a  Presidential  Elector  in  1849;  also 
served  as  a  Representative  and  a  Senator  in  the  State  Legislature;  was 
Speaker  of  the  House  in  1852;  and  filled  all  those  positions  with  honor  to 
himself  and  the  State.  He  died  hi  Monroe,  May  6,  1857,  leaving  a  bright 
reputation. 


TONTI,  HENRI  DE. He  came  to  Canada  from  Italy,  where  he  had 

been  an  officer  in  the  military  service,  as  an  assistant  to  La  Salle,  but  spent 
more  time  in  the  Michigan  country  than  did  his  chief.  He  was  on  duty  at 
Detroit,  Mackinaw,  and  the  Saute  de  Ste.  Marie ;  explored  Lakes  Huron 
and  Michigan,  as  well  as  the  rivers  Illinois  and  Mississippi ;  and  he  was  so 
deeply  attached  to  La  Salle  that  he  served  him  as  Captain  from  1678  for  a 
long  time  without  pay.  By  all  those  with  whom  he  was  associated  his  ser 
vices  were  highly  appreciated.  When  La  Salle  died  he  happened  to  be  in 
the  North,  and  seized  with  a  desire  to  rescue  his  remains,  he  attempted  a 
journey  to  the  Southwest,  which  only  terminated  in  disaster.  Having  in 
early  life  lost  one  of  his  hands  in  a  military  exploit  in  Italy,  he  subse 
quently  used  an  iron  hand,  which  he  kept  gloved,  and  all  his  exploits  in 
America  as  an  explorer  and  fur-trader  were  performed  under  that  disad 
vantage.  It  is  said,  however,  that  he  would  occasionally  knock  an  Indian's 
tooth  out  of  his  head  with  great  ease,  which  gave  him  the  reputation  of 
being  a  "  medicine  man."  For  some  years  there  was  a  blight  resting  upon 
his  reputation  because  of  the  rascalities  of  his  brother,  Alphonse  de  Tonti, 
who  long  commanded  at  Detroit.  He  wrote  an  account  of  his  adventures 
in  America,  which  was  published  after  his  death,  but  when  and  where  he 
died  is  unknown.  During  a  portion  of  his  career  in  America  he  served  as 
a  Captain,  under  Cadillac,  the  founder  of  Detroit.  His  name  is  printed 
Tonty  as  well  as  Tonti,  but  the  latter  style  would  seem  to  be  more  in  keep 
ing  with  the  Italian  language. 


TROWBRIDGE,  CHARLES  C. He  was  born  in  Albany,  New  York, 

December  29,  1800,  and  was  the  son  of  Luther  Trowbridge,  who  served 
with  credit  as  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  War  from  Massachusetts,  but 
subsequently  settled  in  New  York.  When  twelve  years  of  age  he  became 
a  clerk  with  Horatio  Ross,  of  Oswego,  New  York,  where  he  remained  until 
1819,  when  he  removed  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  and  settled  in  Detroit, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  491 


with  which  he  has  ever  since  been  intimately  identified.  From  1#19  to 
1825  he  held  various  positions  of  trust  under  Thomas  Rowland  and  Lewis 
Cass.  With  the  latter  he  was  on  the  most  intimate  terms  of  friendship, 
and  in  many  negotiations  with  the  Indians  he  was  vested  by  the  Governor 
with  large  discretion  ;  and  because  of  his  acquaintance  with  various  Indian 
dialects,  he  was  enabled  to  render  important  assistance  to  the  Government 
in  negotiating  treaties.  When  General  Cass  became  Secretary  of  War  he 
invited  Mr.  Trowbridge  to  take  a  leading  position  in  that  Department  ;  but 
his  disinclination  for  office  compelled  him  to  decline  the  offer.  In  1825  he 
was  appointed  Cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Michigan,  at  that  time  the  only  bank 
north  of  Cincinnati  and  west  of  Rochester,  and  held  the  position  for  ten 
years;  he  was  Mayor  of  Detroit  in  1834,  when  the  city  suffered  from  chol 
era,  and  the  duties  of  the  office  were  performed  with  great  danger  and  dis 
comfort  ;  in  1837  he  was  the  Whig  candidate  for  Governor  of  Michigan, 
and  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority  ;  in  1839  he  became  President  of  the 
Bank  of  Michigan,  and  so  continued  during  its  existence;  from  1844  to 
1854  he  was  President  of  the  Michigan  State  Bank;  in  1853  he  became 
the  Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  Resident  Director  of  the  Detroit  and  Mil 
waukee  Railroad  Company  ;  and  in  1863  he  was  elected  President  of  the 
Company,  which  position  he  still  holds.  During  the  summer  of  1870  he 
visted  Europe.  With  regard  to  the  part  he  has  taken  in  projecting  and 
promoting  works  of  public  interest,  of  charity  and  benevolence,  and  of 
religious  importance  connected  with  the  State  of  Michigan,  there  is  but  one 
opinion  among  the  people,  and  that  is  altogether  honorable  to  his  mind  and 
heart. 


TROWBRIDGE,  ROWLAND  E. Was  born  in  Elmira,  New  York,  June 

18, 1821  ;  removed  with  his  parents  to  Michigan  when  a  mere  child  ;  grad 
uated  at  Kenyon  College,  Ohio,  in  1841 ;  has  been  devoted  all  his  life  to 
the  business  of  farming  ;  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  Michigan  in  1856  and 
1*58 ;  and  in  1860  was  elected  a  Representative  from  Michigan  to  the 
Thirty-seventh  Congress,  serving  on  the  Committee  on  the  Post  Office  and 
Post  Roads.  He  was  also  re-elected  to  the  Thirty-ninth  Congress,  serving 
on  the  Committees  on  Revolutionary  Claims  and  Agriculture.  He  was 
also  a  Delegate  to  the  Philadelphia  "Loyalists'  Convention"  of  1866,  and 
was  re-elected  to  the  Fortieth  Congress,  serving  as  Chairman  of  the  Com 
mittee  on  Agriculture.  He  is  a  nephew  of  C.  C.  Trowbridge,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  citizens  of  Detroit. 


TROWBRIDGE,  WILLIAM  P. He  was  born  in  Michigan,  and  appointed 

from  that  State  to  the  West  Point  Academy,  where  he  graduated  in  1848. 
He  was  assigned  to  the  Corps  of  Engineers,  and  had  charge  of  the  Ob 
servatory  at  West  Point.  In  1849,  as  Lieutenant,  he  was  assigned  to  duty 
in  the  Coast  Survey;  engaged  in  making  Primary  Triangulations  on  the 
coasts  of  Maine  and  Virginia ;  in  1854  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant, 
and  assigned  to  surveying  duties  on  the  Pacific  coast.  In  1856  he  resigned 
his  commission  in  the  Army ;  was  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  the  Uni 
versity  of  Michigan ,in  1856  and  1857;  was  made  an  A.  M.  by  the  Roch 
ester  (New  York)  University ;  and  from  1857  until  1861  was  a  scientific 
assistant  to  Professor  Bache'on  the  coast  survey.  From  1861  until  1865 
he  was  engaged  in  superintending,  as  Engineer,  the  public  works  in  the 


492  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

harbor  of  New  York,  viz :  at  Willett's  Point,  Fort  Schuyler,  and  Govern 
or's  Island.  Since  1865  he  has  held  the  position  of  Vice  President  of  the 
extensive  Novelty  Works  in  New  York. 


TEUMBULL,  JOHN. As  this  eminent  author  and  jurist  was  the  father- 
in-law  of  William  Woodbridge,  and  spent  the  last  six  years  of  his  life  as 
a  citizen  of  Michigan,  he  comes  into  our  present  record  with  strict  pro 
priety.  He  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1750,  and  graduated  at  Yale  Col 
lege  at  a  very  early  age.  In  1772  he  published  the  first  part  of  his  poem, 
entitled  The  Progress  of  Idleness.  In  the  following  year  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  Connecticut,  and  removing  to  Boston,  continued  his  legal 
studies  in  the  office  of  John  Adams.  He  returned  to  Connecticut  in  1774, 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  New  Haven.  The  first 
part  of  McTingal  was  published  in  Philadelphia  in  1775;  but  in  1782  the 
poem  was  completed  and  published  in  Hartford,  where  the  author  at  that 
time  resided.  More  than  thirty  editions  of  this  work  were  published  in 
his  life  time.  In  17^9  he  was  appointed  State  Attorney  for  the  County  of 
Hartford,  and  in  1801  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Errors,  which 
position  he  held  until  1819.  In  1825  he  removed  to  Detroit  and  resided 
with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  W'oodbridge,  and  he  died  at  Spring  Wells  in  May, 
1831. 


TURNER,  JOSIAH. He  was   born  in   New  Haven,  Addison  County, 

Vermont,  September  1,1811  ;  received  an  academical  education  at  Middle- 
bury  and  St.  Albans  in  that  State;  studied  law  with  his  uncle,  Hon.  Bates 
Turner,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1833,  in  St.  Alban's  County,  where 
he  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1<S40  he  emigrated  to 
Michigan  and  settled  in  Howell,  Livingston  County,  where  he  resumed  his 
profession;  in  1857  he  was  appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  State  by  the  Governor,  and  shortly  afterwards  was  elected  by  the 
people  Circuit  Judge  of  the  Seventh  Judicial  Circuit  for  six  years,  and  in 
1863  re-elected  for  the  same  time.  In  1869  he  was  again  re-elected,  by 
both  political  parties,  for  a  third  term  of  six  years,  and  without  any  oppo 
sition.  He  removed  from  Howell  to  Owasso  in  1860;  was  chosen  Mayor 
of  that  city  in  1864  for  two  years;  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Cou- 
titutional  Convention  of  1867.  With  such  a  record  to  stand  upon,  it  were 
superfluous  to  add  that  Judge  Turner  has  been  a  popular  and  highly  in 
fluential  citizen  of  the  State. 


TYLER,  MOSES  COIT. He  was  born  in  Griswold,  New  London  county, 

Connecticut,  in  1835 ;  was  taken  to  Michigan  by  his  parents  while  yet  an 
infant,  and  they  settled  first  in  Calhoun  county,  and  afterwards  in  Detroit; 
he  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1857  ;  studied  theology  at  Andover,  and  in 
1860  was  engaged  in  the  ministry  at  Poughkeepsie,  New  York ;  left  the 
ministry  in  1862  on  account  of  his  health,  and  visited  Europe.  During 
his  stay  abroad  he  lectured  on  topics  connected  with  the  civil  war ;  wrote 
occasionally  for  English  and  American  periodicals;  returned  to  this  coun 
try  in  1867,  and  lectured  throughout  the  Northern  States ;  and  during  that 
year  he  was  appointed  Professor  of  the  English  Language  and  Literature 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  493 

in  the  University  of  Michigan,  which  position  he  continues  to  hold.  In 
1^69  he  published  n  volume  of  Essays  on  physical  culture,  entitled  "  The 
Brownville  Papers,"  and  has  been  connected  editorially  with  the  New  York 
Independent,  and  a  writer  for  various  periodicals.  He  has  frequently  been 
invited  to  accept  of  honorable  positions  outside  of  Michigan,  but  has  pre 
ferred  to  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  State  to  which  he  is  bound  by  many  old 
associations. 


UPSON,  CHARLES. Born  in  Southington,  Hartford  county,  Connecti 
cut,  March  19, 1821 ;  received  a  good  English  education ;  removed  to  Mich 
igan  in  1845;  studied  law,  and  came  to  the  bar  in  1847;  in  1849  and  1850 
was  County  Clerk  for  St.  Joseph  county;  in  1853  and  1854  was  Prosecut 
ing  Attorney  for  the  same;  in  1855  and  1856  held  the  office  of  State  Sena 
tor;  in  1861  and  1862  he  was  Attorney-General  for  Michigan,  and  was 
elected  a  Representative  from  Michigan  to  the  Thirty-eighth  Congress, 
serving  on  the  Committee  on  Elections  and  Unfinished  Business.  Re-elected 
to  the  Thirty-ninth  Congress,  serving  on  the  Committees  on  Elections,  and 
Revolutionary  Pensions.  He  was  also  a  Delegate  to  the  Philadelphia 
"Loyalists'  Convention"  of  1^66;  and  was  re-elected  to  the  Fortieth  Con 
gress,  and  made  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Expenditures  in  the  Navy 
Department.  In  1870  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  for  the 
Fifteenth  District  of  Michigan. 


VAN    DYKE,  JAMES  A. He  was   born   in   Mercersburg,  Franklin 

County,  Pennsylvania,  in  December,  1813 ;  received  his  education  at  Mad 
ison  College,  which  he  entered  in  1^28  ;  studied  law  at  Chambersburg,  and 
also  at  Hagerstown,  in  Maryland ;  and  after  spending  one  year  in  Balti 
more,  removed  to  Detroit,  In  that  city  he  was  associated  with  A.  D.  Fra- 
zer,  C.  W.  Whipple,  E.  B.  Harrington,  and  II.  H.  Emmons  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession.  In  1840  he  was  appointed  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  the 
County  of  Wayne ;  in  1843  and  1844  he  was  chosen  an  Alderman  in  the 
Councils  of  Detroit;  in  1847  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  City;  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  the  Detroit  Water  Works  ;  also 
an  active  fireman,  and  President  of  the  Fire  Department  of  the  city  for 
five  years ;  he  also  held  a  number  of  other  local  positions  of  honor  and 
trust,  and  died  May  7,  1855 ;  and  having  for  many  years  been  a  promi 
nent  member  of  the  Bar  at  Detroit,  the  honors  which  were  paid  to  his 
memory  by  that  body  were  in  keeping  with  his  many  virtues  as  a  man  of 
high  character  and  ability.  An  interesting  tribute  to  his  memory  was  pub 
lished  in  Detroit  in  1856.  He  acquired  special  distinction  in  what  was 
known  as  the  railroad  conspiracy  case  of  1851. 


WALBRIDGE,  DAVID  S. Born  in  Bennington,  Vermont,  July  30, 1802; 

received  his  education  from  the  common  schools  of  that  vicinity ;  devoted 
himself  to  the  various  employments  of  the  farmer,  the  merchant,  and  the 
miller;  removed  to  Michigan  in  1842,  and  was  elected  a  Representative  in 
Congress  from  that  State  in  1S54,  and  served  as  such  until  1857.  He  lived 
at  Kalamazoo,  and  died  in  that  place  June  15,  1868. 


494  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

WALDRON,  HENRY. He  was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  October 

11,  1819 ;  graduated  at  Rutger's  College,  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  in 
July,  1836 ;  became  a  civil  engineer  by  profession,  and  settled  in  Michigan ; 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature  of  Michigan  in  1843 ;  and  served  as  a  Rep 
resentative  in  Congress  during  the  years  1855,  '56,  '57,  and  '58,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Mileage.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Congress,  serving  on  the  Committee  on  Territories.  He  subsequently 
held  a  number  of  local  positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  First  Congres 
sional  district;  took  a  prominent  part  in  organizing  troops  during  the 
Rebellion ;  and  in  1870  was  re-elected  to  the  Forty-second  Congress. 


WALKER,  CHARLES  IRISH. He  was  born  in  Otsego  county,  New  York, 

April  25,  1814;  received  a  common  school  education,  and  was  afterwards 
a  merchant's  clerk ;  and  in  1836  removed  to  Michigan,  and  settled  at  Grand 
Rapids,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  purchase,  for  others,  of  real  estate. 
In  1839  he  began  the  study  of  law  ;  in  1840  he  was  elected  to  the  State 
Legislature ;  in  1841  went  to  New  England  to  complete  his  legal  studies ; 
and  having  come  to  the  bar  in  Vermont,  spent  about  ten  years  in  that  State 
practicing  his  profession.  In  1851  he  returned  to  Michigan,  and  settled  in 
Detroit ;  and  in  1857  he  aided  in  reviving  the  Historical  Society  of  Michi 
gan,  and  became  its  Corresponding  Secretary,  delivering  occasional  ad 
dresses  on  the  early  history  of  the  State.  On  the  organization  of  the  Law 
Department  in  the  University  of  Michigan  in  1859,  he  was  appointed  Pro 
fessor  of  Law,  which  honorable  position  he  still  holds,  the  school  over  which 
he  presides  being  considered  one  of  the  most  successful  and  largest  in  the 
Union.  In  1867  he  was  appointed  by  the  Governor  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the 
Judgeship  of  the  third  judicial  circuit,  which  office,  after  serving  one  term, 
he  resigned,  and  returned  to  the  more  lucrative  employment  of  practicing 
his  profession. 


WALK-IN-THE- WATER. He  was  a  Huron  of  the  Wyandot  tribe.     His 

Indian  name  was  My-ee-rah,  and  he  was  one  of  the  most  active  Chiefs  with 
Tecumseh  in  the  beginning  of  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  friendly  to  the 
United  States,  and  offered  his  services  to  Hull,  but,  the  humane  impulses 
of  that  General,  together  with  his  instructions  from  the  Government,  would 
not  allow  him  to  employ  savages.  He  was  leader  and  orator  of  the  Wyan- 
dots  on  the  American  side  of  the  Detroit  river,  but  was  forced  by  circum 
stances  to  join  the  British  at  Maiden.  His  heart,  however,  was  not  with 
them,  and  he  was  active  in  persuading  various  tribes  to  remain  neutral. 
The  British  took  measures  to  counteract  this  influence,  and  a  council  was 
convened  at  Maiden,  wherein  he  vindicated  his  conduct  in  a  speech,  which, 
was  called  by  his  enemies  "American  talk,"  but  it  resulted  in  the  separation 
of  Tecumseh  and  the  Prophet,  with  two  Wyandot  Chiefs,  who  openly  joined 
the  British ;  while  Walk-in-the- Water  and  his  associates  declined  to  remain 
with  them.  He  with  many  of  his  followers  deserted  from  Proctor  at  Chat 
ham,  Canada  West.  He  was  at  the  battles  of  the  River  Raisin  and 
Thames,  and,  at  the  latter,  he  with  his  sixty  warriors  offered  their  services 
to  Harrison  conditionally;  which  he  declined,  and  they  returned  to  the  De 
troit  river.  His  residence  at  Maguaga  was  on  the  land  afterwards  owned 
by  John  Biddle,  and  on  which  he  built  his  farm  houses.  His  totem  or 
arms,  was  a  turtle.  He  died  about  the  year  1817. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  495 

WATSON,  JAMES  C. While  living  upon  a  farm  in  Michigan,  with  his 

mother,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  obtaining  an  education  at  the  University 
of  the  State,  and  after  many  difficulties,  went  through  a  course  of  studies 
and  was  duly  graduated.  He  was  subsequently  made  Professor  of  Astron 
omy  in  that  Institution,  which  position  he  still  holds.  He  is  the  author  of 
a  work  on  Comets,  and  another  on  Theoretical  Astronomy;  and  has  ac 
quired  distinction  in  the  scientific  world  as  the  discoverer  of  several  new 
planets ;  and  in  1870,  the  French  Academy  of  Sciences  awarded  to  him 
the  Astronomical  prize  for  his  important  discoveries. 


WAYNE,  ANTHONY. He  was  born  in  Easttown,  Chester  County,  Penn 
sylvania,  in  1746.  In  1773  he  was  elected  a  Representative  in  the  General 
Assembly,  where  he  took  an  active  part  against  the  claims  of  Great  Brit 
ain.  In  1775  he  entered  the  army  as  a  Colonel,  and  in  the  battle  at  Three 
Rivers  in  1776,  received  a  wound  in  the  leg,  and  at  the  close  of  the  cam 
paign  was  made  a  Brigadier-General.  In  the  battles  of  Brandywine,  Ger- 
mantown,  and  Monmouth,  and  especially  at  Stony  Point,  he  greatly  distin 
guished  himself,  receiving  a  wound  in  his  head.  In  17^1  he  led  the  Penn 
sylvania  line  to  form  a  junction  with  Lafayette  in  Virginia,  and  participated 
in  the  capture  of  Cornwallis.  After  that  he  conducted  the  war  in  Georgia, 
with  equal  success,  receiving  from  that  State,  through  its  Legislature,  a 
valuable  farm  as  a  reward  for  his  services,  upon  which  he  retired  after  the 
war.  In  1787  he  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  for  framing  the  Fed 
eral  Constitution;  and  he  served  as  a  Representative  in  Congress  from 
Georgia,  in  1791,  but  his  seat  was  successfully  contested  by  James  Jack 
son,  and  vacated  by  a  resolution  of  the  House.  In  1792,  he  was  again  called 
into  military  service,  and  succeeded  St.  Clair,  in  the  command  of  the  North 
west  Territory,  and  so  became  identified  with  the  Territory  of  Michigan. 
In  1794,  at  the  battle  of  the  Miami,  he  gained  a  complete  victory  over  the 
Indians,  won  the  name  of  "  Mad  Anthony,"  and  in  1 795  he  concluded  a 
lasting  treaty  with  the  hostile  tribes  of  the  Northwest,  and  subsequently 
attained  the  rank  of  Major-General.  It  was  whilst  returning  from  the 
Upper  Lake  country,  that  he  had  an  attack  of  gout,  of  which  he  died  in  a 
hut  at  Presque  Isle,  Harbor  of  Erie,  in  1796,  and  was  temporally  buried 
there;  but  in  1809  his  remains  were  removed  to  St.  David's  Church,  in 
Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  a  monument  recalling  the  patriotic 
achievements  of  his  life  was  placed  over  his  grave,  to  mark  the  resting 
place  of  a  true  warrior  and  patriot.  That  his  services  on  the  frontier,  were 
appreciated  by  Michigan,  is  proven  by  the  name  which  distinguishes  its 
wealthiest  and  most  populous  county. 


WELCH,  ADONIJA  S. He  was  born  in  East  Hampton,  Connecticut,  in 

1821  ;  removed  to  Michigan  in  1839,  and  graduated  at  the  University  of 
that  State  in  1846;  studied  law,  but  preferred  teaching,  and  had  charge 
of  a  High  School  at  Jonesville;  visited  California  in  1849;  and  on  his 
return  was  Principal  of  the  Normal  School  of  Michigan  for  four  years;  in 
1865  he  removed  to  Florida,  and  in  1868  he  was  elected  a  Senator  in  Con 
gress  from  that  State  for  the  term  ending  in  1869,  serving  on  the  Commit 
tees  on  Agriculture,  and  Post  Offices  and  Post  Roads. 


496  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

\VIIEELOCK,  JULIA  S. As  England  had  her  Florence  Nightingale  in 

the  Crimean  war,  so  had  the  State  of  Michigan  her  Julia  Wheelock  amid 
the  battle-fields  of  Virginia,  and  of  this  noble  heroine  we  submit  the  fol 
lowing  :  On  the  10th  of  September,  1862,  while  engaged  in  school  teach 
ing  in  the  township  of  Ionia,  Michigan,  she  heard  the  sad  news  that  her 
soldier  brother,  Orville  Wheelock,  had  been  wounded  at  Bull  Kim  ;  and 
in  less  than  five  days  from  that  time  she  stood  beside  his  grave  in  the  city 
of  Alexandria.  Then  it  was  that  she  resolved  to  remain  in  this  strange 
land,  and  endeavor,  God  being  her  helper,  to  do  for  others  as  she  fain 
would  have  done  for  her  brother.  A  field  of  labor  soon  presented  itself, 
which  she  gladly  entered,  and  to  which  she  devoted  all  her  energies  from 
September,  1862,  until  July,  1865.  Her  acts  of  kindness  and  words  of 
Christian  comfort  during  that  period,  soothed  the  anguish  of  many  a  poor 
soldier  in  his  dying  hour,  and  became  a  part  of  the  unwritten  history  of 
Michigan,  which  the  heroic  soldiers  of  that  State,  still  living,  will  ever  re 
member  with  heart-felt  gratitude.  During  the  period  in  question  she  kept 
a  Journal  for  her  own  pleasure  and  not  for  publication;  but  in  1870  she 
was  induced  by  her  friends  to  revise  it  for  the  press,  and  thus  came  into 
existence  "  The  Boys  in  White;  the  Experience  of  a  Hospital  Agent  in  and 
Around  Washington."  Of  this  book,  we  have  only  to  say  that  it  is  written 
with  ability  and  in  good  taste,  abounds  in  passages  of  rare  interest  and 
pathos,  and  is  calculated  to  give  the  reader  an  exalted  idea  of  the  truly 
noble  and  unselfish  authoress  and  heroine.  We  have  only  to  add  that,  for 
her  services  during  the  war,  she  never  asked  nor  received  any  compensa 
tion,  and  that  for  two  years  thereafter  she  was  a  suffering  invalid. 


WENDELL,  J.  A.  T. He  was  of  Scotch  parentage,  born  on  the  Island 

of  Mackinaw,  and  has  always  resided  there.  After  acquiring  a  good  edu 
cation,  he  turned  his  attention  to  mercantile  pursuits,  and  for  many  years 
has  been  a  prime  mover  in  developing  the  commerce  of  the  more  Northern 
Lakes.  He  served  for  many  sessions  in  the  two  Houses  of  the  State  Legis 
lature;  and  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Lieutenant-Governor  of 
Michigan,  but  failed  of  election.  He  visited  Europe  a  few  years  ago,  and 
has  travelled  much  over  the  United  States,  but  has  not  yet  found  any 
place  strong  enough  to  allure  him  from  his  Island  home  in  the  North. 


WHISTLER,  WILLIAM. By  his  long  residence  and  military  service  in 

the  North-west,  and  also  by  family  ties,  Colonel  Whistler  has  long  been 
identified  with  Michigan.  He  entered  the  Army  as  a  Lieutenant  in  1801 ; 
distinguished  himself  at  the  battle  of  Maguago  in  1812,  and  was  at  once 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain;  in  1822  he  was  appointed  a  Major  by 
brevet  for  ten  years'  faithful  service;  made  a  full  Major  in  1826;  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  in  1834;  and  full  Colonel  in  1845.  His  subsequent  career 
was  equally  honorable.  His  father,  John  Whistler,  Jr.,  was  an  Army 
officer,  and  a  citizen  of  Michigan  Territory,  and  was  wounded  at  the  battle 
of  Maguago  in  1812,  and  died  in  1813.  His  grandfather,  John  Whistler, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  British  Army,  served  also  in  the  Army  of  the  United 
States,  and  died  in  1827.  His  brother,  George  W.  Whistler,  was  educated 
at  West  Point,  and  after  leaving  the  Army  obtained  distinction  as  an  en 
gineer  in  the  service  of  Kussia,  and  died  at  St.  Petersburg  in  1849. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN.  497 

WHITING,  HENRY. He  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  entered  the 

United  States  Army  as  Cornet  in  the  Light  Dragoons,  in  1808,  and  was  on 
duty  in  Michigan  for  many  years,  and  always  took  an  interest  in  the  Terri 
tory  and  State.  He  was  a  man  of  reflection  and  literary  culture,  a  writer 
for  the  reviews,  and  by.  his  occasional  discourses,  threw  much  light  on 
the  history  of  the  Lake  country.  As  a  Lieutenant  and  Aid  to  General 
Boyd,  he  was  present  at  the  capture  of  Fort  George,  in  Canada,  in  1813, 
and  for  his  gallantry  on  that  occasion  he  was  breveted  a  Captain.  He  was 
also  Aid  to  General  Macomb  in  1815,  and  in  1817  was  made  a  Captain;  in 
1824  he  was  breveted  Major  for  ten  years' service;  in  1834  he  became  a 
Lieutenant-Colonel;  in  1838  Deputy  Quartermaster  General,  with  the  rank 
of  Colonel ;  in  1846  he  was  made  an  Assistant  Quartermaster-General ;  served 
in  Mexico  under  General  Taylor  as  Chief  Quartermaster ;  was  breveted  a 
Brigadier-General  in  1847  for  gallant  and  meritorious  service  at  Buena 
Vista;  in  1858  he  was  elected  a  Regent  of  the  University  of  Michigan; 
and  died  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  September  16,  1851.  He  had  a  son,  Henry 
M.  Whiting,  who  served  with  honor  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  became  a 
Lieutenant  of  Artillery,  and  died  at  Fort  Brown,  Texas,  October  8,  1853, 
aged  thirty- two  years. 


WHITING,  GEORGE  L. He  was  a  printer  and  a  man  of  rare  culture, 

long  honorably  identified  with  the  interests  of  Michigan,  and  in  1829 
established  the  Detroit  Weekly  Advertiser,  which  appeared  as  a  daily  news 
paper  in  1^35,  and  after  a  long  and  useful  career,  was  consolidated  in 
1862  with  The  Tribune,  and  is  still  published  under  the  title  of  Advertiser 
and  Tribune.  In  1834,  Mr.  Whiting,  in  conjunction  with  Stephen  Wells, 
published  a  small  volume,  entitled  Historical  and  Scientific  Sketches  of  Michi 
gan,  which  was  made  up  of  interesting  papers  prepared  by  Lewis  Cass,  H. 
R.  Schoolcraft,  John  Biddle,  and  Henry  Whiting.  He  also  published  in 
Detroit  two  books  in  the  Ottawa  language;  first,  The  Ottawa  Prayer  Book 
or  Anamie  Misinaigan,  in  1842;  and,  second,  The  Indian  Book  or  Anicina- 
bek  Amisinahikaniwa,  in  1830. 


WHIPPLE,  CHARLES  W. He  was  born  in  New  York,  and  was  among 

the  earliest  emigrants  to  Michigan  from  the  East,  and  for  many  years  was 
well  known  throughout  the  State  as  a  faithful  officer  and  jurist.  He  was 
elected  to  the  State  Legislature,  and  in  1836  and  1837  was 
of  the  House  of  Representatives.  He  held  various  positions  of 
honor,  having  long  been  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  a 
,)f  the  Convention  of  1850  which  framed  the  present  Constitution 
ate.  He  died  at  Detroit,  October  25,  1856. 


WHITTELSEY,  HENRY  M. He  was  born  in  Connecticut,  August  12, 

1821;  studied  law  in  New  York  City,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1845; 
removed  to  Michigan  in  1854,  and  located  in  Detroit,  where  he  held  vari 
ous  positions  connected  with  the  Fire  Department,  Young  Men's  Society, 
State  Military  Board,  and  the  Light  Guard  of  the  City.  He  was  an  officer 
in  the  School  of  Instruction  at  Fort  Wayne,  where  were  instructed  the 
officers  of  the  first  five  regiments  furnished  by  Michigan  for  the  suppression 

2  F 


498  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

of  the  Rebellion,  and  subsequently  rendered  important  services  as  a  muster 
ing  officer.  In  1860  he  was  elected  Register  for  Wayne  County;  in  1861, 
Captain  and  Acting-Quartermaster  of  Volunteers ;  in  1865,  with  the  rank 
of  Colonel,  he  was  associated  with  the  army  of  Georgia  as  Chief-Quarter 
master;  subsequently  served  on  similar  duty  in  Mississippi,  and  also  in  the 
Freedmen's  Bureau  in  Washington  City ;  he  was  promoted  in  regular  grad 
ation  to  the  rank  of  Colonel,  and  made  a  Brigadier-General  by  brevet ;  and 
was  mustered  out  of  the  military  service  in  1867.  According  to  the  records 
of  the  War  Department,  his  services  as  an  officer  were  highly  appreciated 
by  a  number  of  the  leading  General  Commanders,  and  he  was  recommend 
ed  for  a  position  in  the  Regular  Army.  In  1870,  after  having  acquired 
much  experience  in  the  affairs  of  the  Metropolis,  he  was  elected  Comptrol 
ler  of  the  City  of  Washington.  He  is  connected  with  the  distinguished 
Whittlesey  family  of  Ohio,  although  the  name  is  spelled  differently. 


WILCOX,  ORLANDO  B. He  was  born  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  about  the 

year  1826;  and  graduated  at  the  West  Point  Academy  in  1846.  He  took 
an  active  part  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  as  a  Lieutenant  of  Artillery,  and 
remained  in  the  United  States  service  until  about  1*54,  when  he  resigned 
and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law,  to  the  study  of  which,  in  a  quiet  way, 
he  had  previously  devoted  some  attention.  Prior  to  the  Rebellion  he  took 
a  lively  interest  in  organizing  the  Militia  of  Michigan,  and  when  hostilities 
commenced,  he  offered  his  sword  to  the  State  and  was  appointed  Colonel  of 
the  First  Infantry,  and  his  regiment  was  the  first  to  report  for  service  at 
Washington  from  the  West.  He  was  in  command  at  Alexandria  just  be 
fore  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  participated  in  that  battle,  in  which  he 
was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  and  as  such  remained  in  Richmond  about 
fifteen  months.  When  General  Lorenzo  Thomas  was  negotiating  with  the 
Confederate  officer  Robert  Ould,  for  the  exchange  of  prisoners,  he  made  a 
special  request  in  behalf  of  Colonel  Wilcox,  to  which,  in  a  day  or  two,  the 
Confederate  assented.  He  soon  afterwards  returned  to  the  army  and  parti 
cipated  in  many  of  the  engagements  in  Virginia,  and  was  subsequently 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brevet  Brigadier  and  Brevet  Major-Geueral  of 
Volunteers,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  Spottsylvania  and  Peters 
burg.  He  was  mustered  out  in  1866  and  appointed  an  Assessor  of  Internal 
Revenue  at  Detroit,  but  again  re-appointed  in  the  army;  and  at  the  present 
writing,  1870,  he  is  Colonel  of  the  Twelfth  United  States  Infantry,  and  sta 
tioned  on  Angel  Island,  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  California.  As  an  author 
he  published  in  1856,  "  Shoe-pack  Recollections — A  Way-side  Glimpse  of  Amer 
ican  Life"  and  in  1857,  another  work  entitled  "  Foca,  an  Army  Memoir, 
by  Major  March" 


WILKINS,  Ross. He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania;  educated  for  the  bar 

in  that  State;  and  removed  to  the  West  at  an  early  day,  with  a  Commis 
sion  in  his  pocket  from  President  Jackson,  as  a  Federal  Judge  for  the  Ter 
ritory  of  Michigan.  In  1837,  and  on  several  subsequent  occasions,  he  was 
appointed  a  Regent  of  the  State  University.  Aside  from  exerting  much 
influence  in  his  judicial  capacity,  he  has  always  taken  an  interest  in  the 
public  affairs  of  the  State;  and  he  presided  over  the  first  war-meeting  held 
in  Detroit  after  the  commencement  of  the  Rebellion.  He  was  many  years 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  499 

ago  appointed  a  Circuit  Judge,  arid  remained  in  office  until  the  summer 
of  1870,  when  he  voluntarily  retired  from  the  Bench,  and  is  now  resting 
from  his  long  judicial  labors  in  the  City  of  Detroit. 


WILKINSON,  MORTON  S. Born  in  Skeneateles,  Onondaga  County,  New 

York,  January  22,  1819;  received  an  Academical  education,  working  occa 
sionally  upon  his  father's  farm;  in  1*37  he  visited  Michigan,  but  pushed  on 
to  Illinois,  where  he  was  engaged  for  two  years  in  the  railroad  business; 
returned  to  his  native  town,  studied  law,  arid  on  being  admitted  to  the  bar 
removed  to  Michigan  again,  and  settled  at  Eaton  Rapids.  In  1847  he  re 
moved  to  Minnesota,  and  in  1849,  when  that  Territory  was  organized,  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  he  drafted  the  code  of  laws  for  that 
Territory ;  in  1859  he  was  elected  a  Senator  in  Congress  for  the  term  end 
ing  in  1865,  serving  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Revolutionary  Claims, 
and  as  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Indian  Affairs.  He  was  also  a  Del 
egate  to  the  Baltimore  Convention  of  1864,  and  to  the  Philadelphia  "  Loyal 
ists'  Convention"  of  1866. 


WILLIAMS,  ALPHEUS  S. He  was  born  in  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  Sep 
tember  20,  1810 ;  and  after  graduating  at  Yale  College  in  1831,  spent  two 
years  travelling  in  Europe.  In  1836  he  settled  in  Detroit,  where  he  began 
the  practice  of  law;  was  Judge  of  Probate  for  Wayne  County  from  1840 
to  1844 ;  was  next  elected  Recorder  of  Detroit,  after  having  been  defeated 
as  a  candidate  for  Mayor ;  and  from  1843  to  1847  he  was  the  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Detroit  Daily  Advertiser.  As  a  Lieutenant  Colonel  he 
served  through  the  Mexican  war,  and  in  1849  he  was  appointed  by  Presi 
dent  Taylor  Postmaster  of  Detroit,  holding  the  office  until  1853.  On  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  appointed  a  Major  General  of  Michi 
gan  Volunteers,  and  also  President  of  the  State  Military  Board.  He  subse 
quently  received  from  President  Lincoln  the  appointment  of  Brigadier 
General  in  the  national  army,  and  was  in  active  service  on  the  Upper  Poto 
mac  and  in  Shenandoah  Valley ;  was  for  a  time  in  command  of  General 
Bank's  division  at  Winchester ;  commanded  a  division  under  General  Pope 
at  Cedar  Mountain,  on  the  Rappahannock,  and  at  Mauassas ;  after  the  bat 
tle  of  South  Mountain,  succeeded  General  Banks  as  Corps  Commander, 
and  commanded  the  twelfth  corps  at  Antietam,  and  also  took  an  active 
and  leading  part  in  the  battles  of  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  and  the 
Atlanta  campaign.  Was  with  General  Sherman  in  his  "  march  to  the  sea," 
and  at  Savannah  he  was  breveted  a  Major-General  for  gallant  and  meri 
torious  services  in  the  Georgia  campaign.  He  was  subsequently  assigned 
to  duty  in  Arkansas,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  in  1866.  Soon 
after,  he  was  appointed  one  of  several  commissioners  to  examine  and  adjust 
the  military  claims  of  Missouri.  In  1866  he  was  nominated  for  Governor 
of  Michigan,  but  not  elected ;  and  was  then  appointed  Minister  Resident  to 
the  Republic  of  San  Salvador,  in  Central  America,  in  which  position  he 
remained  until  1869,  when  he  returned  to  Detroit  and  to  private  life. 


WILLIAMS,  JOHN  R. He  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Detroit ;  a 

merchant  by  occupation,  and  for  many  years  took  a  leading  part  in  all  the 


500  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

enterprises  calculated  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  Michigan  and  its  largest 
city.  He  was  elected  Mayor  of  Detroit  on  six  different  occasions  ;  the  first 
time  in  1824,  and  the  last  time  in  1^46;  and  he  died  in  1854,  universally 
lamented  by  his  fellow-citizens  of  all  parties. 


WILLIAMS,  THOMAS. He  was  born  in  New  York  in  1815,  but  subse 
quently  becoming  a  citizen  of  Michigan,  where  he  resided  many  years,  and 
was  appointed  from  that  State  a  cadet  at  AVest  Point,  where  he  graduated 
in  1837.  He  was  at  once  assigned  to  duty  in  the  Fourth  Artillery,  serving 
in  Florida,  in  New  York,  and  in  Michigan,  with  headquarters  at  Detroit, 
until  1840 ;  during  the  latter  year  he  was  Professor  of  Mathematics  at  West 
Point,  and  was  again  transferred  to  Michigan  ;  from  1844  until  1850  he  was 
an  Aid-de-camp  to  General  Scott,  and  was  present  with  him  at  Vera  Cruz, 
Cerro  Gordo,  Cherubusco,  and  at  the  City  of  Mexico,  and  for  his  gallant 
and  meritorious  services  he  received  two  promotions,  the  second  being  that 
of  Major  for  gallantry  at  Chepultepec.  From  1850  until  1852  he  was  again 
on  duty  in  Michigan,  headquarters  at  Mackinaw;  and  from  1852  until 
1858  he  was  on  duty  in  Florida  and  on  the  Western  frontiers.  He  entered 
the  war  for  the  Union  as  Major  of  the  Fifth  Artillery,  and  for  his  services 
in  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  he  was  made  a  Brigadier  General  of  Volun 
teers,  and  after  important  services  in  the  Carolinas,  the  Gulf  States,  and  on 
the  Lower  Mississippi,  he  was  killed  in  battle  at  Baton  Ilouge  August  5, 
1862.  His  last  words,  uttered  to  an  Indiana  regiment  just  before  he  fell, 
were  these :  "  Boys,  your  field  officers  are  all  gone ;  I  will  lead  you"  He  was 
a  soldier  of  rare  bravery  and  high  character,  and  was  deeply  lamented  by 
all  who  knew  him.  Although  General  Robertson  speaks  of  him  as  a  native 
of  Michigan,  the  records  of  the  War  Department  mention  New  York  as 
his  native  State. 


WILLIAMS,  WILLIAM  G. He  was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  1801 ;  spent 

his  boyhood  in  England,  and  went  through  a  course  of  studies  at  Exeter ; 
graduated  at  the  West  Point  Academy  in  1824 ;  spent  two  years  in  Paris, 
studying  his  profession ;  as  a  Second  Lieutenant  of  Infantry  he  served  ten 
years  on  topographical  duty;  as  First  Lieutenant  he  surveyed  the  site  for 
a  fort  in  the  river  Delaware;  as  Brevet  Captain  of  Staff  in  the  Topograph 
ical  Engineers,  he  surveyed  the  route  for  a  ship-canal  around  the  Falls  of 
Niagara  in  1835  and  '36,  performing  similar  service  on  Lake  Champlain, 
at  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and  at  Ciucinna  i,  Ohio ;  in  1837  he  went 
upon  a  military  reconnoissance  to  the  country  of  the  Cherokees;  in  1838  he 
attained  the  rank  of  Captain  of  Engineers,  and  during  the  eight  following 
years  he  was  engaged  in  making  triangulations  and  constructing  harbor 
works  on  Lake  Erie,  'was  Superintendent  of  Survey  of  the  North-western 
Lakes,  and  of  the  boundary  between  the  States  of  Wisconsin  and  Michi 
gan,  and  in  the  latter  State  he  spent  much  of  his  time  making  his  head 
quarters  at  Detroit.  He  served  under  General  Taylor  in  the  war  Avith 
Mexico  as  Chief  of  Engineers,  and  at  the  battle  of  Monterey,  in  1846,  he 
was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  at  that  place  September  21,  1846.  His 
dying  words  were,  "  Tell  my  friends  that  I  fell  while  in  the  advance,  and  in 
the  performance  of  my  duty."  His  literary  and  scientific  acquirements 
were  of  a  high  order,  and  he  also  possessed  an  uncommon  taste  for  the  fine 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  501 

arts,  and  was  an  adept  in  painting ;  and  he  was  very  popular  among  his 
brother  officers  in  the  old  army. 


WINCHELL,  ALEXANDER. Born  in  East,  Dutchess  County,  New  York, 

December  31, 1824;  after  acquiring  a  primary  education,  he  taught  school 
for  one  or  two  years,  and  prepared  himself  for  college;  graduated  at  Amenia 
Seminary  in  1844;  in  1847  he  also  graduated  at  the  Wesleyan  University; 
then  became  a  teacher  of  Natural  Sciences  in  Peunington  Seminary,  New 
Jersey;  also  in  the  Amenia  Seminary;  in  1851  assumed  the  charge  of  a 
Seminary  in  Eutaw,  Alabama;  was  made  President  of  the  Masonic  Uni 
versity  in  Selma  of  the  same  State  in  1853;  before  the  close  of  that  year 
he  was  appointed  Professor  of  Physics  and  Engineering  in  the  University 
of  Michigan;  was  transferred  to  the  Chair  of  Geology,  Zoology  and  Botany, 
in  1855;  in  1859  became  the  editor  of  the  Journal  of  Education,  &c.;  in 
1866  was  made  a  Professor  in  the  Kentucky  University;  was  made  an 
L.L.  D.  by  the  Wesleyan  University  in  1867  ;  and  in  1869  was  appointed 
Director  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  Michigan.  He  declined  a  number  of 
appointments  that  were  tendered  to  him;  made  a  number  of  presents  of 
Scientific  Collections  to  various  institutions ;  and  is  a  member  of  nearly  all 
the  Scientific  Academies  in  America,  and  of  several  in  Europe.  He  pub 
lished  in  various  journals  more  than  two  hundred  scientific  papers,  and  is 
the  author  of  the  following  works,  viz :  The  First  Biennial  Report  on  the 
Geology  of  Michigan ;  Report  on  the  Grand  Traverse  Region ;  a  Geologi 
cal  Map  of  Michigan ;  Genealogy  of  the  Winchell  Family;  and  Sketches 
of  Creation.  As  to  his  miscellaneous  publications,  they  are  sufficiently 
numerous  to  make  many  volumes,  and  all  of  them  are  upon  subjects  of  vital 
interest  to  the  students  and  lovers  of  nature,  in  many  of  its  departments. 


WINCHESTER,  JAMES. Although  the  military  career  of  this  officer 

was  inglorious,  it  is  our  duty  to  mention  him  among  those  who  have  been 
identified  with  the  Territory  of  Michigan.  Hs  was  barn  in  Maryland  in 
1756;  entered  the  Army  as  a  Colonel  from  Tennessee,  in  March,  1812;  was 
made  a  Brigadier-Ganeral  in  March,  1813,  and  had  command  of  a  detach 
ment  under  General  Harrison,  and,  as  stated  in  the  preceding  pages,  met 
with  great  disaster  on  the  River  Raisin  in  January,  1813,  when  he  was 
compelled  to  surrender  to  the  British  forces,  and  bacama  a  prisoner  and 
was  carried  into  Canada  and  confined  for  about  a  year  in  Q  lebec,  with  his 
subordinate  officers,  Colonels  Wm.  Lewis  and  George  Madison.  He  was 
subsequently  on  duty  in  Mobile,  Alabama,  under  General  Jackson.  In 
March,  1815,  he  resigned  his  commission  in  the  Army,  and  after  living  in 
retirement  in  Tennessee,  died  there  July  27,  1826. 


WING,  AUSTIN  E. He  was  born  in  Hampshire  County,  Massachu 
setts;  was  a  Delegate  to  Congress  from  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  from 
1828  to  1832;  resided  at  Monroe,  and  was  for  many  years  a  leading  man 
in  all  its  local  affairs,  holding  among  othsr  positions  that  of  United  States 
Marshal  for  the  Southern  District  of  Michigan.  He  was  also  twice  ap 
pointed  a  Regent  of  the  State  University.  He  died  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 


502  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

August  25,  1849.  He  was  the  father  of  Talcott  E.  Wing,  a  well-known 
lawyer  of  Monroe;  and  the  brother  of  Warner  Wing,  long  a  leading  law 
yer  of  the  State,  and  also  a  resident  of  Monroe. 


WING,  WARNER. He  was   born   in  Marietta,  Ohio,  September  19, 

1805;  graduated  at  the  Northampton  Law  School,  Massachusetts,  and  re 
moved  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan  in  1817.  He  settled  on  the  River 
Raisin,  where  he  lived  for  many  years,  actively  engaged  in  practicing  the 
profession  of  law  in  which  he  was  eminently  successful ;  was  Judge  of  the 
Circuit  Court  from  1845  to  1856,  during  which  period  it  was  identical  with 
the  Supreme  Court.  Of  all  the  trials  over  which  he  presided  as  Judge,  the 
most  important,  perhaps,  was  that  commonly  known  as  the  Railroad  Con 
spiracy  Case,  in  1851,  on  which  occasion,  according  to  the  universal  opinion, 
he  acquitted  himself  with  very  rare  ability.  The  proceedings  of  this  trial 
were  published  in  a  volume  of  more  than  eight  hundred  and  fifty  pages, 
and  form  a  curious  episode  in  the  history  of  railroads,  and  of  the  State  of 
Michigan.  At  the  present  time  Judge  Wing  is  the  Attorney  for  the  Michi 
gan  Southern  and  Northern  Indiana  Railroad  Company,  which  position  he 
has  held  for  about  fourteen  years. 


WISNER,  MOSES. He  was  born  in  Aurelieus,  Cayuga  County,  New 

York,  in  1818;  received  a  good  education;  removed  to  Michigan  in  1839, 
and  settled  upon  a  farm  near  the  town  of  Atlas,  Lapeer  County;  in  about 
a  year  afterwards  he  removed  to  Pontiac,  and  studied  law;  coming  to  the 
bar  in  1842.  In  1843  he  was  appointed  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  Lapeer 
County;  but  in  1^44  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  continued 
in  it  until  185S,  when  he  was  elected  Governor  of  the  State.  In  1862  he 
was  appointed  a  Colonel  in  the  Volunteer  Army,  and  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  Michigan  Twenty-second;  and  while  on  his  way  to  the 
seat  of  war,  he  was  prostrated  by  sickness  in  Lexington,  Kentucky,  where 
he  died,  January  5,  1863.  He  was  a  candidate  for  Circuit  Judge  in  1852, 
but  was  defeated ;  took  little  interest  in  politics,  was  a  man  of  fine  mind,  a 
good  friend,  and  most  worthy  citizen. 


WITHERELL,  BENJAMIN  F.  H. He  was  the  son  of  James  Witherell, 

and  was  during  all  his  mature  life  identified  with  the  Territory  and  State 
of  Michigan.  He  was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  long  a  successful  practitioner 
in  Detroit,  and  held  a  prominent  judgeship  for  many  years.  He  was  called 
by  his  intimate  friends  a  "  Walking  Historical  Dictionary  of  Detroit,"  and 
published  a  series  of  Historical  Recollections,  of  great  value  and  interest ; 
and  his  death  was  lamented  as  a  public  calamity.  His  last  judicial  posi 
tion  was  that  of  Judge  of  the  Third  Circuit  Court.  He  took  an  active  in 
terest  in  all  public  affairs  during  the  Rebellion,  and  was  the  originator,  and 
chosen  President  of  the  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Monument  Association  when 
organized;  and  it  was  while  deeply  engaged  in  maturing  its  plans  that  he 
died  in  Detroit,  June  26,  1867,  giving  to  the  patriotic  work  the  last  hours 
of  his  life.  He  was  also  appointed,  on  several  occasions,  a  Regent  of  the 
State  University. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  5Q3 

WITHERELL,  JAMES In  1808,  the  small  but  highly  cultivated  society 

of  Detroit  was  made  happy  by  the  advent  of  James  Witherell.  He  was  a 
native  of  Vermont,  received  a  liberal  education,  and  adopted  the  profession 
of  law.  From  1798  to  1803  he  served  in  the  Legislature  of  Vermont;  the 
two  following  years,  as  a  county  Judge;  was  a  State  Councellor  from  1803 
to  1807;  was  elected  to  Congress  in  the  latter  year,  but  before  the  expira 
tion  of  his  term,  was  appointed  a  Federal  Judge  in  the  Territory  of  Michi 
gan,  in  which  position  he  continued  until  1828,  when  he  was  appointed  Sec 
retary  of  the  Territory ;  and  he  resided  in  Detroit  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  that  City,  January  9,  1838.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  native 
powers  of  mind,  always  took  a  special  interest  in  the  local  affairs  of  Detroit, 
and  left  to  his  accomplished  son,  long  a  prominent  lawyer  in  Detroit,  a  val 
uable  collection  of  papers  bearing  upon  the  history  of  that  city  and  the 
State  of  Michigan.  An  admirable  portrait  of  him  may  be  found  in  Shel 
don's  "  Early  History  of  Michigan." 


WITHEY,  SOLOMON  L. He  was  born  in  St.  Albans,  Vermont,  April 

21,  1820 ;  removed  to  Ohio  in  1835,  where  he  obtained  a  good  English 
education ;  and  in  1838  he  removed  to  Michigan  and  located  at  Grand 
Rapids.  In  1839  he  began  the  study  of  law,  and  came  to  the  bar  in  1844; 
and  becoming  a  partner  of  the  late  Chief  Justice  Martin,  continued  with 
him  until  he  was  called  to  the  bench,  and  in  practice  until  1863.  In  1848  he 
was  elected  Judge  of  Probate,  and  held  the  office  four  years ;  in  1860  he 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  took  an  active  part  in  promoting  effect 
ive  legislation  for  putting  down  the  Rebellion;  and  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln  United  States  District  Judge  for  the  western  district  of 
Michigan,  in  which  office  he  still  continues.  During  the  illness  of  Judge 
Willson,  of  Northern  Ohio,  he  held  the  United  States  Courts  at  Cleveland ; 
and  for  a  year  preceding  the  resignation  of  Judge  Wilkina  he  presided  over 
the  courts  of  Eastern  Michigan.  In  December,  1869,  he  received  from 
President  Grant  a  commission  as  Judge  of  the  Sixth  United  States  Judicial 
Circuit ;  but  his  duty  to  his  family  compelled  him  to  decline  the  honor. 
For  that  position  he  was  warmly  supported  by  the  leading  members  of  the 
bar  in  Michigan  and  Northern  Ohio,  and  of  all  political  parties,  and  that 
fact  alone  made  him  reluctant  to  decline.  In  the  way  of  local  positions, 
we  may  add  that  Judge  Withey  is  President  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Grand  Rapids.  He  is  a  man  of  culture ;  and  as  a  citizen,  a  lawyer 
and  judge  occupies  a  leading  position  in  the  State. 


WOODBRIDGE,  WILLIAM. Born  in  Norwich,  Connecticut,  August  20, 

1780 ;  and  his  father  becoming  one  of  the  earliest  emigrants  to  the  North 
west  Territory,  he  removed  to  Marietta  in  1791.  He  received  his  earliest 
education  in  Connecticut ;  studied  law  at  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Ohio  in  1806.  In  1807  he  was  elected  to  the  Assem 
bly  of  Ohio  ;  in  1808  was  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  his  county,  which  office 
he  held  until  1814,  and  during  the  same  period  he  was  also  a  member  of 
the  State  Senate.  In  1814  he  received  from  President  Madison,  unexpect 
edly,  the  appointment  of  Secretary  of  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  and  re 
moved  to  Detroit ;  and  in  1819  he  was  elected  the  first  Delegate  from  Mich 
igan  to  Congress,  where  he  was  very  active  in  promoting  the  interests  of  his 


504  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

constituents.  In  1828  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Michigan  Territory,  and  held  the  office  four  years;  in  1835  he  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Convention  called  to  form  a  State  Constitution;  in  1837  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate  of  Michigan ;  in  1839  he  was  chosen  Governor 
of  the  State ;  and  he  was  a  Senator  in  Congress  from  1841  to  1847.  He 
was  a  working  member  on  many  important  committees,  and  his  reports  and 
speeches  were  numerous ;  and  Daniel  Webster,  in  a  note  to  his  speech  in 
defence  of  the  Ashburton  Treaty,  attributed  to  Mr.  Woodbridge  the  first 
suggestion  that  was  ever  made  to  him  for  inserting  in  that  treaty  a  provi 
sion  for  the  surrender  of  fugitives,  under  certain  circumstances,  upon  the 
demand  of  foreign  governments.  For  many  years  before  his  death  he  lived 
in  retirement  at  Detroit,  devoting  himself  to  his  books  and  the  pleasures  of 
horticulture,  for  which  he  had  a  special  fondness.  Died  October  20,  1861. 
In  It67  a  small  volume  was  published,  entitled  the  "  Life  of  William  Wood- 
bridge,"  from  the  pen  of  the  compiler  of  this  work.  Among  the  many 
opinions  expressed  of  Governor  Woodbridge  by  leading  men,  soon  after  his 
death,  were  the  following :  That  he  was  an  eminent  jurist  and  constitu 
tional  lawyer ;  the  oldest  and  most  distinguished  member  of  the  Detroit 
bar ;  eminently  a  man  of  principle  and  honor ;  a  faithful  and  honored  pub 
lic  servant ;  had  a  highly  cultivated  and  refined  taste,  and  left  to  his  chil 
dren  the  rich  legacy  of  a  spotless  name. 


WOODWARD,  AUGUSTUS  B. He  was  a  native  of  Virginia  ;  emigrated 

to  Michigan  in  1805,  when  he  was  appointed  a  judge  of  the  Territory,  which 
honorable  position  he  held  until  Ib24.  He  was  the  author  of  a  "Code  of 
Laws,"  which  bears  his  name.  In  1824  he  was  appointed  a  Judge  for  the 
Territory  of  Florida,  and  died  there  after  a  service  of  three  years.  He  was 
the  man,  moreover,  who,  in  1812,  had  a  resolution  adopted  in  the  Legisla 
ture  prohibiting  the  wearing  of  apparel  made  from  English  goods.  The 
colleagues  of  Judge  Woodward  on  the  bench  were  Frederick  Bates  and 
John  Griffin,  in  regard  to  whom  the  writer  has  been  unable  to  obtain  any 
biographic  particulars.  We  have  seen  it  stated  that  Judge  Woodward,  in 
conjunction  with  John  Steward  and  William  W.  Harwood,  founded  the 
town  of  Ypsilauti  in  1825  ;  but  if  he  went  to  Florida  in  Ib24,  the  state 
ment  cannot  be  true. 


FOURTH   PART. 

MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 


2  P  * 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 


THE  CENSUS  OF  MICHIGAN  IN  1870. 
(  Officially  furnished  for  this  work  by  the  Census  Bureau.') 

In  the  preceding  pages  the  Compiler  has  submitted  two  or  three  para 
graphs  respecting  the  Census  of  Michigan  for  1870,  which  were  obtained 
from  local  authorities,  or  from  the  Marshals  of  the  United  States,  before 
making  their  final  reports  to  the  Government.  It  is  now  his  privilege,  how 
ever,  through  the  kindness  of  the  Superintendent  of  the  Census  Bureau,  Mr. 
Francis  A.  Walker,  to  lay  before  the  reader  a  statement  of  the  population 
of  the  State,  respecting  the  authenticity  of  which  there  cannot  be  any 
doubt.  In  doing  this,  the  population  of  each  County  will  be  given  for 


1870,  in  regular  order,  with  a  corresponding  column  exhibiting  the  popula 
tion  of  the  same  Counties  in  1860;  and  there  will  also  be  added  to  this  list, 
the  leading  cities  of  the  State,  with  the  number  of  their  inhabitants,  exclu 
sive  of  the  suburbs  or  villages  which  may  be  identified  with  them  : 

Counties. 

1860. 

1870. 

Counties. 

1860. 

1870. 

Alcona, 

185 

696 

losco, 

175 

3,163 

Allegan, 

16,087 

32,106 

Isabella 

1,443 

4,113 

Alpena, 

290 

2,756 

Jackson, 

26.671 

36,050 

Antrim, 

179 

1,985 

Kalamazoo, 

24,646 

32,054 

Barry, 

13,853 

22,202 

Kalcasca, 

No  return. 

424 

Bay, 

3,164 

15,900 

Kent, 

30,716 

50,403 

Benzie,                        No 

report. 

2,184 

Keewenaw, 

No  report. 

4,205 

Berrien, 

22,378 

35,104 

Lake, 

No  report. 

548 

Branch, 

20,981 

26,226 

Lapeer, 

14,754 

21,345 

Calhoun, 

29,564 

36,569 

Leelenaw, 

2,158 

4.816 

Cass, 

17,721 

21,094 

Lenawee, 

38,112 

45,596 

Charlevoix,                No 

report. 

1,724 

Livingston, 

16,851 

19,336 

Cheboygan, 

517 

2,196 

Mackinaw, 

1,938 

1,716 

Chippewa, 

1,603 

1,689 

Macomb, 

22,843 

27,616 

Clare,                         No 

report. 

366 

Manitou, 

1,042 

891 

Clinton, 

13,916 

22,845 

Manistee, 

975 

6,074 

Crawford,  (no  report.) 

Marquette, 

2,825 

14,234 

Delta, 

1,172 

2,441 

Mason, 

831 

3,264 

Eaton, 

16,476 

25,172 

Mecosta, 

970 

5,643 

Emmett, 

1,149 

1,211 

Menominee, 

No  report. 

1,892 

Genesee, 

22,498 

33,900 

Midland, 

787 

3,285 

Gladwin, 

14 

No  report. 

Missaukee, 

No  report. 

130 

Grand  Traverse, 

1,286 

4,443 

Monroe, 

21,593 

27,483 

Gnttiot, 

4,042 

11,810 

Montcalm, 

3,968 

13,629 

Hillsdale, 

25,675 

31,684 

Montmorency, 

(no  report.) 

Houghton, 

9,234 

13,879 

Muskegon, 

3,947 

14,895 

Huron, 

3,165 

9,049 

Newaygo, 

2,760 

7,294 

Ing  bam, 

17,435 

25,268 

Oakland, 

38,261 

40,867 

Ionia, 

16,682 

27,679 

Oceana, 

1,816 

7,222 

508 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 


Counties. 

1860. 

1870. 

Counties.                     1860. 

1870. 

Ogerrmw,                    No 

report. 

12 

Schoolcrat't,  (not  known 

Ontonagon, 

4,568 

2.845 

to  be  complete)                   78 

799 

Osceola, 

27 

2,093 

Shiawasse,                        12,349 

20,858 

Oscndi,                      No 

report. 

70 

St.  Joseph,                       21,262 

26.276 

Otsego,  (no  report.) 

Tuscola,                              4,886 

13,714 

Ottawa, 

13,215 

26,649 

Van  Buren,                        15,224 

28,838 

Presque  Isle, 

26 

355 

Washtenaw,                     35,686 

41.434 

Roscommon,  (no  report 

.) 

Wayne,                              75,547 

119,041 

Sagitiuw, 

12,693 

39,097 

Wexford,                   No  report. 

650 

Saint  Clair, 

26,604 

36.661 





Sanilac, 

7,599 

14,562 

Total  population,      749,113 

1,184,310 

POPULATION  OF  LEADING  CITIES. 


Ci  ies. 

1860. 

1870. 

Cities. 

1860. 

1870. 

Detroit, 

45,619 

79,580 

Battle  Creek, 

3,509 

5.831 

Grand  Rapids, 

8,085 

16,507 

Ypsilanti, 

3,955 

5,478 

Jackson, 

4,799 

11,400 

Flint, 

2,950 

5,386 

East  Snginaw, 

3,001 

11.350 

Lansing, 

3,074 

5,241 

Kalaraazoo, 

6,070 

9,181 

Monroe, 

3,892 

5,086 

Adrian, 

6,213 

8,438 

Marshall, 

3,736 

4.925 

Saginaw, 

1,699 

7,460 

Pontiac, 

2,575 

4,867 

Ana  Arbor, 

5,097 

7,363 

Niles, 

2826 

4,630 

Muskegon, 

1,450 

6,002 

Coldwater, 

2,905 

4,381 

Port  Huron, 

4,371 

5,973 

STATE  OFFICERS  OF  MICHIGAN    FROM  1836   TO  1870. 
GOVERNORS. 

Territorial  Governors:  William  Hull,  1805;  Lewis  Cass,  1814;  George 
B.  Porter,  1829;  Stevens  T.  Mason,  1834;  J.  T.  Horner  exoffitio,  1835. 

State  Governors:  Stevens  T.  Mason,  1836;  William  Woodbridge,  1840; 
J.  Wright  Gordon  (Acting,)  1841;  John  S.Barry,  1842;  Alpheus  Felch, 
1846;  William  L.  Greenly  (Acting,)  1847;  Epaphroditus  Ransom,  184C; 
John  S.  Barry,  1850;  Robert  McClelland,  1852;  Andrew  Parsons  (Acting,) 
1858;  Kinsley  S.Bingham,  1855;  Moses  Wisner,  1859;  Austin  Blair,  1861; 
Henry  H.  Cropo,  1863 ;  and  Henry  P.  Baldwin,  1869,  re-elected  and  now 
in  office. 

LIEUTENANT   GOVERNORS. 

Edward  Mundy,  1835;  J.Wright  Gordon,  1840;  Origen  D.  Richard 
son,  1842;  William  L.  Greenly,  1847;  William  M.  Fenton,  1848;  William 
L.  Greenly,  1849;  William  M.  Fenton,  1851;  Andrew  Parsons,  1853; 
George  A.  Coe,  1855;  Edmund  B.  Fairfield,  1859;  James  Birney,  1861 ; 
Joseph  R.  Williams  (Acting,)  1861;  Henry  T.  Backus  (Acting,)  1862; 
Charles  S.  May,  1863;  Ebeuezer  O.  Grosvenor,  1865;  Dwight  May,  1867; 
and  Morgan  Bates,  1869,  re-elected  and  now  in  office. 

SPEAKERS  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 

Ezra  Convis,  1835;  Charles  W.  Whipple,  1836;  Kinsley  S.  Bingham, 
1888;  Henry  Acker,  1840;  Philo  C.  Fuller,  1841;  Kinsley  S.  Bingham, 
1842;  Robert  McClelland,  1743;  Edwin  II.  Lathrop,  1844;  Alfred  H. 
Hanscom,  1845;  Isaac  E.  Crary,  1846;  George  W.  Peck,  1847;  Alexander 
W.  Buel,  1848;  Leander  Chapman,  1*49;  Silas  G.  Harris,  1850;  Jeffer 
son  G.  Thurber,  1851;  Daniel  G.  Quackeuboss,  1853;  Cyrus  Lovell,  1855; 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  501) 

Byron  G.  Stout,  1857;  Henry  A.  Shaw,  1859;  Dexter  Mussey,  1861  ;  Sul 
livan  M.  Cutcheon,  1863  ;  Gilbert  E.  Read,  1865;  P.  Dean  Warner,  1867  ; 
and  Jonathan  J.  Woodman,  1869. 

SECRETARIES  OF  STATE. 

Keutzins:  Pritchette,  1835;  Randolph  Manning,  1838;  Thomas  Row! and, 
1840;  Robert  P.  Eldridge,  1842  to  1846;  Gideon  O.  WThittemore,  1846; 
George  W.  Peck,  1848;  George  Redfield,  1850,  (resigned  April  11,  1850;) 
Charles  II.  Taylor,  1850  to  1852;  William  Graves,  1852;  John  McKinney, 
1854  to  1858;  Nelson  G.  Isbell,  1858;  James  B.  Porter,  1860  to  1866; 
Oliver  L.  Spaulding,  1866  to  1871;  Daniel  Striker,  1871. 

STATE   TREASURERS. 

Henry  Howard,  1836-9 ;  Peter  Desnoyer,  1839 ;  Robert  Stuart,  1*40; 
George  W.  Jermain,  1841 ;  John  J.  Adam,  1842;  George  Redfield,  1845; 
George  B.  Cooper,  1*46-50 ;  Banard  Whittemore,  1850-4;  Silas  M.  Holmes, 
1854-8;  John  McKinney,  185«  ;  John  Owen,  1860-6;  Ebenezer  O.  Gros- 
venor,  1866-71 ;  Victory  P.  Collier,  1871. 

ATTORNEYS  GENERAL. 

Daniel  Le  Roy,  1836;  Peter  Morey,  1837-41  ;  Zephaniab  Platt,  1841; 
Elon  Farnsworth,  1843;  Henry  N.  Walker,  1845;  Edward  Mundy,  1*47; 
George  V.  N.  Lothrop,  1*48-51 ;  William  Hall,  1851-4;  Jacob  M.  How 
ard,  1854-60;  Charles  Upson,  1860;  Albert  Williams,  1862-66;  William 
L.  Stoughton,  1863;  Dvvight  May,  re-elected,  and  now  in  office,  1868-71. 

AUDITORS  GENERAL. 

Robert  Abbott,  1836-9;  Henry  Howard,  1839;  Eurotas  P.  Hastings, 
1840;  Alpheus  Felch,  1842;  Henry,  L.  Whipple,  (to  fill  vacancy,)  1^42; 
Charles  G.  Hammond,  1842-5;  John  J.  Adam,  1845;  Digby  V.  Bell, 
1846-8;  John  J.  Adam,  1848-50;  John  Swegles,  jr.,  1850;  John  Swegles, 
1852;  Whitney  Jones,  1854-8;  Daniel  L.  Case,  1858;  Langford  G.  Berry, 
I860;  Emil  Anneke,  1862-6;  William  Humphrey,  re-elected  and  now  in 
office,  1866-71. 


THE  JUDICIARY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MICHIGAN  IN  1870. 

Circuit  Court  of  the   United  States. — Sixth  Circuit,  Noah  H.  Swayne,  of 
Ohio;  H.  H.  Emmons,  of  Michigan. 

District  Court  of  Michigan. — John  W.  Longyear,  of  Lansing ;  Sol' 
L.  Withey,  of  Grand  Rapids. 

Supreme  Court  of  Michigan. — James  V.  Campbell,  Detroit,  Chief  Jus' 
Isaac  P.  Christiancy,  Monroe  ;  Benjamin  F.  Graves,  Battle  Creek ;  Thoi 
M.  Cooley,  Ann  Arbor. 

Circuit  Court  of  Michigan. — Daniel  L.  Pratt,  Hillsdale ;  David  Bla/ 
man,  Cassopolia  ;  Jared  Patchin,  Detroit ;  Samuel  Higby,  Jackson  ;  George 
Woodruff,  Marshall ;  James  S.  Dewey,  Pontiac ;  Josiah  Turner,  Owosso ; 
Louis  S.  Lovell,  Ionia;  Charles  R.  Brown,  Kalamazoo;  Jabez  G.  Suther 
land,  Saginaw  City ;  Daniel  Goodwin,  Detroit;  James  O'Crady,  Marquette ; 
Jonathan  G.  Ramsdell,  Traverse  City  ;  A.  H.  Giddings,  Newaygo  ;  Charles 
Upson,  Coldwater ;  William  T.  Mitchell,  Port  Huron. 


510  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTORS  OF  MICHIGAN   FROM  1837  TO  1869. 

1837 — Martin  Van  Buren,  elected.  Vice  President,  Richard  M.  John 
son. — Daniel  LeRoy,  William  H.  Hoeg,  David  C.  McKinstry. 

1841 — William  Henry  Harrison,  elected.  Vice  President,  John  Tyler. — 
Thomas  J.  Drake,  H.  G.  Wells,  J.  Van  Fossen. 

1845 — James  K.  Polk,  elected.  Vice  President,  George  M.  Dallas. — 
Lewis  Beaufait,  George  Redfield,  P.  S.  Paulding,  Charles  P.  Bush,  Samuel 
Axford. 

1849 — Zachary  Taylor,  elected.  Vice  President,  Millard  Fillmore. — 
John  S.  Barry,  L.  M.  Mason,  Rix  Robinson,  J.  G.  Thurber,  William  T. 
Howell. 

1853 — Franklin  Pierce,  elected.  Vice  President,  William  R.  King. — 
John  S.  Barry,  D.  J.  Campau,  A.  Edwards,  William  McCauley,  Salmer 
Sharpe,  John  Stockton. 

18o7 — James  Buchanan,  elected.  Vice  President,  John  C.  Breckin- 
ridge. — F.  C.  Beaman,  O.  Johnson,  H.  Chamberlain,  W.  H.  Whitney,  C.  H. 
Miller,  Thomas  J.  Drake. 

1861 — Abraham  Lincoln,  elected.  Vice  President,  Hannibal  Hamlin. — 
Hezekiali  G.  Wells,  Rufus  Hosmer,  George  W.  Lee,  Edward  Dorsch,  Phi- 
letus  Playden,  Augustus  Coburn. 

1865 — Abraham  Lincoln,  re-elected.  Vice  President,  Andrew  John 
son. — Robert  R.  Beecher,  Marsh  Giddings,  Thomas  D.  Gilbert,  O.  D.  Con 
ger,  F.  Walldorf,  George  W.  Back,  Christian  Eberbach,  J.  Eugene  Tenney. 

1867 — Ulysses  S.  Grant,  elected.  Vice  President,  Schuyler  Colfax. — 
Charles  M.  Crpsswell,  John  Burt,  William  Daeltz,  Charles  W.  Chisbee, 
Charles  T.  Gorham,  Byron  M.  Cutcheon,  Giles  Hubbard,  Michael  T.  C. 
Pleasner. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  MICHIGAN  FROM  1837  TO  1870. 
Presidents  of  the  Board  of  Regents. 

Until  the  adoption  of  the  Revised  Constitution,  the  Governor  of  the 
State  was  ex-officio  President  of  the  Board.  That  instrument  conferred 
upon  the  Regents  the  power,  and  under  it  their  duty,  to  elect  a  President 
of  the  University,  who  should  be  ex-officio  President  of  their  Board.  Under 
this  power,  the  first  President  was  chosen  in  1852: 

Stevens  T.  Mason,  1837 ;  William  Woodbridge,  M.  A.,  1840;  James  Wright 
Gordon,  M.  A.,  1841;  John  S.  Barry,  1842;  Alpheus  Felch,  1846;  William 
L.  Greenly,  1847  ;  Epaphroditus  Ransom,  1848  ;  John  S.  Barry,  1850;  Rev. 
Henry  Philip  Tappan,  D.  D.  LL.  D.,  1852;  Rev.  Erastus  Otis  Haven,  D. 
D.  LL.  D.,  1863  to  1869. 

Regents  Ex-officio. 

^  Until  the  Revised  Constitution  took  effect,  the  Lieu  ten  ant-Governor,  the 
Chancellor,  and  the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court,  for  the  time  being,  were 
ex-officio  members  of  the  Board  of  Regents  : 

Lieutenant  Governors. — Edward  Mundy,  1837  ;  J.  Wright  Gordon,  1840; 
Origen  D.  Richardson,  1842;  William  L.  Greenly,  1846;  William  M. 
Fenton,  1848  to  1852. 

Chancellors. — Elon  Farnsworth,  1837;  Randolph  Manning,  1842;  Elon 
Farns worth,  1846  to  1847,  when  the  office  was  abolished. 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  511 

Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

From  1837  :  William  A.  Fletcher,  Chief  Justice;  resigned  1842.  George 
Morrell,  Associate  Justice;  promoted,  1842.  Epaphroditus  Ransom,  Asso 
ciate  Justice.  Charles  W.  Whipple,  Associate  Justice ;  appointed,  1837. 
George  Morrell,  Chief  Justice ;  from  1842,  vice  Fletcher.  Alpheus  Felch, 
Associate  Justice  ;  from  1*42,  vice  Morrell. 

From  1843:  Epaphroditus  Ransom,  Chief  Justice;  resigned,  1845. 
Charles  W.  Whipple,  Associate  Justice  ;  promoted,  1848.  Alpheus  Felch, 
Associate  Justice  ;  resigned,  1845.  Daniel  Goodwin,  Associate  Justice  ;  re 
signed,  1846.  Charles  W.  Whipple,  Chief  Justice ;  from  1848,  vice  Ran 
som.  Warner  Wing,  Associate  Justice ;  from  1845,  vice  Felch.  George 
Miles,  Associate  Justice ;  from  1846,  vice  Goodwin.  Sanford  M.  Green, 
Associate  Justice ;  from  1848,  vice  Whipple.  Edward  Mundy,  Associate 
Justice  ;  from  1848 — new  appointment. 

From  1850:  Charles  W.  Whipple,  Chief  Justice;  Warner  Wing,  Asso 
ciate  Justice ;  Sanford  M.  Greene,  Associate  Justice ;  Abner  Pratt,  Associ 
ate  Justice ;  Edward  Mundy,  Associate  Justice  ;  died  1851.  George  Mar 
tin,  Associate  Justice ;  from  1851,  vice  Mundy. 

Regents  by  Appointment. 

From  the  organization  of  the  University  till  1852,  the  Regents  were  ap 
pointed  by  the  Senate,  on  the  nomination  of  the  Governor,  to  hold  office 
for  four  years,  three  being  appointed  annually : 

John  Norvell,  1837;  Ross  Wilkins,  M.  A.,  1837  ;  John  J.  Adam,  1837; 
Lucius  Lyon,  1837  ;  Isaac  E.  Crary,  M.  A.,  1837 ;  Thomas  Fitzgerald, 

1837,  (resigned  in  1837 ;)  John  F.  Porter,  (vice  T.  Fitzgerald,  1837,  resigned  in 
1838;)   Jonathan  Kearsley,  M.  A.,    1838,   (vice  J.   F.  Porter;)   Samuel 
Denton,  M.  D.,  1827  ;  Gideon  O.  Whittemore,  1827;  Michael .  Hoffman, 
1827,  (resigned  in  1838 ;)   Gurdon  C.  Leach,  1838,  (vice  M.  Hoffman ;) 
Zina  Pitcher,  M.  D.,  1837;  Henry  R.  Schoolcraft,  LL.  D.,  1837;  Robert 
McClelland,  1837,  (resigned  in  1837;)  Seba  Murphy,  1837,  (vice  R.  McClel 
land,  resigned  in  1839;)  Joseph  W.   Brown,  1*39,  (vice  Murphy,  resigned 
in  1840;)  Daniel  Hudson,  M.D.,  1840,  (vice  J.  W.  Brown;)  John  J.  Adam, 

1838,  (resigned  in  1840;)  John  Norvel,  1838,  (resigned  in  1839;)  Ross 
Wilkius,  M.  A.  1838. 

Charles  C.  Trowbridge,  1837,  (vice  J.  Norvell;)  Michael  A.  Patterson, 
M.  D.,  1840;  (vice  J.  J.  Adam  ;)  Lucius  Lyou,  1839,  (resigned  in  1839;) 
Jonathan  Kearsley,  M.  A.,  1839 ;  Isaac  E.  Crary,  M.  A.,  1839  ;  Rev.  George 
Duffield,  D.  D.,  1839,  (vice  L.  Lyon;)  William  Draper,  M.  A.,  1840; 
Francis  J.  Higginson,  M.  D.,  1840,  (resigned  in  1841 ;)  Samuel  W.  Dexter, 
M.  A.,  1840,  (resigned  in  1841  ;)  Rev.  Oliver  C.  Comstock,  A.  M.  M.  D., 
1841,  (vice  S.  W.  Dexter,  resigned  in  1843  ;)  John  Owen,  1841,  (vice  F.  J. 
Higginson ;)  Lewis  Cass,  LL.  D.,  1843,  (vice  O.  C.  Comstock :)  Zina  Pitcher, 
M.  D.,  1841;  Martin  Kundig,  M.  A.,  1841;  George  Goodman,  1841,  (re 
signed  in  1843  ;)  Dewitt  C.  Walker,  1843,  (vice  G.  Goodman,  resigned  in 
1844  ;)  Rev.  Robert  R.  Kellogg,  M.  A.,  1844,  (vice  D.  C.  Walker;)  Rev. 
Andrew  M.  Fitch,  1842;  Randolph  Manning,  1842,  (resigned  in  1842;) 
Rev.  Elisha  Crane,  1842  ;  William  A.  Fletcher,  1842,  (vice  R.  Manning ;) 
Jonathan  Kearsley,  1843 ;  Isaac  E.  Crary,  1843,  (resigned  in  1843 ;)  Rev. 
Marvin  Allen,  1843 ;  Alexander  H.  Redfield,  M.  A.,  1844,  (vice  J.  E. 
Crary;)  Edward  Mundy,  1844;  John  Owen,  1844;  Rev.  George  Duffield, 
D.  D.,  1844  ;  Zina  Pitcher,  M.  D.,  1845  ;  Austin  E.  Wing,  M.  A.,  1845 ; 


512  •        MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

Minot  T.  Lane,  1845 ;  Rev.  Charles  C.  Taylor,  M.  A.,  1846 ;  Rev.  Elijah 
H.  Pilcher,  M.  A.,  1846  ;  Elon  Farnsworth,  M.  A.,  1846 ;  Jonathan  Kears- 
ley,  1847 ;  Alexander  H.  Redfield,  M.  A.,  1847  ;  Rev.  Marvin  Allen,  1847  ; 
Rev.  John  G.  Atterbury,  M.  A.,  1848  ;  Justus  Goodwin,  M.  A.,  1818;  Ben 
jamin  F.  H.  Witherell,  1848  ;  Zina  Pitcher,  M.  D.,  1849 ;  Austin  E.  Wing, 
M.  A.,  1849,  (resigned  in  1*50;)  Edwin  M.  Cust,  M.  A.,  1849,  (resigned  in 
1849  ;)  Epaphroditus  Ransom,  1850,  (vice  E.  M.  Cust;)  Rev.  Gustavus  L. 
Foster,  1850,  (vice  A.  E.  Wing;)  Robert  McClelland,  1850;  Elon  Farns 
worth,  M.  A.,  1850;  Rev.  Elijah  H.  Pilcher,  1850 ;  Jonathan  Kearsley, 
1851 ;  Alexander  H.  Redfield,  M.  A.,  1851 ;  Rev.  Marvin  Allen,  1851. 

The  amended  Constitution  of  1851  provided  for  the  election  of  a  Regent 
in  each  Senatorial  District,  to  hold  office  for  the  period  of  six  years. 

Regents  by  Election. 

From  1852  to  1857,  1st  District,  Michael  A.  Patterson,  M.  D;  2d  Dis 
trict,  Edward  S.Moore;  3d  District,  Elon  Farnsworth;  4th  District,  James 
Kiugsley;  5th  District,  Elisha  Ely;  6th  District,  Charles  H.  Palmer,  M. 
A.;  7th  District,  Andrew  Parsons,  (deceased  1854;)  Henry  Horatio  Nor 
throp,  M.  A.,  (vice  A.  Parsons;)  8th  District,  William  Upjohn,  M.  D. 

From  1838  to  1863,1st  District,  Benjamin  L.Baxter;  2d  District,  J. 
Eastman  Johnson;  3d  District,  Levi  Bishop;  4th  District,  Donald  Mc- 
Intyre;  5th  District,  E.  Lakin  Brown;  6th  District,  George  W.  Pack, 
(resigned  in  1858;)  Henry  Whiting,  (vice  G.  W.  Pack;)  7th  District,  Luke 
H.  Parsons;  8th  District,  Rev.  John  Van  Vleck,  (resigned  in  1*58;)  Oli 
ver  L.  Spaulding,  (vice  J.  Van  Vleck ;)  9th  District,  William  M.  Ferry, 
1858;  10th  District,  George  Bradley,  1858. 

By  an  amendment  of  the  Constitution,  adopted  in  1862,  it  was  provided 
that  eight  Regents  should  be  elected  in  1863,  to  enter  upon  their  office  in 
1864 ;  two  for  two  years,  two  for  four  years,  two  for  six  years,  and  two 
for  eight  years;  and  that  at  every  election  of  a  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  thereafter,  there  should  be  elected  two  Regents  for  eight  years.  In 
accordance  with  this  provision,  the  following  were  elected,  and  the  term 
of  their  office  was  determined  by  lot,  according  to  law. 

Edward  C.  Walker,  re-elected,  term  expires  1865;  George  Willard,  re- 
elected,  term  expires  1865;  Thomas  D.Gilbert,  re-elected,  term  expires 
1867;  Thomas  J.  Joslin,  term  expires  1867;  Henry  C.  Knight,  term  - 
pires  1869 ;  Hiram  A.  Burt,  Joseph  Estabrook,  term  expires  1869  • 
man  Johnson,  term  expires  1869 ;  Alvah  Sweetser  (deceas- " 
expires  1871  ;    Syrus  M.  Stockwell,  M.  D.,  of  Port  H' 
1871 ;  James  A.  Sweezey,  term  expires  1871 ;  Walkr  5 
and  -      i 


,  M.  A.,  1856 ;  Daniel  Leonard  W^  jS. 

Treasurers. 

Charles  C.  Trowbridge,  1837 ;  John  Norton,  Jr.,  1838 ;  H.  K.  Sanger,  1839  ; 
A.  II.  Sibley,  1>41;  John  J.  Adam,  1844;  Digby  V.  Bell,  1846;  John  J. 
Adam,  1848 ;  John  M.  Chase,  1851;  Henry  Wolsey  Welles,  1859;  Volney 
Chapin,  1860;  Donald  Mclntyre,  1864. 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  513 

Librarians. 

Rev.  Henry  Colclazer,  1S37;  Prof.  George  Palmer  Williams,  LL.D., 
1845;  Prof.  Abram  Sager,  M.  D.,  1848;  Prof.  Andrew  Ten  Brook,  M.  A., 
1850;  Prof.  Daniel  D.  Whedon,  D.  D.,  1 851 ;  Prof.  Louis  Fasquelle,  LL.  D., 
1852;  John  Livingston  Tappan,  M.  A.,  1856;  Datus  Chase  Brooks,  M.  A., 
1863. 

Superintendents  of  Public  Instruction. 

John  D.  Pierce,  1838;  Franklin  Sawyer,  Jr.,  1841 ;  Oliver  C.  Comstock, 
M.  D.,  1843;  Ira  Mahew,  M.  A.,  1845  ;  'Francis  W.  Shearman,  M.  A.  1849; 
Ira  Mayhew,  M.  A.,  1855;  John  M.  Gregory,  M.  A.,  1858;  Orainel  Hos- 
ford,  1865. 

Presidents  of  the  University. 

Rev.  Henry  Philip  Tappan,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  1852 ;  Rev.  Erastus  Otis 
Haven,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  1863  to  1869. 

I.  DEPARTMENT  OF  LITERATURE,  SCIENCE,  AND  THE  ARTS. 

Professors. 

Asa  Gray,  M.  D.,  Botany  and  Zoology,  1838  to  1842. 

Douglass  Houghton,  M.  A.,  M.  D  ,  Chemistry  and  Mineralogy,  1838  to  1845. 

Rev.  George  Palmer  Williams,  LL.  D.,  Ancient  Languages,   1841. 

Rev.  Joseph  Whiting.  M.  A.,  Ancient  Languages,  1841  to  1845. 

Rev.  George  Palmer  Williams,  LL.  D.,  Mathematics  and  Physics,  1841  to  1852. 

Abram  Sager,  M.  D.,  Botany  and  Zoology,  1842  to  1850. 

Rev.  Edward  Thomson,  D.  D.,  LL.  D..  Moral  and  Intellectual  Philosophy,  1843  to  1844. 

Rev.  Andrew  Ten  Brook,  M.  A.,  Moral  arid  Intellectual  Philosophy,  1844  to  1851. 

Rev.  John  Holmes  Agnew,  D.  D.,  Ancient  Languages  and  Literature,  1845  to  1852. 

Rev.  Daniel  D.  Whedon,  I).  D.,  History  and  Rhetoric,  1845  to  1852. 

Silas  Hamilton  Douglass,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Chemistry  and  Mineralogy,  1846  to  1848. 

Louis  Fasquelle,  LL.  D.,  Modern  Languages  and  Literature,  1846  to  1862. 

Silas  Hamilton  Douglass,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Chemistry,  Geology,  and  Mineralogy,  1848  to 
1855. 

Rev.  William  S.  Curtis,  D.  D.,  Moral  and  Intellectual  Philosophy,  1851  to  1852. 

Rev.  Henry  Philip  Tappan,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Philosophy,  1852  to  1863. 

Rev.  George  Palmer  Williams,  LL.  D.,  Natural  Philosophy  and  Mathematics,  1852  to 
1854. 

James  Rob'nson  Boise,  M.  A.,  Ancient  Languages,  Greek  Language  and  Literature,!  852. 

Rev.  Erastus  Otis  Haven,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Latin  Language  and  Literature,  1852  to  1854. 

Alvah  Bradish,  M.  A.,  Fine  Arts,  1802  to  1863. 

Rev.  George  Palmer  Williams,  LL.  D.,  Mathematics,  1854  to  1863. 

Alexander  Winchell,  M.  A.,  Physics  and  Civil  Engineering,  1854  to  1855. 

Rev.  Charles  Fox,  M.  A.,  Theoretical  and  Practical  Agriculture,  1854. 

Francis  Brunnow,  Ph.  D.,  Astronomy  and  Director  of  the  Observatory,  1854  to  1858. 

Rev.  Erastus  Otis  Haven,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  History  and  English  Literature,  1854  to  1856. 

Henry  Simmons  Frieze,  M.  A.,  Latin  Language  and  Literature,  1854. 

Silas  Hamilton  Douglass,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Chemistry  and  Mineralogy,  1855. 

Alexander  Winchell,  M.  A.,  Geology,  Zoology,  and  Bot'iny,  1855. 

William  G.  Peck,  M  A.,  Physics  and  Civil  and  Mining  Engineering,  1855  to  1857. 

William  P.  Trowbridge,  M.  A.,  Mathamatics,  1856  to  1857. 

Andrew  Dickson  White,  M.  A.,  History  and  English  Literature,  1857. 

Francis  Brunnow,  Ph.  D.,  Director  of  the  Observatory,  1859  to  1860. 

Devolson  Wood,  M.  A.,  Physics  and  Civil  Engineering,  1859  to  1860. 

James  Craig  Watson,  M.  A.,  Astronomy,  1859  to  1860. 

Devolson  Wood,  M.  A.,  Civil  Engineering,  1860. 

James  Craig  Watson,  M.  A.,  Physics,  1860  to  1863. 

Francis  Brunnow,  Ph.  D.,  Astronomy  and  Director  of  the  Observatory,  1860  to  1863. 

Thomas  Mclntyre  Cooley,  Constitutional  Law,  1861. 

Edward  Payson  Evans,  Ph.  D.,  Modern  Languages  and  Literature,  1863. 

Rev.  Erastus  Otis  Haven,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Rhetoric  and  English  Literature,  1863. 
2  G 


514  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

Rev.  Lucius  Delison  Chapin,  M.  A..,  Moral  and  Intellectual  Philosophy,  1863. 
James  Craig  Watson,  M.  A.,  Astronomy  and  Director  of  the  Observatory,  1863. 
Rev.  George  Palmer  Williams,  LL.  D.,  Physics,  1863. 
Edward  Olney,  M.  A.,  Mathematics,  1863. 

Assistant  Professors. 

Datus  Chase  Brooks,  M.  A.,  Rhetoric  and  English  Literature,  185?  to  1863. 
John  Emery  Clark,  M.  A.,  Mathematics,  1857  to  1859. 
Alfred  Du  Bois,  M.  A.,  Chemistry,  1857  to  1863. 
Devolson  Wood,  M.  A.,  Civil  Engineering,  1857  to  1859. 

Instructors. 

Jonathan  Beach,  1843  to  1P45. 

Silas  Hamilton  Douglass,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Chemistry,  1844  to  1846. 

Burrett  A.  Smith,  B.  A.,  1845  to  1847. 

Alfred  Du  Bois,  M.  A.,  Chemistry,  1855  to  1857. 

Datus  Chase  Brooks,  .VI.  A.,  Rhetoric  and  English  Literature,  1856  to  1857. 

James  Craig  Watson,  M.  A.,  Assistant  in  the  Observatory,  1857  to  1859. 

Adam  Knight  Spence,  M.  A.,  Greek,  1858  to  1859. 

Fitch  Reed  Williams,  B.  A.,  Latin,  1858  to  1860. 

James  Craig  Watson,  M.  A.,  Mathematics,  1859  to  1860. 

Adam  Knight  Spence,  M.  A.,  Greek  and  French,  1859  to  1860. 

Cleveland  Abbe,  B.  A.,  Physics  and  Civil  Engineering,  1859  to  1860. 

Adam  Knight  Spence,  M.  A.,  Greek,  Latin,  and  French,  1860  to  1863. 

Preston  B.  Rose,  Chemistry,  1861  to  1863. 

Charles  Kendall  Adams,  M.  A.,  History,  1862  to  1863. 

William  H.  Bruckner,  Chemistry,  1862  to  1863. 

Edward  Payson  Evans,  Ph.  D.,  Modern  Languages  and  Literature,  1862  to  1863. 

Adam  Knight  Spence,  M.  A.,  Greek  and  French,  1863. 

Charles  Kendall  Adams,  M.  A.,  History  and  Latin,  1863. 

Albert  Benjamin  Prescott,  M.  D.,  Chemistry,  1863. 

Henry  Sylvester  Cheever,  B.  A.,  Chemistry,  1863. 

Dexter  Valverd  Dean,  Chemistry,  1863. 

Allen  Jeremiah  Curtis,  M.  A.,  Rhetoric  and  Mathematics,  1863. 

Elmore  Horton  Wells,  B.  S.,  Civil  Engineering,  1864. 

II. — DEPARTMENT  OP  MEDICINE  AND  SURGERY. 
Professors. 

Silas  Hamilton  Douglass,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Materia  Medica,  Pharmacy,  and  Med.  Juris 
prudence,  1848  to  1850. 

Abram  Sager,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Theory  and  Practice  of  Medicine,  1848  to  1850. 

Moses  Gunn,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Anatomy,  1848  to  1850. 

Abram  Sager,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Obstetrics  and  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children,  1850  to 
1854. 

Moses  Gunn,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Anatomy  and  Surgery,  1850  to  1852. 

Samuel  Denton.  M.  D.,  Theory  and  Practice  of  Medicine  and  Pathology,  1850  to  1860. 

Silas  Hamilton  Douglass,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Chemistry,  Pharmacy,  and  Medical  Jurispru 
dence,  1850. 

Jonathan  Adams  Allen,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Therapeutics,  Materia  Medica,  and  Physiology, 
1850  to  1854. 

Zina  Pitcher,  M.  D.,  (Emeritus,)  Institutes  of  Medicine  and  Obstetrics,  1851. 

Moses  Gunn,  M.  A..  M.  D.,  Surgery,  and  Lecturer  on  Anatomy,  1852  to  1854 

Alonzo  Benjamin  Palmer,  M.  A.  M.  D.,  Anatomy,  1852  to  1854. 

Abram  Sager,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Obstetrics  and  Physiology,  1854  to  1860. 

Moses  Gunn,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Surgery,  1854. 

Alonzo  Benjamin  Palmer,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Materia  Medica,  Therapeutics,  and  Diseases 
of  Women  and  Children,  1854  to  1860. 

Corydon  La  Ford,  M.  A.,  M.  D  ,  Anatomy,  1854  to  1869. 

Edmund  Andrews,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Comparative  Anatomy,  1854  to  1855. 

Alfred  Dubois,  M.  A.,  (Assistant  Professor,)  Chemistry,  1857  to  1863. 

Abram  Sager,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Obstetrics,  and  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children,  1860. 

Alonzo  Benjamin  Palmer,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Pathology,  and  Practice  of  Medicine  and 
Materia  Medica,  1860  to  1861. 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  515 

Corydon  La  Ford,  M.  A.,  M.   D.,  Anatomy  and  Physiology,  1860. 

Thomas  Mclntyre  Cooley,  Medical  Jurisprudence,  1860. 

Alonzo  Benjamin  Palmer,  M.  A.,  M    D.,  Pathology,  and  Practice  of  Medicine,  1861. 

Samuel  Glasgow  Armor,  M.  D.,  Institutes  of  Medicine  and  Materia  Medica,  1861. 

Instructors. 

Edmund  Andrews,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Demonstrator,  and  Assistant  Lecturer  on  Anatomy, 
1851  to  1854. 

Edmund  Andrews,  M.  A.,  M.  D.,  Demonstrator  of  Anatomy,  1854  to  1855. 
Charles  P.  Tanner,  M.  D.,  Demonstrator  of  Anatomy,  1855  to  1857. 
Alfred  Dubois,  M.  A.,  Assistant  to  the  Prefrssor  of  Chemistry,  1865  to  1857. 
Albert  Miller  Helmer,  M.  D.,  Demonstrator  of  Anatomy,  1857  to  1858. 
William  Lewitt,  M.  D.,  Demonstrator  of  Anatomy,  1858. 
Preston  B.  Rose,  M.  D.,  Assistant  in  Chemistry,  1861. 
William  H.  Bruckner,  Assistant  in  Chemistry,  1862  to  1863. 
Albert,  Benjamin  Prescott,  M.  D.,  Assistant  in  Chemistry,  1863. 
Plenty  Sylvester  Cheover,  B.  A.,  Assistant  in  Chemistry,  1863. 
Dexter  Valverd  Dean,  Assistant  in  Chemistry,  1863. 

III.  DEPARTMENT  OP  LAW. 

Professors. 

James  Valentine  Campbell,  M.  A.,  Marshall  Professor  of  Law,  1859. 
Charles  Irish  Walker,  Kent  Professor  of  Law,  1859. 
Mharles  Mclntyre  Cooley,  Jay  Professor  of  Law,  1859. 


TRUSTEES  OF  MICHIGAN  COLLEGES  IN  1870. 

ADRIAN  COLLEGE. — Trustees,  L.  G.  Berry,  Adrian;  J.  S.  Thrap,  Adrian  ;  W.  S.  Wil- 
cox,  Adrian  ;  John  Redman,  Pittsburg,  Pa.;  C.  Springer,  Zanesville,  Ohio  ;  James  May- 
all,  Princeton,  Illinois;  T.  J.  Finch,  Springfield,  Ohio;  John  Fordyce,  Cambridge,  Ohio; 
R.  R.  Beecher,  Adrian,  President;  John  J.  Gillispie,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Treasurer;  Peter 
Low,  Adrian;  R.  Rose,  Jeffersonville,  Ohio  ;  G.  B.  McElroy,  Secretary. 

ALBION  COLLLGE. — Trustees,  B.  F.  Coeker,  Ann  Arbor ;  David  Preston,  Detroit;  S. 
W.  Walker,  Detroit;  Jacob  Anderson,  Albion;  A.  M.  Fitch,  Albion,  Treasurer;  J.  S. 
Smart,  Adrian;  M.  A.  Daugherty,  Albion;  William  Bort,  Niles  ;  James  W.  Shel 
don,  Albion,  President ;  Seth  Reed,  Romeo  ;  William  H.  Brockway,  Albion ;  Orlando 

C.  Gale,  Albion  ;  J.  L.  G.  McKown,  Albion,  President  ex-ojficio. 

HILLSDALE  COLLEGE. — Trustees,  Horace  Blackmar,  Hillsdale  ;  John  Corey,  Fayette ; 
George  T.  Day,  D.  D.,  Dover,  N.  H.;  Ransom  Dunn,  Hillsdale  ;  Samuel  B.  Philbrick, 
Chester,  Ohio  ;  Lawrens  B.  Potter,  Lansing  ;  Henry  E.  Whipple,  Hillsdale  ;  Samuel  D. 
Bates,  Marion,  0.;  Ebenezer  0.  Grosvenor,  Hillsdale  ;  David  H.  Lord,  M.  D.,  Hillsdale; 
Cbauncy  Reynolds,  Hillsdale  ;  S.  F.  Smith,  Berlin,  Wisconsin  ;  Nicholas  Vineyard, 
Eilisdale ;  Henry  Waldron,  Hillsdale ;  Jeremiah  Baldwin,  Hillsdale ;  Daniel  M. 
Graham,  D.  D.,  Chicago;  Frederick  Fowler,  Reading;  Spencer  J.  Fowler,  Hillsdale; 
James  Calder,  D.  D.,  Hillsdale;  Charles  B.  Mills,  Vassar ;  Linus  S.  Parmulee,  Reading; 
Daniel  Beebee,  Hillsdale;  Henry  J.King,  Hillsdale;  Charles  T.  Mitchell,  Hillsdale; 
William  Calder,  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  David  L.  Rice,  Hillsdale;  Lewis  J.  Thompson,  Hills- 
dale  ;  J.  W.  Winsor,  Hillsdale;  Oscar  E.  Baker,  Wilton,  Indiana;  John  P.  Cook,  Hills- 
dale  ;  Daniel  Dunakin,  Homer  ;  Frederick  M.  Holloway,  Fayette ;  Caleb  C.  Johnson, 
Hillsdale  ;  Leonard  Olney,  Hillsdale  ;  and  Daniel  L.  Pratt,  Hillsdale. 

KALAMAZOO   COLLEGE.— Trustees,  Kendall  Brooks,  D.  D.,  President ;    H.  L.  Wayland, 

D.  D.,  Secretary;  Caleb  Van   Husan,  Treasurer;  T.  L.  R.  Jones;    E.  B.  Smith;    F.  W. 
Wilcox  ;  B.  P.  Russell  ;  Caleb  Eldred,  Jr.;  F.  S.  Hamilton  ;  N.  S.  Burton  ;  D.  D.;  L.  D. 
Palmer;  E.  G.  Huntington ;  John  Antisdell  ;  A.  Owen;    L.  H.  Trowbridge  ;  Isaac  W. 


and  E.  J.  Fish. 

OLIVET  COLLEGE.— Trustees:  Nathan  J.  Morrison,  D.  D.,  President;  Henry  Bafes, 
Canton,  111 ;  James  S.  Hoyt,  Port  Huron  ;  Calvin  Clark,  Marshall ;  Newell  Avery,  De 
troit  j  Herbert  A.  Reed,  Marshall ;  J.  L.  Patton,  Greeneville  j  Oramel  Hosford,  Olivet ; 


516  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

Samuel  F.  Drury,  Olivet ;  Thomas  Jones,  Augusta;  Philo  R.  Hurd,  Romeo  ;  James  B. 
Porter,  Lansing;  Serins  W.  Streeter,  Union  City;  0.  Hitchcock,  Kalamazoo;  Fitz.  L. 
Reed,  Olivet;  Philo  Parsons,  Detroit;  Albertus  L.  Greene,  Olivet ;  Addison  Ballard,  D. 
D.,  Detroit ;  Willurd  Davis,  Vermontville  ;  Franklin  Moore,  Detroit ;  William  Hogarth, 
D.'  D,  Detroit;  Wolcott  B.  Williams,  Charlotte;  Jesse  W.  Hough,  Jackson;  Latham 
Hull,  Kalamazoo  ;  M.  S.  Sweet,  Grand  Rapids. 

HOPE  COLLEGE. — As  a  notice  of  this  institution  was  omitted  in  its  proper  place,  a 
summary  of  its  history  and  condition  is  submitted  as  follows  :  It  is  located  in  Holland 
City,  Ottawa  County  ;  is  under  the  control  of  the  Reformed  (Dutch)  Church,  and  was 
incorporated  in  1866.  It  was  established  as  an  Academy  about  the  year  1850,  by  Rev. 
A.  C.  Van  Raalte,  the  founder  of  the  Holland  Colony.  Its  grounds  are  sixteen  acres  in 
extent,  and  its  buildings,  though  comfortable,  are  temporary  in  their  character. 

At  the  close  of  1869,  it  had  an  endowment  fund  of  about  $50,000,  and  the  work  of 
increasing  this  was  in  progress.  At  present  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  Reformed 
Church  also  furni  hes  the  chief  part  of  the  sum  ne-  ded  for  the  salaries  of  the  profes 
sors,  and  expends  about  $1,000  per  annum  for  the  support  of  candidates  for  the  minis 
try.  A  similar  board  of  the  Hollandish  churches  contributes  about  $3,000  per  annum 
for  the  support  of  students  under  its  care. 

The  Departments  already  organized  are  three,  viz  :  Preparatory,  Academic,  and  The 
ological.  In  the  Preparatory  Department  or  Grammer  school,  are  four  classes,  which, 
in  November,  1869,  contained  72  pupils.  The  Academic  Depart  rent  has  the  customary 
classes,  Freshmen,  Sophomore,  Junior,  and  Senior,  which  embraced  in  November,  1869, 
25  students.  The  first  class  received  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  in  1866,  and  of  A.  M.  in  1869; 
and  from  this  Department  have  been  sent  four  classes,  numbering  together  twenty-two 
graduates,  of  whom  seventeen  are  either  in  the  ministry  or  preparing  for  it.  The  Theo 
logical  Department  ushered  its  first  class,  a  class  of  seven,  into  the  ministry  in  June, 
1869.  It  had  in  November  last  nine  members,  distributed  into  Junior,  Middle,  and  Se 
nior  classes.  Thus  tho  whole  number  of  students  for  the  year  1869-'70,  was  106.  From 
the  college  printing  house  is  issued  a  weekly  religious  newspaper  in  the  Hollandish  lan 
guage.  The  following  persons  comprise  the  faculty  of  the  institution  : 

Albert-is  C.  Van  Raalte,  D.  D.,  Professor  of  Evangelistic  Theology. 

Philip  Phelps,  D.  D.,  Professor  of  Exegetical  Theology,  and  of  Mental  and  Moral 
Philosophy. 

Cornelius  E.  Crispell,  D.  D.,  Professor  of  Didactic  and  Polemic  Theology,  and  of  Math 
ematics  and  Natural  Philosophy. 

Peter  J.  Oggel,  A.  M  ,  Lector  in  Sacred  Rhetoric  and  Pastoral  Theology,  and  Profes 
sor  of  Sacred  Literature. 

T.  Romeyn  Beck,  A.  M.,  Lector  in  Biblical  Criticism  and  Philology,  and  Professor  of 
Latin  and  Greek. 

Charles  Scott,  A.  M.,  Lector  in  Ecclesiastical  History  and  Government,  and  Professor 
of  Natural  History  and  Chemistry. 

Cornelius  Doesberg,  Tutor  in  Modern  Languages.     William  A.  Shields,  A.M.,  Tutor. 

The  General  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  America,  is  the  ultimate  Board  of  Trus 
tees  exercising  its  trust,  at  first  through  its  Board  of  Education  alone,  but  since  the 
incorporation  of  the  College  principally  by  means  of  a  Board  of  Superintendents,  whose 
corporate  title  is  The  Council  of  Hope  College.  The  following  is  the  list  of  its  officers  : 

Albertus  C.  Van  Raalte,  D.  D.,  Holland,  Mich.,  President. 

John  S.  Joralmon,  Fairview,  111.,  Vice  President. 

Abel  T.  Stewart,  Holland,  Mich.,  Secretary. 

Peter  J.  Oggel,  Holland,  Mich.,  Treasurer. 

John  L.  See,  D.  D.,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Education. 

Philip  Phelps,  D.  D.,  Holland,  Mich.,  President  of  the  College. 

In  the  past  the  great  effort  of  the  friends  of  this  Institution  has  been  to  build  up  its 
Theological  Department,  but  it  is  proposed  to  form  new  departments  as  soon  as  practi 
cable,  and  measures  have  been  taken  to  add  a  Primary  and  a  Female  Department  at  an 
early  day. 

STATE  BOARD  OP  AGRICULTURE. — Hezekiah  G.  Wells,  of  Kalamazoo,  President ;  David 
Carpenter,  of  Blissfield;  Abraham  C.  Prutzman,  Three  Rivers ;  S.  0.  Knapp,  Jackson ; 
Oramel  Hostbrd,  Olivet;  J.  Webster  Chiles,  Ypsilanti.  His  Excellency  H.  P.  Baldwin 
and  T.  C.  Abbott,  President  of  the  College,  ex-officio ;  Sanford  Howard,  Secretary; 
Joseph  Mills,  Lansing. 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  517 

BOOKS  CONNECTED  WITH  THE  TERRITORY  AND  STATE  OP  MICHIGAN. 

Agassiz,  Louis. — Lake  Superior,  Its  Physical  Character.     Boston,  1850. 

American  State  Papers. — Volumes  on  Indian  Affairs  and  Public  Lands.  Washing 
ton,  1832. 

Andrews,  Israel  D. — Colonial  and  Lake  Trade.     Washington,  1852. 

Baraga,  Frederick. — The  Ottawa  Prayer  Book.     Detriot,  1842. 

Bishop,  Levi. — Teuchsa  Grondie,  a  Poem.     Albany,  1870. 

Blois,  J.  T. — Gazeteer  of  Michigan.     Detroit,  1840. 

Bryant,  William  C. — Letters  of  a  Traveller.     New  York,  1851. 

Burt,  W.  A.,  and  Hubbard  B. — Geography  of  the  South  Shore  of  Lake  Superior. 
Detroit,  1846. 

Carver,  Jonathan. — Travels  Through  North  America  in  1766-8.  London,  1779.  A 
mutilated  copy  of  this  work  was  published  in  New  York  a  few  years  ago  as  Travels  in 
Wisconsin. 

Charlevoix,  Father. — Travels  Through  Canada.     London,  1763. 

Clark,  Charles  F. — Michigan  State  Gazeteer.     Detroit,  1863. 

Colton,  George  H. — Tecumseh  ;  or  the  West  Thirty  Years   Since.     New  York,  1842. 

Cooley,  Thomas  M. — Digest  of  Michigan  Reports.     Detroit, . 

Cooper,  J.  Fennimore. — Oak  Openings  ;  a  novel,  the  scene  of  which  is  laid  in  Kala- 
mazoo  County,  Michigan.  New  York,  1848. 

Copway,  George. — Traditional  History  of  the  Ojibway  Nation.     Boston,  1851. 

Darby,  William. — A  Tour  from  New  York  to  Detroit.     New  York,  1819. 

Dejean.— The  Missionary  ;  A  Vocabulary  of  French  and  Ottawa  Words.  Detroit,  1830. 

Disturnell,  John. — The  Great  Lakes  and  their  Commerce.     New  York,  1863. 

Drake,  Benjamin. — Life  of  Tecumseh  and  his  Brother,  the  Prophet.     Cincinnati,  1841. 

Farmer,  John. — Michigan  and  Ouisconsin  Territories.     New  York,  1830. 

Farmer,  J.  W. — Map  of  Southern  Michigan ;  also,  Sectional  Map  of  Wisconsin  and 
Michigan.  New  York,  1856. 

Ferris,  J. — States  and  Territories  of  the  Great  West.     New  York,  1856. 

Flint,  Henry  M. — The  Railroads  of  the  United  States.     Philadelphia,  1868. 

Foster,  J.  W. — The    Physical  Geography  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.     Chicago,  1869. 

Fuller,  Margaret  S. — Summer  on  the  Lakes.     Boston,  1856. 

Hennepin,  Louis — Travels  in  Canada,  Paris, . 

Henry,  Alexander. — Travels  and  Adventures  in  Canada.     London,  1809. 

Historical  Society  of  Michigan.  Discourses  by  Lewis  Cass,  Henry  ft.  Schoolcraft, 
Henry  Whiting,  and  John  Biddle  Detroit  1834. 

Hoffman,  Charles  Fenno.— A  Winter  ia  the  West.  2  vols.     New  York,  1835. 

Jameson,  Anna. — Winter  Studies  and  Summer  Rambles,  3  vols.     London,  1833. 

Kane,  Paul. — Wanderings  of  an  Artist  Among  the  Indians  of  North  America.  Lon 
don,  1859. 

Kirkland,  Caroline  M. — A  New  Home;  Who'll  Follow ;  Forest  Life;  and  Western 
Clearings.  New  York,  1839,  1842,  and  1846. 

Kohl,  J.  G. — Kitchi  Garni ;  Wanderings  Around  Lake  Superior.      London,  1860. 

La  Hontan,  Baron. — Voyages  to  North  America,  2  vols.     London,  1703. 

Lanman,  Charles. — A  Summer  in  the  Wilderness.  New  York.  1847.  Life  of  Wil 
liam  Woodbridge.  Washington,  1867.  The  Red  Book  of  Michigan.  Detroit,  1871. 

Lanman,  Jam?s  H. — History  of  Michigan,  Civil  and  Topographical.  New  York,  1839. 
Abridgement  of  the  same.  New  York,  1843. 

Lossing,  Benson  J. — Field  Book  of  the  War  of  1812.     New  York,  1868. 

Mac  Afee,  Robert  B. — History  of  the  Late  War  in  the  Western  Country.  Lexington, 
Kentucky,  1816. 

McKenney,  Thomas  L. — Tour  to  the  Lakes.     Baltimore,  1827. 

Noble,  Louis  Le  Grand. — Miscellaneous  Poems.  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  1842 
and  1857. 

Parkman.  Francis. — Conspiracy  of  Pontiac.  Boston,  1851.  Jesuits  in  North  America. 
Boston,  1867. 

Roberts,  Robert  E. — Sketches  of  the  City  of  Detroit.     Detroit,  1855. 

Rogers,  Robert. — Journal  of  an  Expedition  to  Detroit.     London,  . 

Roosevelt,  Robert  13. — Superior  Fishing.     New  York,  1865. 

Schooley,  Augustus  C  — Among  the  Wolverines.     Chicago,  1869. 

Schoolcraft,  Henry  R. — Journal  of  Travels  Through  the  American  Lakes  to  the 
Sources  of  the  Mississippi  River.  Albany,  1821.  The  Rise  of  the  West,  and  other 
poems.  Detroit,  1827.  Algic  Researches,  2  vols.  New  York,  1839.  Personal  Memoirs 


513  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

from  1812  to  1842.  Philadelphia,  1851.  Life  and  Character  of  L*wis  Cass.  Albany, 
1848.  See  also  Miscellaneous  Discourses  and  Lectures  on  the  Minerals,  Indians,  and 
History  of  Michigan. 

Shearman,  Francis  W.— System  of  Public  Instruction  and  the  Primary  School  Laws 
of  Michigan.  Lansing,  1832. 

Sheldon,  E.  M.— Eaily  History  of  Michigan.     New  York,  1830. 

St.  John,  J.  R. — Lake  Superior  Country  and  the  Copper  Mines.     New  York,  1826. 

Strickland,  W.  P.— Old  Mackinaw.     Philadelphia,  1853. 

Tanner,  H.  S. — Map  of  Michigan  and  Wisconsin.     Philadelphia,  1846. 

Tour  of  the  American  Lakes.     Anonymous.     London,  1833. 

Van  Fleet,  J.  A. — Old  ;md  New  Mackiuac.     Ann  Arbor,  1870. 

Wheelock,  Julia  S. — The  Boys  in  White.  New  York,  1870.  Appended  to  this  work 
is  a  Poem  by  H.  J.  Baxter. 

Whitney,  George  L. — Historical  and  Scientific  Sketches  of  Michigan.     Detroit,  1834. 

Winchell,  Alexander — Reports  on  the  Geology  of  Michigan,  and  also  on  the  Grand 
Traverse  Region.  Lansing,  1870. 

Young,  William  T.,  Life  of  Lewis  Cass,  Philadelphia,  1853. 

Zeisberger,  David — His  Life  and  Times  as  a  Western  Pioneer  and  Apostle  of  the  In 
dians.  Philadelphia,  1870. 

To  the  above  should  be  added  the  long  list  of  documents,  published  by  authority  of 
the  State,  bearing  on  all  its  natural  and  industrial  resources,  which  are  not  only  nume 
rous,  but  of  great  value. 


NEWSPAPERS  OF   MICHIGAN,  WITH  THEIR  PUBLISHERS,  IN  1870. 
Also,  the  character  of  the  papers,  and  in  what  year  established. 

Adrian  Times  and  Expositor,  daily  and  weekly,  Applegate  &  Fee,  1838. 

Adrian  Journal,  weekly,  J.  Cross,  1867. 

Adrian  Michigan  Teacher,  monthly,  Payne,  Whitney,  &  Co.,  1865. 

Albion  Mirror,  weekly,  L.  W.  Cole,  1856. 

Albion  Recorder,  weekly,  Reed  &  Bissell,  1868. 

Allsgan  Democrat,  weekly,  Uscar  Hare,  1867. 

Allegan  Journal,  weekly,  D.  C.  Henderson,  1856. 

Allegan  Star,  monthly/W.  W.  Vosburg,  1867. 

Alpena  Pioneer,  weekly,  A.  C.  Tefft,  1863. 

Ann  Arbor  Democrat,  weekly,  H.  E.  H.  Bower,  1868. 

Ann  Arbor  Michigan  Argus,  weekly,  E.  B.  Pond,  1845. 

Ann  Arbor  Peninsula  Courier,  weekly,  R.  A.  Beal,  1861. 

Ann  Arbor  Chronicle,  bi-weekly,  University  Students,  1869. 

Battle  Creek  Advent  Review,  weekly,  Adventist's  Publishing  Company,  1850. 

Battle  Creek  Journal,  weekly,  George  Willard  &  Co.,  1851. 

Battle  Creek  Youth's  Instructor,  semi-monthly,  G.  H.  Bell,  1852. 

Battle  Creek  Health  Reformer,  monthly,  W.  C.  Gauge,  1866. 

Battle  Creek  Real  Estate  Reporter,  monthly,  A.  Hitchcock  &  Co.,  1868. 

Bay  City  Journal,  weekly,  Wilson  &  Bryce,  1864. 

Bay  City  Saginaw  Valley  News,  weekly,  Republican  Association,  1870. 

Bay  City  Signal,  weekly,  Kennedy  &  Worden,  1864. 

Benton  Harbor  Palladium,  weekly,  J   P.  Thresher,  1868. 

Big  Rapids  Pioneer,  weekly,  Charles,  Gay  &  Co.,  1862. 

Bronson  Herald,  weekly,  T.  M.  &  C.  C.  Babcock,  1867. 

Buchanan  Advent  Christian  Times,  weekly,  Publishing  Association,  1864. 

Buchanan  Record,  weekly,  D.  A.  Wagner,  1857. 

Buchanan  Christian  Proclamation,  monthly,  D.  A.  Wagner,  1868. 

Buchanan  Advent,  quarterly,  W.  L.  Himes^  1869. 

Burr  Oak  Democrat,  weekly,  E.  B.  Dewey,  1869. 

Caro  Tuscola  Advertiser,  weekly,  H.  G.  Chapin,  1868. 

Cassopolis  National  Democrat,  weekly,  C.  C.  Allison,  1850. 

Cedar  Springs,  Wolverine  Clipper,  weekly,  Maze  &  Sellers,  1869. 

Centerville  Republican,  weekly,  H.  Egabroad  &  Co.,  1869. 

Charlevoix  Sentinel,  weekly,  W.  A   Smith,  1869. 

Charlotte  Argus,  weekly,  J.  V.  Johnson  &  Co.,  1855. 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  519 

Charlotte  Republican,  weekly,  Saunders  &  Trash,  1853. 
Chesaning  Banner,  weekly,  Publishing  Company,  1869. 
Clinton  Standard,  weekly,  D.  B.  Sherwood,  1870. 
Coldwater  Republican,  weekly,  Bowen,  Dunham  &  Moore,  1866. 
Coldwater  Sentinel,  weekly,  F.  V.  Smith,  18G4. 
Constantine  Mercury,  weekly,  L.  F.  Hull.  1845 
Corunna  Shiawassee  American,  weekly,  John  N.  Ingersoll,  1855. 
Decatur  Republican,  weekly,  B.  A.  Blackman,  1867. 
Detroit  Abend  Post,  daily  and  weekly,  Augustus  Marxhausen,  1867. 
Detroit  Advertiser  and  Tribune,  daily,  tri-weekly,  and  weekly,  Advertiser  and  Trib 
une  Company,  1829. 

Detroit  Free  Press,  daily,  tri-weekly,  and  weekly,  Free  Press  Company,  1832. 

Detroit  Michigan  Journal,  daily,  C.  Marxhausen,  1855. 

Detroit,  Michigan  Volksblatt,  daily  and  weekly,  M.  Cramer  &  Co.,  1853, 

Detroit  Post,  daily,  tri-weekly,  and  weekly,  Daily  Post  Company,  1866. 

Detroit  Union,  daily  nnd  weekly,  Union  Printing  Company,  1865. 

Detroit  Anti-Roman  Advocate,  weekly,  Mederic  Lanctot,  1870. 

Detroit  Commercial  Advertiser,  weekly,  W.  H.  Burk,  1861. 

Detroit  Journal  of  Commerce,  weekly,  J.  T.  Gradwell,  1865. 

Detroit,  Michigan  Farmer,  weekly.  Johnstone  &  Gibbons,  1869. 

Detroit,  Peninsular  Herald,  weekly,  Temperance  Association,  1863. 

Detroit  American  Observer,  monthly,  Edwin  A.  Lodge,  1864. 

Detroit  Mechanic  and  Inventor,  monthly,  Publishing  Association,  1867. 

Detroit,  Review  of  Medicine  and  Pharmacy,  monthly,  G.  P.  Andrews,  1866. 

Dexter  Leader,  weekly,  A.  McMillan,  1869. 

Dowagiac  Republican,  weekly,  Henry  C.  Buffington,  1857. 

East  Saginaw  Courier,  weekly,  S.  S.  Pomeroy,  18138. 

East  Saginaw  Enterprise,  daily  and  weekly,  publisher  not  known  to  Compiler,  1855. 

Eaton  Rapids  Journal,  weekly,  Frank  C.  Culley,  1865. 

Elk  Rapids,  Traverse  Bay  Eagle,  weekly,  Sprague  &  Spencer,  .1864. 

Escanawba  Tribune,  weekly,  E.  P.  Lott,  1869. 

Fentou  Gazette,  weekly,  W.  H.  H.  Smith,  1865. 

Fentonville  Independent,  weekly,  H.  N.  Jennings,  1868. 

Fentonville  Christian  Home,  quarterly,  0.  E.  Fuller,  1869. 

Flint,  Genesee  Democrat,  weekly,  Jenny  &  P'ellows,  1848. 

Flint  Globe,  weekly,  A.  L.  Aldnch,  1866. 

Flint,  Wolverine  Citizen,  weekly,  F.  H.  Rankin,  1850. 

Grand  Haven  Herald,  weekly,  Henry  S.  Chubb,  1869. 

Grand  Haven  News,  weekly,  John  H.  Mitchell,  1859. 

Grand  Haven  Union,  weekly,  L.  M.  S.  Smith,  1861. 

Grand  Ledge  Independent,  weekly,  B.  F.  Saunders,  1870. 

Grand  Rapids  Democrat,  daily  and  weekly,  M.  II.  Clark  &  Co.,  1862. 

Grand  Rapids  Eagle,  daily  and  weekly,  A.  B.  Turner  &  Co.,  1844. 

Grand  Rapids  Sun,  daily,  R.  A.  Marvin  &  Co,  1869. 

Grand  Rapids  Industrial  Journal,  weekly.  Labor  Union  Publishing  Company,  1867. 

Grand  Rapids  Vrijheid's  Banier,  weekly,  Verberg  &  Co.,  1868. 

Grass  Lake  Reporter,  weekly,  Andrew  Allison,  1867. 

Greenville  Independent,  weekly,  E.  P.  Grabill,  1854. 

Hart  Oceana  Journal,  weekly,  J.  Palmeter,  1869. 

Hastings  Banner,  weekly,  George  M.  Dewey,  1854. 

Hastings  Home  Journal,  weekly,  Gibson  Brothers,  1868. 

Hillsdale  Democrat,  weekly,  Wm.  H.  Tallman,  1859. 

Hillsdale  Standard,  weekly,  H.  B.  Rowlson,  1846. 

Holland  De  Hollander,  weekly,  W.  Beujaminse,  1850. 

Holland  De  Hope,  weekly,  Hope  College,  1866. 

Holland,  Der  Wachter,  s'emi-monthly,  C.  Vorst,  1866. 

Holly  Register,  weekly,  Henry  Jenkins,  1865. 

Houghton  Portage  Lake  Gazette,  weekly,  H  McKenzie,  1859. 

Howdl  Livingston  Democrat,  weekly,  Jos.  T.  Titus,  1857. 

Howell  Livingston  Republican,  weekly,  J.  D.  Smith  &  Co.,  1855.  - 

Hudson  Gazette,  weekly,  Win.  T.  B.  Schermerhorn,  1858. 

Hudson  Post,  weekly,  C.  W.  Stevens,  1862. 

Ionia  Sentinel,  weekly,  Taylor  &  Stevenson,  1866. 

Ithaca  Gratiot  Journal,  weekly,  Daniel  Taylor,  1866. 

Ithaca  School  Journal,  monthly,  Daniel  Taylor,  1868. 


520  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

Jackson  Citizen,  daily  and  weekly,  O'Donnell,  Hilton,  &  Smith,  1849. 

Jackson  Patriot  weekly,  Carlton  and  Van  Antwerp,  1844. 

Jonesville  Independent,  weekly,  James  I.  Dennis,  1848. 

Kalamazoo  Telegraph,  daily  and  weekly,  Telegraph  Company,  1868. 

Kalamazoo  Gazette,  weekly,  Joseph  Lomax,  1862. 

Kalamazoo  Present  Age,  weekly,  Spiritual  Publishing  Company,  1868. 

Kalamazoo  Bill  Poster,  monthly,  McCarthy  &  Whipple,  1869. 

Kalamazoo  Freemason,  monthly,  Chapin  &  Rix,  1869. 

Lansing  State  Democrat,  weekly,  J.  W.  Higgs,  1866. 

Lansing  State  Republican,  weekly,  W.  S.  George  &  Co.,  1855. 

Lapeer  Clarion,  weekly,  S.  J.  Tornlinson,  1857. 

Lawton  Tribune,  weekly,  J.  H.  Wickwire,  1869. 

Leslie  Herald,  weekly,  Jas.  H.  Ford  &  Co.,  1869. 

Lexington  Sanilac  Jeffersonian,  weekly,  Nims  &  Beach,  1853. 

Lowell  Journal,  weekly,  Morris  &  Smith,  1865. 

Luddington  Record,  weekly,  Geo.  W.  Clapton,  1867. 

Manchester  Enterprise,  weekly,  M.  D.  Blosser,  1867. 

Manistee  Times,  weekly,  S.  W.  Fowler,  1865. 

Manistee  Tribune,  weekly,  John  E.  Rostall,  1864. 

Marquette  Mining  Journal,  weekly,  A.  P.  Swineford,  1868. 

Marquette  Plain  Dealer,  weekly,  J.  C.  Buchanan,  1867. 

Marshall  Expounder,  weekly,  Chastain  Mann,  1836. 

Marshall  Statesman,  weekly,  Burgess  &  Lewis,  1839. 

Mason  News,  weekly,  K.  Kittredge,  1859. 

Menominee  Herald,  weekly,  A.  R.  Bradbury,  1863. 

Midland  City  Cheek,  weekly,  W.  H.  H.  Bartram,  1869. 

Monroe  Commercial,  weekly,  D.  H.  Hamilton,  1840. 

Monroe  Monitor,  weekly,  E.  G.  Morton,  1862. 

Mount  Clemens  Press,  weekly,  John  Trevidick,  1864. 

Mount  Clemens  Monitor,  weekly,  W.  T.  and  0.  H.  Lee,  1863. 

Mount  Pleasant  Enterprise,  weekly,  I.  A.  Fancher,  1864. 

Muskegon  Chronicle,  weekly,  Geo.  C.  Rice,  1869. 

Muskegori  Enterprise,  weekly,  I.  Ransom  Sanford,  1869. 

Muskegon  News  and  Reporter,  weekly,  F.  Weller,  1868. 

Newaygo  Republican,  weekly,  E.  0.  Shaw,  1856. 

Niles  Democrat,  weekly,  A.  J.  Shakespear,  1839. 

Niles  Republican,  weekly,  L.  A.  Duncan,  1866. 

North  Lansing  Enterprise,  weekly,  Willis  F.  Cornell,  1868. 

Northville  Record,  semi-monthly,  Samuel  H.  Little,  1869. 

Ontonagon  Miner,  weekly,  Thomas  J.  Lasier,  1855. 

Otsego  Record,  weekly,  H.  E.  J.  Clute,  1869. 

Ovid  Register,  weekly,  J.  W.  Fitzgerald,  1866. 

Owosso  Press,  weekly,  J.  H.  Champion  &  Co.,  1862. 

Owosso  Crusader,  monthly,  A.  B    Wood,  Jr.,  1870. 

Parma  Advertiser,  monthly,  James  Haramell,  1869. 

Paw-Paw  Northerner,  weekly,  Thomas  0.  Ward,   1856. 

Paw-Paw  Press,  weekly,  J.  W.  Van  Fossen,  1844. 

Pentwater  Times,  weekly,  Palmeter  &  Dresser,  1861. 

Pontiac  Gazette,  weekly,  Rann  &  Turner,  1844. 

Pontiac  Jacksonian,  weekly,  D.  H.  Solis,  1836. 

Port  Austin  News,  weekly,  V.  W.  Richardson,  1861. 

Port  Huron  Commercial,  weekly,  Talbot  &  Son,  1849. 

Port  Huron  Press,  weekly,  Boynton  &  Young,  1858. 

Port  Huron  Times,  weekly,  J.  H.  Stone,  1869. 

Portland  Advertiser,  weekly,  Joseph  W.  Bailey,  1867. 

Q  rincy  Times,  weekly,  Tirnes  Company,  1868. 

Reading  Review,  weekly,  R.  W.  Lockhart, . 

Saginaw  Republican,  weekly,  F.  A.  Palmer,  1858. 
Saginaw  Saginawian,  weekly,  George  F.  Lewis,  1869. 
St.  Clair  Republican,  weekly,  Wands  &  Ross,  1.857. 
St.  John's  Independent,  weekly,  Corbet  &  Estes,  1866. 
St.  John's  Republican,  weekly,  D.  M.  Phillips,  1854. 
St.  Joseph  Herald,  weekly,  H.  W.  Guerens -y,  1866.' 
St.  Joseph  Traveller,  weekly,  A.  L.  Aldrice,  1859. 
St.  Louis  Gazette,  weekly,  II.  E.  Church,  1869. 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 


521 


St.  Louis  Advocate,  monthly,  A.  D.  Rust,  1869. 

Laramie  Standard,  weekly,  Spencer  &  Wilson,  1870. 

Saugatuck  Commercial,  weekly,  George  Sherwood  &  Co.,  1869. 

Schoolcraft,  News,  weekly,  V.  C.  Smith,  1869. 

Shepardsville  Advance,  weekly,  Shepard  &  Brass,  1869. 

Sou.h  Haven  Sentinel,  weekly,  William  E.  Stewart,  1867. 

Spring  Lake  Independent,  weekly,  John  Lee,  1869. 

Stanton,  Montcalm  Herald,  weekly,  E.  R.  Powell,  1867. 

Sturgis  Journal,  weekly,  G.  W.  Wait,  1861. 

Tawas  City  Gazette,  weekly,  Charles  S.  Helbourn,  1868. 

Tecumseh  Herald,  weekly,  C.  M.  Burlingame,  1849. 

Tecurnseh  Raisin  Valley  Record,  weekly,  Chapin  &  Page,  1866. 

Three  River's  Reporter,  weekly,  W.  H.  Clute  &  Co.,  1860. 

Traverse  City  Herald,  weekly,  D.  C,  Leach,  1858. 

Vassar  Pioneer,  weekly,  Alexander  Trotter,  1857. 

Wenona  Herald,  weekly,  James  B.  Teneyck,  1869. 

Whitehall  Forum,  weekly,  Benjamin  Frank,  1869. 

Ypsilanti  Commercial,  weekly,  C.  R.  Pattlson,  1864. 


THE  POST  OFFICES  OF  MICHIGAN  IN  1870. 
Official  and  brought  down  to  October  1,  1870;  those  marked  with  a  *  are  Money-Order  Offices. 


Abscota,  Calhoun 
Acme,  Grand  Traverse 
Ada,  Kent 
Adamsville,  Cass 
Addison,  Lenawee 
Adrian*  (c.  h.)  Lenawee 
jEtna,  Newaygo 
Akron,  Tuscola 
Alabaster,  losco 
Alamo,  Kalamazoo 
Alaska,  Kent 
Albion,'5*'  Calhoun 
Alcona,  Alcona 
Algansee,  Branch 
Algodon,  Ionia 
Algonac.  St.  Clair 
Alice,  Oceana 
Allegan*  (c.  h.)  Allegan 
Allen,  Hillsdale 
AHendale,  Ottawa 
Aliens,  Eaton 
Alma,  Gratiot 
Almena,  Van  Buren 
Almira,  Beuzie 
Almont,  Lepeer 
Alpena*  (c.  A.)  Alpena 
Alpine,  Kent 
Alto,  Kent 
Alton,  Kent 
Alverson,  Ingham 
Amadore,  Sanilac 
Amber,  Mason 
Amboy,  Hillsdale 
Amsden,  Montcalm 
Ann  Arbor*  (c.  h.)  Washte- 

naw 

Antrim  City,  Antrim 
Arcadia,  Manistee 
Arenac,  Bay 


Argentine,  Genesee 
Arland,  Jackson 
Arlington.  Van  Buren 
Armada,  Macomb 
Ashland,  Newaygo 
Ashley,  Kent 
Assyria,  Barry 
Athens,  Calhoun 
Athlone,  Monroe 
Atlas,  Genesee 
Atwood,  Antrim 
Au  Gres,  Bay 
Augusta,  Kalamazoo 
Aurelius,  Ingham 
Au  Sable,  losco 
Austerlitz,  Kent 
Austin,  Oakland 
Averill's  fetation,  Midland 
Avery,  Berrien 
Bad  River,  Gratiot 
Bainbridge,  Berrien 
Baldwin's  Mills,  Jackson 
Baltimore,  Barry 
Bangor,  Van  Buren 
Baraga,  Houghton 
Barnard,  Charlevoix 
Barryville,  Barry 
Barton,  Newaygo 
Base  Lake,  Washtenaw 
Batavia,  Branch 
Bates,  Osceola 
Bath,  Clinton 
Battle  Creek,*  Calhoun 
Bay  City*  (c.  h.)  Bay 
Bear  Lake,  Manistee 
Bear  Lake  Mills,  Van  Buren 
Bear  River,  Emmett 
Beaver  Creek,  Gratiot 
Bedford,  Calhoun 
2  G  * 


Belle  River,  St.  Clair 
Belleville,  Wayne 
Bellevue,*  Eaton 
Belmout,  Kent 
Bengal,  Clinton 
Bennington,  Shiawassee 
Benona,  Oceana 
Benton,  Washtenaw 
Benton  Harbor,*  Berrien 
Benzonia,  (c.  h.}  Berizie 
Berlin,  Ottawa 
Berrien  Centre,  Berrien 
Berrien  Springs*  (c.  A.)  Ber 
rien 

Bertrand,  Berrien 
Berville,  St.  Clair 
Bethel,  Branch 
Betsey  Lake,  Grand  Traverse 
Big  Beaver,  Oakland 
Big  Creek,  Mecosta 
Big  Prairie,  Newaygo 
Big  Rapids*  (c.  A.)  Mecosta 
Big  Spring,  Ottawa 
Birch  Run,  Saginaw 
Birmingham,  Oakland 
Blackberry  Ridge,  Oceana 
Black  Lake,  Muskegon 
Blair,  Barry 
Blendon,  Ottawa 
Blissfield,  Lenawee 
Bloomer  Centre,  Montcalm 
Bloomingdale,  Van  Buren 
Blue  Lake,  Muskegon 
Bluffton,  Muskegon 
Blumfield,  Saginaw 
Blumfield  Junction,  Saginaw 
Bostwick  Lake,  Kent 
Bowen's  Mills,  Barry 
Bowue,  Kent 


522 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 


Boyne,  Charlevoix 

Bradley,  Allegan 

Brady,  Kalamazoo 

Brandon,  Oakland 

Breedsville,  Van  Buren 

Bridgeport  Centre,  Saginaw 

Bridgeton,  Newaygo 

Bridgeville,  Gratiot 

Brighton,  Livingston 

Brockway,  St.  Glair 

Brockway,  Centre,  St.  Glair 

Bronson's  Prairie  Branch 

Brookfield,  Eaton 

Brooklyn,*  Jackson 

Brookside,  Oceola 

Brown's  Mills,  Muskegon 

Brownstown,  Wayne 

Brownsville,  Cass 

Buchanan,*  Berrien 

Buel,  Sanilac 

Buena  Vista,  Saginaw 

Bunker  Hill,  Ingham 

Burch's,  Kent 

Burdickviile,  Leelenaw 

Burlington,  Calhoun 

Burnip's  Corners   Allegan 

Burns,  Shiawassee 

Burnside,  Lapeer 

Burr  Oak,*  St.  Joseph 

Bushnell  Centre,  Montcalm 

Butler,  Branch 
Byron,  Shiawassee 

Byron  Centre,  Kent 
Cady,  Macomb 
Caledonia,  Kent 
Caledonia  Station,  Kent 
California,  Branch 
Calumet,  Houghton 
Calvin,  Cass 
Cambria  Mills,  Hillsdale 
Cambridge,  Lenawee 
Camden,  Hillsdale 
Campbell,  Ionia 
Can,  Huron 

Canandaigua,  Lenawee 
Cannonsburgh,  Kent 
Canton,  Wayne 
Capac,  St.  Glair 
Carleton,  Muskegon 
Carlisle,  Eaton 
Caro,*  (c.  A.)  Tuscola 
Carrollton,  Saginaw 
Carson  City,  Montcalm 
Cascade,  Kent 
Casco,  St.  Glair 
Caseville,  Huron 
Casnovia,  Kent 
Cass,  Hillsdale 
Cass  Bridge,  Saginaw 
Cass  City,  Tuscola 
Oassopolis*  (c.  h.)  Cass 
Cato,  Montcalm 
Cedar  Creek,  Barry 
Cedar  Dale,  Sanilac 
Cedar  Fork,  Menomonee 


Cedar  Run,  Grand  Traverse 

Cedar  Springs,  Kent 

Central  Lake,  Antrim 

Centre,  Eaton 

Centreville,  (c.  7t.)  St.  Joseph 

Ceresco,  Calhoun 

Charlevoix. (c.  h.}  Charlevoix 

Charlotte*  (c.  h.)  Eaton 

Cheboygan,  (c.  h.)  Cheboygan 

Chelsea,  Washtenaw 

Cheasaning,  Saginaw 

Cheshire,  Allegan 

Chester,  Eaton 

Chickaming,  Berrien 

China,  St.  Glair 

Chippewa  Lake,  Mecosta 

Church's  Corners,  Hillsdale 

Clarence,  Calhoun 

Clarendon  Centre,  Calhoun 

Clarksburgh,  Marquette 

Clarkston,  Oakland 

Clay  Bank,  Oceana 

Clay  Hill,  Wexford 

Clayton,  Lenawee 

Clear  Water,  Antrim 

Clifford,  Lapeer 

Climax  Prairie,  Kalamazoo 

Clinton,  Lenawee 

Clio,  Genesee 

Clyde  Mills,  St.  Glair 
Cob  Moo  Sa,  Oceana 
Cody's  Mills,  Kent 

Cohoctah,  Livingston 

Cold  Water*  (c.  h.)  Branch 
Colfax,  Mason 
Coloma,  Berrien 
Colon,  St.  Joseph 
Columbia,  Jackson 
Columbiaville,  Lapeer 
Columbus,  St.  Glair 
Commerce,  Oakland 
Comstock,  Kalamazoo 
Concord,  Jackson 
Conner's  Creek,  Wayne 
Constantino,  St.  Joseph 
Convis  Centre,  Calhoun 
Cook's  Station,  Newaygo 
Cooper,  Kalamazoo 
Coopersville,  Ottawa 
Copper  Falls  Mine,  Kewee- 

naw 

Copper  Harbor,  Keweenaw 
Coral,  Montcalm 
Cortland  Centre,  Kent 
Corunna*  (c.  h.)  Shiawassee 
County  Line,  Eaton 
Covert,  Van  Luren 
Cracow,  Huron 
Crapo.  Osceola 
Crawford,  Isabella 
Creswell,  Antrim, 
Croton,*  Newaygo 
Crystal,  Montcalm 
Dallas,  Clinton 
Dalton's  Corners,  Wayne 


Danby,  Tonia 
Dansville,  Ingham 
Davisburgh,  Oakland 
Davison,  Genesee 
Davisville,  Sanilac 
Dayton,  Berrien 
Dearbornville,  Wayne 
Decatur,  Van  Burcn 
Deckerville,  Sanilac 
Deer  Creek,  Livingston 
Deerfield,  Lenawee 
Delroy,  Wayne 
Delta,  Eaton 
Denmark,  Tuscola 
Dennison,  Ottawa 
Denton,  Wayne 
Denver,  Newaygo 
Detour,  Chippewa 
Detroit*  (c  h.)  Wayne 
De  Witt,  Clinton 
Dexter,  Washtenaw 
Disco,  Macomb 
Dorr,  Allegan 
Douglas,  Allegan 
Dowagiac,*  Cass 
Drayton  Plains,  Oakland 
Dryden,  Lapeer 
Dundee,  Monroe 
Dunningville,  Allegan 
Du  Plain,  Clinton 
Eagle,  Clinton 
Eagle  Flarbor,  Keweenaw 
Eagle  River,  (c  h.)  Keweenaw 
East  Dayton,  Tuscola 
East  Gilead,  Branch 
East  Leroy,  Calhoun 
Eastmansville,  Ottawa 
East  Milan,  Monroe 
Easton,  Ionia 
East  Saginaw,*  Saginaw 
East  Tawas,  losco 
East  Traverse  Bay,  Gr.  Trav 
erse 

Eaton  Rapids,  Eaton 
Eau  Claire,  Berrien 
Ecorse,  Wayne 
Eden,  Ingham 
Edenville,  Midland 
Edgerton,  Kent 
Edinburgh,  Hillsdale 
Edwardsburgh,  CdSS 
Elgin,  Genesee 
Elk,  Saginaw 
Elklake,  Lapeer 
Elkland,  Tuscola 
Elk  Rapids,  (c.  h.)  Antrim 
Ellington,  Tuscola 
Elm,  Wayne 
Elm  Hall,  Gratiot 
Elmira,  Eaton 
Elsie,  Clinton 
Emmett,  St.  Glair 
Empire,  Leelenaw 
Englishville,  Kent 
Ensley,  Newaygo 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 


523 


Erie.  Monroe 
Esconawba*  (c.  A.)  Delta 
Essex,  Clinton 
Eureka   Clinton 
Evart,  Osceola 
Exeter,  Monroe 
Fairfipld,  Lenawee 
Fair  Grove,  Tuscola 
Fair  Haven,  St.  Clair 
Fairview,  Mason 
Fallasburgh,  Kent 
Farmers,  Sanilac 
Farmer's  Creek,  Lapeer 
Farmington,  Oakland 
Fawn  River,  £t.  Joseph 
Fayette,  Delta 
Felt's  logham 
Fenn's  Mill's,  Allegan 
Fentonville,*  Genesee 
Ferris,  Montcalm 
Ferrysburgh,  Ottawa 
Filer  City,  Manistee 
Fillmore,  Barry 
Fitchburgh,  Ingham 
Five  Lakes,  Lapeer 
Fleming,  Livingston 
Flint*  (c.  h.)  Genesee 
Florence,  St.  Joseph 
Flower  Creek,  Oceana 
Flowerfield,  St.  Joseph 
Flushing,  Genesee 
Forest  City,  Muskegon 
Forest  Hill,  Gratiot 
Forestville,  Sanilac 
Fork,  Mecosta 
Forrester,  Sanilac 
Fort  Gratiot,  St.  Clair 
Four  Towns,  Oakland 
Fowlerville,  Livingston 
Franciscoville,  Jackson 
Frankenlust,  Sagiuaw 
Frankenmuth,  Saginaw 
Frankfort,  Benzie 
Franklin,  Oakland 
Fraser,  Macomb 
Fredonia,  Washtenaw 
Fremont,  Shiawassee 
Fremont  Centre,  Newaygo 
Frontier,  Hillsdale 
Fruitport,  Muskegon 
Fulton,  Kalamazoo 
Gagetown,  Tuscola 
Gaines'  Station,  Genesee 
Gainesville,  Kent 
Galesburgh,*  Kalamazoo 
Galien,  Berrien 
Ganges,  Allegan 
Garden,  Delta 
Geary,  Clinton 
Genesee  Village,  Genesee 
Geneva,  Lenawee 
Genoa,  Livingston 
Georgetown,  Ottawa 
Gibr.ilta,  Wayne 
Gilead,  Branch 


Gilford,  Tuscola 

Girard,  Branch 

Glass  River,  Shiawassee 

Glen  Arbor,  Leelenaw 

Glendale,  Van  Buren 

Glen  Haven,  Leleenaw 

Golding,  Oceana 

Good  Harbor,  Leelenaw 

Goodland,  Lapeer 

Goodrich,  Genesee 

Graafschap,  Allegan 

Grafton,  Monroe 

Grand  Blanc,  Genesee 

Grand  Haven,*  (c.  h.)  Ottawa 

Grand  Ledge,  Eaton 

Grand  Rapids  *  (c.  h.)  Kent 

Grandville,  Kent 

Grant,  Kent 

Grass  Lake,"*  Jackson 

Grattan,  Kent 

Gravel  Run,  Washtenaw 

Greenbush,  Alcona 

Greenfield,  Wayne 

Greenland,  Ontonagon 

Green  Oak,  Livingston 

Greenville,*  Montcalm 

Greenwood  Furnace,  Mar- 

quette 

Groveland,  Oakland 
Gull  Lake,  Barry 
Gun  Marsh,  Allegan 
Hadley,  Lapeer 
Hamburgh,  Livingston 
Hamilton,  Allegan 
Hamlin,  Monroe 
Hammond,  Kent 
Hancock,  Houghton 
Hanley,  Ottawa 
Hanover,  Jackson 
Hansen,  Oceana 
Harris  Creek,  Kent 
Harrisville,  (c.  h.)  Alcona 
Hart*  (c.  h.)  Oceana 
Hartford,  Van  Buren 
Hartland,  Livingston 
Hartwellville,  Shiawassee 
Harvey,  Marquette 
Harwood,  Muskt-gon 
Hasler,  Lapeer 
Hastings*  (c.  h.)  Barry 
Hazelton,  Shiawassee 
Hazelgreen,  Shiawassee 
Hemlock  City,  Sagiuaw 
Henrietta,  Jarkson 
Hersey,  (c.  h.)  Osceola 
Hesperia,  Oceana 
Hickory  Corners,  $arry 
Highland,  Oakland 
Hilliard's,  Ailegan 
Hillsdale*  (c.  h.)  Hillsdale 
Holland,*  Ottawa 
Holly,*  Oakland 
Holt,  Ingham 
Home.  Newaygo 
Homer,  Calhoun 


Homestead,  B°nzie 
Hooker,  Van  Buren 
Hopkins   Allegan 
Hopkins  Station,  Allegan 
Houghton*  (c.  h.)  Houghton 
Howard,  Muskegon 
Howard  City,  Montcalra 
Howardsville,  St.  Joseph 
Howcll,  (c.  h.)  Livingston 
Hubbardston,  Ionia 
Hudson,*  Lenawee 
Hughesville,  Saginaw 
Humboldt,  Marquette 
Hunter's  Creek,  Lapeer 
Huron  City,  Huron 
Huron  Station,  Wayne 
Ida,  Monroe 
Imlay,  Lapeer 
Indian  Creek,  Kent 
Indian  Town,  Mason 
Inkster,  Wayne 
Inland,  Benzie 
Ionia,*  (c.  h.)  Ionia 
Irving,  Barry 
Isabella  City,  Isabella 
Ishpeming,  Marquette 
Ithaca*  (c.  h.)  Gratiot 
Jackson*  (c.  h.)  Jackson 
Jamestown,  Ottawa 
Jay,  Saginaw 
Jeddo,  ttt.  Clair 
Jefferson,  Hillsdale 
Jeffersonville,  Cass 
Jersey,  Oakland 
Johnston,  Barry 
Jonesville,*  Hillsdale 
Josco,  Livingston 
Jovfield,  Benzie 
KalamazoOj*  (c.  h.)  Kala 
mazoo 

Kalamo,  Eaton 
Kawkawlin,  Bay 
Keelersville,  Van  Buren 
Keene,  Ionia 
Kelloggsville,  Kent 
Kelly's  Corners,  Lenawee 
Kendall,  Van  Buren 
Kenockee,  St.  Clair 
Kensington,  Oakland 
Kiddville,  Ionia 
Kinderhook,  Branch 
Kipp's  Corners,  Genesee 
La  Fayette,  Gratiot 
La  Grange,  Cass 
Lainsburgh,  Shiawassee 
Lake  Linden,  Houghton 
Lake  Mill,  Van  Buren 
Lake  Port,  St.  Clair 
Lake  Ridge,  Lenawee 
Laketon,  Berrien 
Lakeview,  Montcalm 
Lakeville,  Oakland 
Lambertville,  Monroe 
Lament,  Ottawa 
Lamotte,  Sanilac 


524 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 


L'Ance,  Honghton 
Langston,  Montcalm 
LANSING,*  Inghani 
Lapeer  (c.  h  )  Lapeer 
La  Salle.  Monroe 
Lawrence,*  Van  Buren 
Lawton,*  Van  Buren 
Leland,  Leelenaw 
Leoni,  Jackson 
Leonidas,  St.  Joseph 
Leslie,  Ingham 
Lexington,*  (c.  h.}  Sanilac 
Liberty,  Jackson 
Lima,  Wa.btenaw 
Lincoln,  (c  h.)  Mason 
Linden,  Genesee 
Lisbon,  Ottawa 
Litchfidd,*  Hillsdale 
Little  Prairie  Ronde,  Cass 
Little  Traverse,  (c.  h.)  Emuiett 
Locke,  Inghain 
London,  Monroe 
Lowell,  Kent 
Ludington,*  Mason 
Lynn,  St.  Clair 
Lyons,*  Ionia 
Lyon's  Mill,  Clinton 
Mackinaw,*  (c.  h  )  Mackinac 
Macomb,  Macomb 
Macon,  Lenawee 
Madison,  Livingston 
Mahopac,  Oakland 
Manchester,  Washtenaw 
Manistee,*  (c.  A.)  Mauistee 
Manlius,  Allegan 
Maple,  Ionia 
MapJe  Grove,  Barry 
Maple  Hill,  Montcalm 
MapJe  Rapids,  Clinton 
Mapleton,  Grand  Traverse 
Marathon,  Lapeer 
Maicellus,  Cass 
Marengo,  Calhoun 
Marine  City,*  St.  Clair 
Marion,  Livingston 
Marlette,  Sanilac 
Marquette,*  (c  h.)  Marquette 
Marshall,*  (c.  h.)  Calhoun 
Marshville,  Oceana 
Martin,  Allegau 
Martinsville,  Wayne 
Marysville,  St.  Clair 
Mason,*  (c.  A.)  Ingraham 
Matherton,  Ionia 
Mattawan,  Van  Buren 
Mattison,  Branch 
May,  Tuscola 
Mayfield,  Grand  Traverse 
Meade,  I\l  acorn  b 
Mead  s  Mills,  Wayne 
Meadville,  Barry 
Mecosta,  Mecosta 
Medina,  Lenawee 
Melville,  Leelenaw 
Memphis,*  Macomt 


Mendon,  St.  Joseph 

Menomonee,*  (c.  h.)  Menomo- 
nee 

Merrillsville,  St.  Clair 

Metamora,  Lapeer 

Micham,  Leelenaw 

Michigan  Centre,  Jackson 

Middletown,  Ingham 

Middleville,*  Barry 

Midland  *(c.  h.)  Midland 

Milan,  Washtenaw 

Mile  Creek,  Muskegon 

Milford,*  Oakland 

Millbrook,  Mecosta 

Millburgh,  Berrien 

Mill  Cre<k,  Kent 

Millington,  Tuscola 

Milo,  Barry 

Milton,  Macomb 

Minden,  Sanilac 

Mitchell,  Antrim 

Model  City,  Cass 

Moline,  Allegan 

Monroe,*  (c.  h)  Monroe 

Monroe  Centre,  Gr.  Traverse 

Montague,*  Muskegon 

Monterey,  Allegan 

Moutrose,  Genesee 

Morenci,  Lenawee 

Morgan,  Marquette 

Morgan ville,  Hillsdale 

Morley,  Mecosta 

Moscow,  Hillsdale 

Mosherville,  Hillsdale 

Mottville,  St.  Joseph 

Mount  Clemens,*  (c.  h.)  Ma 
comb 

Mount  Morris  Station,  Gen- 
esee 

Mount  Pleasant.*  (c.  h.)  Isa 
bella 

Mount  Vernon,  Macomb 

Mud  Creek,  Eaton 

Muir,  Ionia 

Mundy,  Genesee 

ilungerville,  Shiawassee 

Munising,  Schoolcraft 

Muskegon*  (c.  h.)  Muskegon 

Nahma,  Delta 

Nankin,  Wayne 

Napoleon,  Jackson 

Nashville,*  Barry 

Negaunee,  Marquette 

Nelson,  Kent 

Nelsonville,  Charlevoix 

Newark,  Gratiot 

Newaygo*  (c.  A.)  Newaygo 

New  Baltimore,  Macomb 

New  Boston,  Wayne 

New  Buffalo,*  Herrien 

Newburgh,  Cass 

Newbury,  Tuscola 

New  Casco,  Allegan 

New  Haven,  Macomb 

New  Haven  Centre,  Gratiot 


New  Home,  Montcalm 
New  Hudson,  Oakland 
Newport,  Monroe 
New  River,  Huron 
New  Salem,  Allegan 
Newton,  Calboun 
New  Troy,  Berrien 
Niles,*  Berrien 
Noble  Centre,  Branch 
North  Adams,  Hillsdale 
North  Aurelius,  Ingham 
North  Branch,  Lapeer 
North  Byron,  Kent 
North  Eagle,  Clinton 
North  Farmington,  Oakland 
North  Irving,  Barry 
North  Newberg,  Shiawassee 
North  Plains,  Ionia 
N^rthport*  (c.  h)  Leelenaw 
North  Ilaisinville,  Monroe 
North  Star,  Gratiot 
North  Unity,  Leelenaw 
North  Vernon,  Shiawassee 
Northville,  Wayne 
Norvell,  Jackson 
Norwalk,  Manistee 
Norwood,  Charlevoix 
Novi,  Oakland 
Nunico,  Ottawa 
Oak,  Wayne 
Oakfield,  Kent 
Oak  Grove,  Livingston 
Oak  Hill,  Oakland 
Oakland,  Oakland 
Oakley,  Saginaw 
Oakville,  Monroe 
Oakwood,  Oakland 
Ogden  Centre,  Lenawee 
Oceola  Centre,  Livingston 
Ogemaw,  losco 
Ohio  Mill,  Ottawa 
Okemos,  Ingham 
Old  Mission,  Grand  Traverse 
Olive,  Clinton 
Olivet,*  Eaton 
Omena,  Leelenaw 
Onondaga,  Ingham 
Onota,  Schoolcraft 
Ontonagon  (c.  A.)  Ontonagon 
Oporto,  St.  Joseph 
Ora  Labor,  Huron 
Orange,  Ionia 
Oran.ieville,  Branch 
Orangeville  Mills,  Barry 
Orion,  Oakland 
Orleans,  Ionia 
Ortonville,  Oakland 
Oshtemo,  Kalamazoo 
Osseo,  Hillsdale 
Ossineke,  Alpena 
Otisco,  Ionia 
Otisville,  Genesee 
Otsego,  Allegan 
Ottawa  Lake,  Monroe 
Otter  Creek,  Jackson 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 


525 


Overisel,  Allegan 
Ovid,*  Clinton 
Owosso,*  Shiawassee 
Oxford,  Oakland 
Pack's  Mills,  Sanilac 
Paint  Creek,  Washtenaw 
Palmyra,  Lenawee 
Palo,  louia 
Pa-Pa-iMe,  Oceana 
Paris,  Mecosta 
Park,  St.  Joseph 
Parkville,  St.  Joseph 
Parma,*  Jackson 
ParshallviHe,  Livingston 
Partello,  Calboun 
Patterson's  Mills,  Ionia 
Pavilion,  Kalamazoo 
Paw  Paw,*  (c.  h.)  Van  Buren 
Peck,  Sanilac 
Penn  Mine,  Keweenaw 
Pent  Water,  Oceana 
Perrinsville,  Wayne 
Perry,  Shiawassee 
Petersburgh,  Monroe 
Pettysville,  Livingston 
Pewamo,  Ionia 
Phoenix,  Keweenaw 
Pierson,  Montcalm 
Pinckney,  Livingston 
Pine  Creek,  Calhoun 
Pine  Grove,  Tuscola 
Pine  Grov  •  Mills, Van  Buren 
Pine  Hill,  Sanilac 
Pine  River,  Lake 
Pine  Run,  Genesee 
Pinnebog,  Huron 
Pipestotie,  Berrien 
Pittsburg,  Shiawassee 
Pittsibrd,  Hillsdale 
Plainfieid,  Livingston 
Plainwell,  Allegan 
Plank  Road,  Wayne 
Platte,  Benzie 
Pleasant,  Kent 
Pleasant  on,  Manistee 
Pleasant  Valley,  Berrien 
Plymouth,  Wayne 
Pokagon,  Cass 
Pompei,  Gratiot 
Ponama,  Newaygo 
Pontiac.*  (c.  h.)  Oakland 
Pool,  Lapeer 
Portage,  Kalamazoo 
Port  Austin,  (c.  h.)  Huron 
Port  Cresent,  Huron 
Porter,  Midland 
Port  Hope,  Huron 
Port  Huron,*  St.  Clair 
Portland,  Ionia 
Port  Sanilac,  Sanilac 
Port  Sheldon,  Ottawa 
Portsmouth,  Bay 
Pottamie,  Ottawa 
Pottersville,  Eaton 
Prairieville,  Barry 


Prospect  Lake,  Van  Buren 
Pulaski,  Jackson 
Quincy,*  Branch 
Quinn,  Macomb 
Raisin  Centre,  Lenawee 
Randall,  Saginaw 
Ransom,  Hillsdale 
Ravenna,  Muskegon 
Rawsonville,  Wayne 
Ray  Centre,  Macomb 
Raynold,  Montcalm 
Reading,  Hillsdale 
Red  Bridge,  Ingham 
Redford,  Wayne 
Reed,  Oceana 
Pichfield,  G<  nesee 
Richland,  Kalamazoo 
Richmond,  Macomb 
Richmondville,  Sanilac 
Richville,  Tuscola 
Ridgeway,  Lenawee 
Rienza,  Mecosta 
Riga,  Lenawee 
Riley,  Clinton 
Riley  Centre,  St.  Clair 
River  Raisin,  Washtenaw 
Riverton,  Mason 
Rives  Junction,  Jackson 
Roberts'  Landing,  St.  Clair 
Robinson,  Ottawa 
Rochester,  Oakland 
Rock  Falls,  Huron 
Rockford,*  Kent 
Bockland,  Ontonagon 
Rollin,  Lenawee 
Rollo,  losco 
Rome,  Lenawee 
Romeo,*  Macomb 
Romulus,  Wayne 
Rootville,  Antrim 
Rose,  Oakland 
Roseville,  Macomb 
Round  Lake,  Branch 
Rowland,  Isabella 
Roxana,  Eaton 
Royal  Oak,  Oakland 
Ruby,  St.  Clair 
Rural  Vale,  Lapeer 
Saginaw.*  (c.  h  )  Saginaw 
Saint  Charles,  Saginaw 
Saint  Clair*  (c.  A.)  St   Clair 
Saint  James,*  (c.  h.)  Manitou 
Saint  John's,*  (c.  h.)  Clinton 
Saint  Joseph,*  Berrien 
Saint  Louis,  Gratiot 
Salem,  Washtenaw 
Saline,  Washtenaw 
Salt  River,  Isabella 
Salzburgh,   Bay 
Sand  Beach,  Huron 
Sand  Lake,  Kent 
Sandstone,  Jackson 
Saranac,  Ionia 
Satterlee's  Mills,  Mecosta 
Saugatuck,*  Allegan 


Saute  de  Ste.  Marie,  (c.  h.) 

Chippewa 
Sawyer,  Berrien 
Schoolcraft,  Kalamazoo 
Scio,  Washtenaw 
Sebewa,  Ionia 
Sebewaing,  Huron 
Secillia,  Calhoun 
Seneca,  Lenawee 
Shave  Head,  Cass 
Shelby,  Oceana 
Shepardsville,  Clinton 
Sheridan,  Montcalm 
Sherman,  (c.  h.)  Wexford 
Sherwood,  Branch 
Sidney,  Montcalm 
Silver  Creek,  Allegan 
Sitka,  Newaygo 
Six  Corners,  Ottawa 
Skinner,  Bay 

Slocum's  Grove,  Muskegon 
Smith's  Corners,  Oceana 
Smith's  Creek,  St.  Clair 
Smithville,  Wayne 
Smyrna,  Ionia 
Sodus,  Berrien 
Solon,  Leelenaw 
Somerset,  Hillsdale 
South  Boston,  Ionia 
South  Butler,  Branch 
South  Camden,  Hillsdale 
South  Cass,  Ionia 
South  Climax,  Kalamazoo 
Soutbfield,  Oakland 
South  Georgetown,  Ottawa 
South  Haven,  Van  Buren 
South  Jackson,  Jackson 
South  Lyon,  Oakland 
South  Riley,  Clinton 
South  Saginaw,  Sitginaw 
South  Wright,  Hillsdale 
Sparta  Centre.  Kent 
Spencer  Creek,  Antrim 
Spencer's  Mill,  Kent 
Spring  Arbor,  Jackson 
Spring  Brook,  Gratiot 
Spring  Creek,  Oceana 
Springfield,  Oakland 
Spring  Lake,  Ottawa 
Spring  Mills,  Oakland 
Springport,  Jackson 
Springville,  Lenawee 
Stanlon,  (c.  h.)  Moutcalm 
Stebbiusville,  Oceana 
Stella,  Gratiot 
Stockbridge,  Ingham 
Stony  Creek,  WTashtenaw 
Stony  Run,  Oakland 
Strait's,  Lake,  Oakland 
Strickland,  Isabella 
Stronach,  Manistee 
Stnrgis,*  St.  Joseph 
Sumraerton,  Gratiot 
Summerville,  Cass 
Summit,  Washtenaw 


526 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 


Sumner,  Gratiot 
Sunficld,  Eaton 
Button's  Bay,  Leelenaw 
Swan  Creek,  Saginaw 
Swartz  Creek,  Genesee 
Sylvan,  Washtenaw 
Tallmadge,  Ottawa 
Tamarack,  Montcalm 
Tau-as  Ci'y,*  (c  h.)  losco 
Taylor  Centre,  Wayne 
Taymouth,  Saginaw 
Tecumseh,*  Lenawee 
Tekonsha,  Calhoun 
Thetford  Centre,  Genesee 
Thomas.  Oceana 
Thornton,  St.  Clair 
Thornville.  Lapeer 
Three  Oaks,*  Berrien 
Three  Rivers,*  St.  Joseph 
Tipton,  Lenawee 
Tompkins,  Jackson 
Torch  Lake,  Antrim 
Traverse  City,*  (c.  h.)  Grand 

Traverse 
Trent,  Muskegon 
Trenton,  Wayne 
Trostville,  Saginaw 
Troy,  Oakland 
Turnersport,  Manistee 
Tyre,  Sanilac 
Tyrone,  Livingston 
Unadilla,  Livingston 
Union,  Cass 
Union  »  ity,  Branch 
Union  Pier,  Berrien 
Unionville,  Tuscola 
Utica,*  Macomb 
Vandalia,  Cass 
Vassar*  (c.  h.)  Tuscola 
Ventura,  Ottawa 


Vergennes,  Kent 
Vermontville,  Eaton 
Vernon,  Shiawassee 
Verona  Mills,  Huron 
Vickeryville,  Montcalm 
Victor,  Clinton 
Victory,  Mason 
Vincent,  St.  Clair 
Volinia,  Cass 
Vriesland,  Ottawa 
Wacousta,  Clinton 
Wahjamega,  Tuscola 
Wakeshma,  Kalamazoo 
Waldenburgh,  Macomb 
Wales,  St.  Clair 
Wallaceville,  Wayne 
Walled  Lake,  Oakland 
Warren,  Macomb 
Washington,  Macomb 
Waterford,  Oakland 
Waterloo,  Jackson 
Watertown,  Tuscola 
Watervliet,  Berrien 
Watrousville,  Tuscola 
Watson,  Allegan 
Waverly,  Van  Buren 
Wayland,*  Allegan 
Wayne,  Wayne 
Weare,  Oceana 
Webberville,  Ingham 
Webster,  Washtenaw 
Weesaw,  Berrien 
Wellsville,  Lenawee 
Wenona,  Bay 
West  Campbell,  Ionia 
West  Casco,  Allegan 
Wrest  Geneva,  Van  Buren 
West  Haven.  Shiawassee 
West  Leroy,  Calhoun 
West  Milan,  Monroe 


West  Novi,  Oakland 
West  Ogden,  Lenawee 
Weston,  Lenawee 
Westphalia,  Clinton 
West  Windsor,  Eaton 
Wexford,  Wexford 
Wheatland  Centre,  Hillsdale 
Wheeler,  Gratiot 
Whiteford  Centre,  Monroe 
Whitehall,  Musketon 
White  Lake,  Oakland 
White  Oak,  Ingham 
White  Pigeon,  St.  Joseph 
White  Rock,  Muskegon 
Whitesburgh,  Genesee 
Whitmore  Lake,  Washtenaw 
Williams,  Bay 

Williamsburgh,  Grand  Tra 
verse 

Williamstown,  Ingham 
Williamsville,  Cass 
Windsor,  Eaton 
Winfield   Ingham 
Winn,  Isabella 
Wiota,  Isabella 
Wood  Lake,  Montcalm 
Woodland,  Barry 
Wood's  Corners,  Ionia 
Woodstock,  Lenawee 
Worth,  Tuscula 
Wyandotte,  Wayne 
Yankee.  Spring,  Barry 
Yew,  Wayne 
York,  Washtenaw 
Yorkville,  Kalamazoo 
Ypsilanti,*  Washtenaw 
Yuba,  Grand  Traverse 
Zeeland,  Ottawa 
Zilwaukee,  Saginaw 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MICHIGAN. 


ARTICLE    I, 


BOUNDARIES. 


The  State  of  Michigan  consists  of,  and  has  jurisdiction  over,  the  territory 
embraced  within  the  following  boundaries,  to  wit :  Commencing  at  a  point 
on  the  eastern  boundary  line  of  the  State  of  Indiana,  where  a  direct  line 
drawn  from  the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  Michigan  to  the  most  northerly 
cape  of  the  Maumee  Bay  shall  intersect  the  same — said  point  being  the 
north-west  corner  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  as  established  by  act  of  Congress, 
entitled  "An  act  to  establish  the  northern  boundary  line  of  the  State  of 
Ohio,  and  to  provide  for  the  admission  of  the  State  of  Michigan  into  the 
Union  upon  the  conditions  therein  expressed,"  approved  June  fifteenth, 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-six ;  thence  with  the  said  boundary 
line  of  the  State  of  Ohio  till  it  intersects  the  boundary  line  between  the 
United  States  and  Canada  in  Lake  Erie;  thence  with  said  boundary  line  be 
tween  the  United  States  and  Canada  through  the  Detroit  river,  Lake  Huron 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  527 

and  Lake  Superior  to  a  point  where  the  said  line  last  touches  Lake  Superior ; 
thence  in  a  direct  line  through  Lake  Superior  to  the  mouth  of  the  Montreal 
river;  thence  through  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  said  river  Mon 
treal  to  the  head  waters  thereof;  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  center  of  the 
channel  between  Middle  and  South  Islands,  in  the  Lake  of  the  Desert ; 
thence  in  a  direct  line  to  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Brule  ;  thence  along 
said  southern  shore,  and  down  the  river  Brule  to  the  main  channel  of  the 
Menomonee  river;  thence  down  the  center  of  the  main  channel  of  the  same 
to  the  center  of  the  most  usual  ship  channel  of  the  Green  Bay  of  Lake  Mich 
igan  ;  thence  through  the  center  of  the  most  usual  ship  channel  of  the  said  bay 
to  the  middle  of  Lake  Michigan ;  thence  through  the  middle  of  Lake  Mich 
igan  to  the  northern  boundary  of  the  State  of  Indiana,  as  that  line  was 
established  by  the  act  of  Congress  of  the  nineteenth  of  April,  eighteen  hun 
dred  and  sixteen ;  thence  due  east  with  the  northern  boundary  line  of  the 
said  State  of  Indiana  to  the  north-east  corner  thereof;  and  thence  south 
with  the  eastern  boundary  line  of  Indiana  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

ARTICLE   II. 

SEAT    OF    GOVERNMENT. 

Section  1.  The  seat  of  government  shall  be  at  Lansing,  where  it  is  now 
established. 

ARTICLE   III. 

DIVISION    OP    THE    POWERS    OP    GOVERNMENT. 

Section  1.  The  powers  of  government  are  divided  into  three  departments: 
the  legislative,  executive,  and  judicial. 

Sec.  2.  No  person  belonging  to  one  department  shall  exercise  the  powers 
properly  belonging  to  another,  except  in  the  cases  expressly  provided  in 
this  constitution. 

ARTICLE   IV. 

LEGISLATIVE    DEPARTMENT. 

Section  1.  The  legislative  power  is  vested  in  a  Senate  and  House  of  Rep 
resentatives. 

Sec.  2.  The  Senate  shall  consist  of  thirty-two  members.  Senators  shall 
be  elected  for  two  years,  and  by  single  districts.  Such  districts  shall  be 
numbered  from  one  to  thirty-two  inclusive  ;  each  of  which  shall  choose  one 
senator.  No  county  shall  be  divided  in  the  formation  of  senate  districts, 
except  such  county  shall  be  equitably  entitled  to  two  or  more  senators. 

Sec.  3.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  consist  of  not  less  than  sixty- 
four,  nor  more  than  one  hundred  members.  Representatives  shall  be  chosen 
for  two  years,  and  by  single  districts.  Each  representative  district  shall 
contain,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  an  equal  number  of  white  inhabitants,  and 
civilized  persons  of  Indian  descent,  not  members  of  any  tribe,  and  shall 
consist  of  convenient  and  contiguous  territory.  But  no  township  or  city 
shall  be  divided  in  the  formation  of  a  representative  district.  When  any 
township  or  city  shall  contain  a  population  which  entitles  it  to  more  than 
one  representative,  then  such  township  or  city  shall  elect,  by  general  ticket, 
the  number  of  representatives  to  which  it  is  entitled.  Each  county  hereaf 
ter  organized,  with  such  territory  as  may  be  attached  thereto,  shall  be  enti 
tled  to  a  separate  representative  when  it  has  attained  a  population  equal  to 
a  moiety  of  the  ratio  of  representation.  In  every  county  entitled  to  more 
than  one  representative,  the  board  of  supervisors  shall  assemble  at  such 
time  and  place  as  the  legislature  shall  prescribe,  and  divide  the  same  into 
representative  districts,  equal  to  the  number  of  representatives  to  which 


528  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

such  county  is  entitled  by  law,  and  shall  cause  to  be  filed  in  the  offices  of 
the  secretary  of  state  and  clerk  of  such  county,  a  description  of  such  repre 
sentative  districts,  specifying  the  number  of  each  district,  and  the  popula 
tion  thereof,  according  to  the  last  preceding  enumeration. 

Sec.  4.  The  legislature  shall  provide  by  law  for  an  enumeration  of  the 
inhabitants  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-four,  and  every  ten  years 
thereafter,  and  at  the  first  session  after  each  enumeration  so  made,  and  also 
at  the  first  session  after  each  enumeration  by  the  authority  of  the  United 
States,  the  legislature  shall  re-arrange  the  senate  districts,  and  apportion 
anew  the  representatives  among  the  counties  and  districts,  according  to  the 
number  of  white  inhabitants,  and  civilized  persons  of  Indian  descent,  not 
members  of  any  tribe.  Each  apportionment  and  the  division  into  represen 
tative  districts,  by  any  board  of  supervisors,  shall  remain  unaltered  until 
the  return  of  another  enumeration. 

Sec.  5.  Senators  and  representatives  shall  be  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
and  qualified  electors  in  the  respective  counties  and  districts  which  they 
represent.  A  removal  from  their  respective  counties  or  districts  shall  be 
deemed  a  vacation  of  their  office. 

Sec.  6.  No  person  holding  any  office  under  the  United  States  [or  this 
State,]  or  any  county  office,  except  notaries  public,  officers  of  the  militia, 
and  officers  elected  by  townships,  shall  be  eligible  to  or  have  a  seat  in  either 
house  of  the  legislature;  and  all  votes  given  for  any  such  person  shall  be 
void. 

Sec.  7.  Senators  and  representatives  shall,  in  all  cases,  except  treason, 
felony,  or  breach  of  the  peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest.  They  shall  not 
be  subject  to  any  civil  process  during  the  session  of  the  legislature,  or  for 
fifteen  days  next  before  the  commencement  and  after  the  termination  of  each 
session.  They  shall  not  be  questioned  in  any  other  place  for  any  speech  in 
either  house. 

Sec.  8.  A  majority  of  each  house  shall  constitute  a  quorum  to  ck>  business; 
but  a  smaller  number  may  adjourn  from  day  to  day,  and  compel  the  attend 
ance  of  absent  members,  in  such  manner  and  under  such  penalties  as  each 
house  may  prescribe. 

Sec.  9.  Each  house  shall  choose  its  own  officers,  determine  the  rules  of 
its  proceedings,  and  judge  of  the  qualifications,  elections,  and  returns  of  its 
members ;  and  may,  with  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  all  the  members 
elected,  expel  a  member.  No  member  shall  be  expelled  a  second  time  for 
the  same  cause,  nor  for  any  cause  known  to  his  constituents  antecedent  to 
his  election.  The  reason  for  such  expulsion  shall  be  entered  upon  the  jour 
nal,  with  the  names  of  the  members  voting  on  the  question. 

Sec.  10.  Each  house  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceedings,  and  pub 
lish  the  same,  except  such  parts  as  may  require  secrecy.  The  yeas  and 
nays  of  the  members  of  either  house,  on  any  question,  shall  be  entered  on 
the  journal  at  the  request  of  one-fifth  of  the  members  elected.  Any  mem 
ber  of  either  house  may  dissent  from  and  protest  against  any  act,  proceed 
ing,  or  resolution  which  he  may  deem  injurious  to  any  person  or  the  public, 
and  have  the  reason  of  his  dissent  entered  on  the  journal. 

Sec.  11.  In  all  elections  by  either  house,  or  in  joint  convention,  the  votes 
shall  be  given  viva  voce.  All  votes  on  nominations  to  the  senate  shall  be 
taken  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  published  with  the  journal  of  its  proceedings. 

Sec.  12.  The  doors  of  each  house  shall  be  open,  unless  the  public  welfare 
require  secrecy.  Neither  house  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  other, 
adjourn  for  more  than  three  days,  nor  to  any  other  place  than  where  the 
legislature  may  then  be  in  session. 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  529 

Sec.  13.  Bills  may  originate  in  either  house  of  the  legislature. 

Sec.  14.  Every  bill  and  concurrent  resolution,  except  of  adjournment, 
passed  by  the  legislature,  shall  be  presented  to  the  governor  before  it  be 
comes  a  law.  If  he  approve,  he  shall  sign  it ;  but  if  not,  he  shall  return 
it,  with  his  objections,  to  the  house  in  which  it  originated,  which  shall  enter 
the  objections  at  large  upon  their  journal,  and  reconsider  it.  On  such  re 
consideration,  if  two-thirds  of  the  members  elected  agree  to  pass  the  bill, 
it  shall  be  sent,  with  the  objections,  to  the  other  house,  by  which  it  shall  be 
reconsidered.  If  approved  by  two-thirds  of  the  members  elected  to  that 
house,  it  shall  become  a  law.  In  such  case,  the  vote  of  both  houses  shall 
be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  the  names  of  the  members  voting  for 
and  against  the  bill  shall  be  entered  on  the  journals  of  each  house  respect 
ively.  If  any  bill  be  not  returned  by  the  governor  within  ten  days,  Sun 
days  excepted,  after  it  has  been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall  become  a 
law,  in  like  manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless  the  legislature,  by  their 
adjournment,  prevent  its  return,  in  which  case  it  shall  not  become  a  law. 
The  governor  may  approve,  sign,  and  file  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of 
State,  within  five  days  after  the  adjournment  of  the  legislature,  any  act 
passed  during  the  last  five  days  of  the  session;  and  the  same  shall  become 
a  Jaw. 

Sec.  15.  The  compensation  for  the  members  of  the  legislature  shall  be 
three  dollars  a  day  for  actual  attendance,  and  when  absent  on  account  of 
sickness,  for  the  first  sixty  days  of  the  session  of  the  year  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  fifty-one,  and  for  the  first  forty  days  of  every  subsequent 
session,  and  nothing  thereafter.  When  convened  in  extra  session,  their 
compensation  shall  be  three  dollars  a  day  for  the  first  twenty  days,  and 
nothing  thereafter  ;  and  they  shall  legislate  on  no  other  subjects  than  those 
expressly  stated  in  the  governor's  proclamation,  or  submitted  to  them  by 
special  message.  They  shall  be  entitled  to  ten  cents,  and  no  more,  for  every 
mile  actually  travelled,  going  to  and  returning  from  the  place  of  meeting, 
on  the  usually  travelled  route;  and  for  stationery  and  newspapers,  not  ex 
ceeding  five  dollars  for  each  member  during  any  session.  Each  member 
shall  be  entitled  to  one  copy  of  the  laws,  journals,  and  documents  of  the 
legislature  of  which  he  was  a  member,  but  shall  not  receive,  at  the  expense 
of  the  State,  books,  newspapers,  or  other  perquisites  of  office  not  expressly 
authorized  by  this  constitution. 

Sec.  16.  The  legislature  may  provide  by  law  for  the  payment  of  postage 
on  all  mailable  matter  received  by  its  members  and  officers  during  the  ses 
sions  of  the  legislature,  but  not  on  any  sent  or  mailed  by  them. 

Sec.  17.  The  President  of  the  Senate  and  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Eepresentatives  shall  be  entitled  to  the  same  per  diem  compensation  and 
mileage  as  members  of  the  legislature,  and  no  more. 

Sec.  18.  No  person  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature  shall  receive  any 
civil  appointment  within  this  State,  or  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States, 
from  the  governor,  the  governor  and  senate,  from  the  legislature,  or  any 
other  State  authority,  during  the  term  for  which  he  is  elected.  All  such 
appointments,  and  all  votes  given  for  any  person  so  elected  for  any  such 
office  or  appointment,  shall  be  void.  No  member  of  the  legislature  shall  be 
interested,  directly  or  indirectly,  in  any  contract  with  the  State,  or  any 
county  thereof,  authorized  by  any  law  passed  during  the  time  for  which  he 
is  elected,  nor  for  one  year  thereafter. 

Sec.  19.  Every  bill  and  joint  resolution  shall  be  read  three  times  in  each 
house  before  the  final  passage  thereof.  No  bill  or  joint  resolution  shall 
become  a  law  without  the  concurrence  of  a  majority  of  all  the  members 
2  H 


530  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

elected  to  each  house.  On  the  final  passage  of  all  bills  the  vote  shall  be  by 
yeas  and  nays,  and  entered  on  the  journal. 

Sec.  20.  No  law  shall  embrace  more  than  one  object,  which  shall  be  ex 
pressed  in  its  title.  No  public  acts  shall  take  effect  or  be  in  force  until  the 
expiration  of  ninety  days  from  the  end  of  the  session  at  which  the  same  is 
passed,  unless  the  legislature  shall  otherwise  direct,  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of 
the  members  elected  to  each  house. 

See.  21.  The  legislature  shall  not  grant  nor  authorize  extra  compensation 
to  any  public  officer,  agent,  or  contractor,  after  the  service  has  been  ren 
dered  or  the  contract  entered  into. 

Sec.  22.  The  legislature  shall  provide  by  law  that  the  furnishing  of  fuel 
and  stationery  for  the  use  of  the  State,  the  printing  and  binding  the  laws 
and  journals,  all  blanks,  paper  and  printing  for  the  executive  departments, 
and  all  other  printing  ordered  by  the  legislature,  shall  be  let  by  contract  to 
the  lowest  bidder  or  bidders,  who  shall  give  adequate  and  satisfactory  secu 
rity  for  the  performance  thereof.  The  legislature  shall  prescribe  by  law 
the  manner  in  which  the  State  printing  shall  be  executed,  and  the  accounts 
rendered  therefor,  and  shall  prohibit  all  charges  for  constructive  labor. 
They  shall  not  rescind  nor  alter  such  contract,  nor  release  the  person  or 
persons  taking  the  same,  or  his  or  their  sureties,  from  the  performance  of 
any  of  the  conditions  of  the  contract.  No  member  of  the  legislature  nor 
officer  of  the  State  shall  be  interested,  directly  or  indirectly,  in  any  such 
contract. 

Sec.  23.  The  legislature  shall  not  authorize,  by  private  or  special  law,  the 
sale  or  conveyance  of  any  real  estate  belonging  to  any  person,  nor  vacate 
nor  alter  any  road  laid  out  by  commissioners  of  highways,  or  any  street  in 
any  city  or  village,  or  in  any  recorded  town  plat. 

Sec.  24.  The  legislature  may  authorize  the  employment  of  a  chaplain  for 
the  State  prison ;  but  no  money  shall  be  appropriated  for  the  payment  of 
any  religious  services  in  either  house  of  the  legislature. 

Sec.  25.  No  law  shall  be  revised,  altered,  or  amended  by  reference  to  its 
title  only :  but  the  act  revised,  and  the  section  or  sections  of  the  act  altered 
or  amended,  shall  be  re-enacted  and  published  at  length. 

Sec.  26.  Divorces  shall  not  be  granted  by  the  legislature. 

Sec.  27.  The  legislature  shall  not  authorize  any  lottery,  nor  permit  the 
sale  of  lottery  tickets. 

Sec.  28.  No  new  bill  shall  be  introduced  into  either  house  during  the  last 
three  days  of  the  session  without  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  house  in 
which  it  originates. 

Sec.  29.  In  case  of  a  contested  election,  the  person  only  shall  receive  from 
the  State  per  diem  compensation  and  mileage,  who  is  declared  to  be  entitled 
to  a  seat  by  the  house  in  which  the  contest  takes  place. 

Sec.  30.  No  collector,  holder,  nor  disburser  of  public  moneys,  shall  have 
a  seat  in  the  legislature,  or  be  eligible  to  any  office  of  trust  or  profit  under 
this  State,  until  he  shall  have  accounted  for  and  paid  over,  as  provided  by 
law,  all  sums  for  which  he  may  be  liable. 

Sec.  31.  The  legislature  shall  not  audit  nor  allow  any  private  claim  or 
account. 

Sec.  32.  The  legislature,  on  the  day  of  final  adjournment,  shall  adjourn 
at  twelve  o'clock  at  noon. 

Sec.  33.  The  legislature  shall  meet  at  the  seat  of  government  on  the  first 
Wednesday  in  February  next,  and  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  January  of 
every  second  year  thereafter,  and  at  no  other  place  or  time,  unless  as  pro 
vided  in  this  constitution. 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  531 

Sec.  34.  The  election  of  senators  and  representatives,  pursuant  to  the  pro 
visions  of  this  constitution,  shall  be  held  on  the  Tuesday  succeeding  the  first 
Monday  of  November,  in  the  yea*1  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty- 
two,  and  on  the  Tuesday  succeeding  the  first  Monday  of  November  of  every 
second  year  thereafter. 

Sec.  35.  The  legislature  shall  not  establish  a  State  paper.  Every  news 
paper  in  the  State  which  shall  publish  all  the  general  laws  of  any  session 
within  forty  days  of  their  passage,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  a  sura  not 
exceeding  fifteen  dollars  therefor. 

Sec.  36.  The  legislature  shall  provide  for  the  speedy  publication  of  all 
statute  laws  of  a  public  nature,  and  of  such  judicial  decisions  as  it  may 
deem  expedient.  All  laws  and  judicial  decisions  shall  be  free  for  publica 
tion  by  any  person. 

Sec.  37.  The  legislature  may  declare  the  cases  in  which  any  office  shall  be 
deemed  vacant,  and  also  the  manner  of  filling  the  vacancy,  where  no  pro 
vision  is  made  for  that  purpose  in  this  constitution. 

Sec.  38.  The  legislature  may  confer  upon  organized  townships,  incorpora 
ted  cities  and  villages,  and  upon  the  board  of  supervisors  of  the  several 
counties,  such  powers  of  a  local,  legislative,  and  administrative  character 
as  they  may  deem  proper. 

Sec.  39.  The  legislature  shall  pass  no  law  to  prevent  any  person  from 
worshipping  Almighty  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience, 
or  to  compel  any  person  to  attend,  erect,  or  support,  any  place  of  religious 
worship,  or  to  pay  tithes,  taxes,  or  other  rates,  for  the  support  of  any  min 
ister  of  the  gospel  or  teacher  of  religion. 

Sec.  40.  No  money  shall  be  appropriated  or  drawn  from  the  treasury  for 
the  benefit  of  any  religious  sect  or  society,  theological  or  religious  seminary, 
nor  shall  property  belonging  to  the  State  be  appropriated  for  any  such 
purposes. 

Sec.  41.  The  legislature  shall  not  diminish  or  enlarge  the  civil  or  political 
rights,  privileges,  and  capacities,  of  any  person  on  account  of  his  opinion 
or  belief  concerning  matters  of  religion. 

Sec.  42.  No  law  shall  ever  be  passed  to  restrain  or  abridge  the  liberty  of 
speech  or  of  the  press;  but  every  person  may  freely  speak,  write,  and  pub 
lish,  his  sentiments  on  all  subjects,  being  responsible  for  the  abuse  of  such 
right. 

Sec.  43.  The  legislature  shall  pass  no  bill  of  attainder,  ex-post  facto  law, 
or  law  impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts. 

Sec.  44.  The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  remains,  and  shall  not 
be  suspended  by  the  legislature,  except  in  case  of  rebellion  or  invasion  the 
public  safety  require  it. 

See.  45.  The  assent  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  elected  to  each  house 
of  the  legislature  shall  be  requisite  to  every  bill  appropriating  the  public 
money  or  property,  for  local  or  private  purposes. 

Sec.  46.  The  legislature  may  authorize  a  trial  by  a  jury  of  a  less  number 
than  twelve  men. 

Sec.  47.  The  legislature  shall  not  pass  any  act  authorizing  the  grant  of 
license  for  the  sale  of  ardent  spirits  or  other  intoxicating  liquors. 

Sec.  48.  The  style  of  the  laws  shall  be,  "  The  people  of  the  State  of  Mich 
igan  enact." 

ARTICLE  V. 

EXECUTIVE   DEPARTMENT. 

Section  1.  The  executive  power  is  vested  in  a  governor,  who  shall  hold 


532  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

his  office  for  two  years.  A  lieutenant  governor  shall  be  chosen  for  the 
same  term. 

Sec.  2.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  governor  or  lieutenant 
governor,  who  has  not  been  five  years  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and 
a  resident  of  this  State  two  years  next  preceding  his  election  ;  nor  shall 
any  person  be  eligible  to  either  office  who  has  not  attained  the  age  of 
thirty  years. 

Sec.  3.  The  governor  and  lieutenant  governor  shall  be  elected  at  the  times 
and  places  of  choosing  the  members  of  the  legislature.  The  person  having 
the  highest  number  of  votes  for  governor  or  lieutenant  governor,  shall  be 
elected.  In  case  two  or  more  persons  shall  have  an  equal  and  the  highest 
number  of  votes  for  governor  or  lieutenant  governor,  the  legislature  shall, 
by  joint  vote,  choose  one  of  such  persons. 

Sec.  4.  The  governor  shall  be  commander-in-chief  of  the  military  and 
naval  forces,  and  may  call  out  such  forces  to  execute  the  laws,  to  suppress 
insurrections,  and  to  repel  invasions. 

Sec.  5.  He  shall  transact  all  necessary  business  with  officers  of  govern 
ment,  and  may  require  information,  in  writing,  from  the  officers  of  the 
executive  department,  upon  any  subject  relating  to  the  duties  of  their 
respective  offices. 

Sec.  6.  He  shall  take  care  that  the  laws  be  faithfully  executed. 

Sec.  7.  He  may  convene  the  legislature  on  extraordinary  occasions. 

Sec.  8.  He  shall  give  to  the  legislature,  and  at  the  close  of  his  official 
term,  to  the  next  legislature,  information  by  message  of  the  condition  of  the 
State,  and  recommend  such  measures  to  them  as  he  shall  deem  expedient. 

Sec.  9.  He  may  convene  the  legislature  at  some  other  place,  when  the  seat 
of  government  becomes  dangerous  from  disease  or  a  common  enemy. 

Sec.  10.  He  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to  fill  such  vacancies  as  occur  in 
the  senate  or  house  of  representatives. 

Sec.  11.  He  may  grant  reprieves,  commutations,  and  pardons,  after  con 
victions,  for  all  offenses  except  treason  and  cases  of  impeachment,  upon  such 
conditions,  and  with  such  restrictions  and  limitations,  as  he  may  think 
proper,  subject  to  regulations  provided  by  law,  relative  to  the  manner  of 
applying  for  pardons.  Upon  conviction  for  treason,  he  may  suspend  the 
execution  of  the  sentence,  until  the  case  shall  be  reported  to  the  legislature 
at  its  next  session,  when  the  legislature  shall  either  pardon,  or  commute  the 
sentence,  direct  the  execution  of  the  sentence,  or  grant  a  further  reprieve. 
He  shall  communicate  to  the  legislature,  at  each  session,  information  of 
each  case  of  reprieve,  commutation,  or  pardon  granted,  and  the  reasons 
therefor. 

Sec.  12.  In  case  of  the  impeachment  of  the  governor,  his  removal  from 
office,  death,  inability,  resignation,  or  absence  from  the  State,  the  powers 
and  duties  of  the  office  shall  devolve  upon  the  lieutenant  governor  for  the 
residue  of  the  term,  or  until  the  disability  ceases.  When  the  governor  shall 
be  out  of  the  State  in  time  of  war,  at  the  head  of  a  military  force  thereof, 
he  shall  continue  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  military  force  of  the  State. 

Sec.  13.  During  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  governor,  if  the  lieutenant 
governor  die,  resign,  be  impeached,  displaced,  be  incapable  of  performing 
the  duties  of  his  office,  or  absent  from  the  State,  the  president  pro  tempore 
of  the  senate  shall  act  as  governor,  until  the  vacancy  be  filled,  or  the  dis 
ability  cease. 

Sec.  14.  The  lieutenant  governor  shall,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  be  presi 
dent  of  the  senate.  In  committee  of  the  whole  he  may  debate  all  ques 
tions;  and  when  there  is  an  equal  division,  he  shall  give  the  casting  vote. 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  533 

See.  15.  No  member  of  congress,  nor  any  person  holding  office  under  the 
United  States,  or  this  State,  shall  execute  the  office  of  governor. 

See.  16.  No  person  elected  governor  or  lieutenant  governor,  shall  be  eli 
gible  to  any  office  or  appointment  from  the  legislature,  or  either  house 
thereof,  during  the  time  for  which  he  was  elected.  All  votes  for  either  of 
them,  for  any  such  office,  shall  be  void. 

Sec.  17.  The  lieutenant  [governor,]  and  president  of  the  senate  pro  tein- 
pore,  when  performing  the  duties  of  governor,  shall  receive  the  same  com 
pensation  as  the  governor. 

Sec.  18.  All  official  acts  of  the  governor,  his  approval  of  the  laws  excepted, 
shall  be  authenticated  by  the  great  seal  of  the  State,  which  shall  be  kept 
by  the  secretary  of  State. 

Sec.  19.  All  commissions  issued  to  persons  holding  office  under  the  pro 
visions  of  this  constitution,  shall  be  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  the 
people  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  sealed  with  the  great  seal  of  the  State, 
signed  by  the  governor,  and  countersigned  by  the  secretary  of  State. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

JUDICIAL    DEPARTMENT. 

Section  1.  The  judicial  power  is  vested  in  one  supreme  court,  in  circuit 
courts,  in  probate  courts, and  in  justices  of  the  peace.  Municipal  courts  of 
civil  and  criminal  jurisdiction  may  be  established  by  the  legislature  in 
cities. 

Sec.  2.  For  the  term  of  six  years,  and  thereafter  until  the  legislature 
otherwise  provide,  the  judges  of  the  several  circuit  courts  shall  be  judges  of 
the  supreme  court,  four  of  whom  shall  constitute  a  quorum.  A  concurrence 
of  three  shall  be  necessary  to  .a  final  decision.  After  six  years,  the  legis 
lature  may  provide  by  law  for  the  organization  of  a  supreme  court,  with 
the  jurisdiction  and  powers  prescribed  in  this  constitution,  to  consist  of  one 
chief  justice  and  three  associate  justices,  to  be  chosen  by  the  electors  of 
the  State.  Such  supreme  court,  when  so  organized,  shall  not  be  changed 
or  discontinued  by  the  legislature  for  eight  years  thereafter.  The  judges 
thereof  shall  be  so  classified  that  but  one  of  them  shall  go  out  of  office 
at  the  same  time.  Their  term  of  office  shall  be  eight  years. 

Sec.  3.  The  supreme  court  shall  have  a  general  superintending  control 
over  all  inferior  courts,  and  shall  have  power  to  issue  writs  of  error,  habeas 
corpus,  mandamus,  quo  warranto,  procedendo,  and  other  original  and 
remedial  writs,  and  to  hear  and  determine  the  same.  In  all  other  cases  it 
shall  have  appellate  jurisdiction  only. 

Sec.  4.  Four  terms  of  the  supreme  court  shall  be  held  annually,  at  such 
times  and  places  as  may  be  designated  by  law. 

Sec.  5.  The  supreme  court  shall,  by  general  rules,  establish,  modify,  and 
amend  the  practice  in  such  court  and  in  the  circuit  courts,  and  simplify  the 
same.  The  legislature  shall,  as  far  as  practicable,  abolish  distinctions 
between  law  and  equity  proceedings.  The  office  of  master  in  chancery  is 
prohibited. 

Sec.  6.  The  State  shall  be  divided  into  eight  judicial  circuits ;  in  each 
of  which  the  electors  thereof  shall  elect  one  circuit  judge,  who  shall  hold 
his  office  for  the  term  of  six  years,  and  until  his  successor  is  elected  and 
qualified. 

Sec.  7.  The  legislature  may  alter  the  limits  of  circuits,  or  increase  the 
number  of  the  same.  No  alteration  or  increase  shall  have  the  effect  to 
remove  a  judge  from  office.  In  every  additional  circuit  established,  the 
judge  shall  be  elected  by  the  electors  of  such  circuit,  and  his  term  of 


534  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

office  shall  continue,  as  provided  in  this  constitution  for  judges  of  the  cir 
cuit  court. 

Sec.  8.  The  circuit  courts  shall  have  original  jurisdiction  in  all  matters, 
civil  and  criminal,  not  excepted  in  this  constitution,  and  not  prohibited  by 
law;  and  appellate  jurisdiction  from  all  inferior  courts  and  tribunals,  and 
a  supervisory  control  of  the  same.  They  shall  also  have  power  to  issue 
writs  of  habeas  corpus,  mandamus,  injunction,  quo  warranto,  certiorari,  and 
other  writs  necessary  to  carry  into  effect  their  orders,  judgments  and  de 
crees,  and  give  them  a  general  control  over  inferior  courts  and  tribunals 
within  their  respective  jurisdictions. 

Sec.  9.  Each  of  the  judges  of  the  circuit  courts  shall  receive  a  salary 
payable  quarterly.  They  shall  be  ineligible  to  any  other  than  a  judicial 
office  during  the  term  for  which  they  are  elected,  and  for  one  year  there 
after.  All  votes  for  any  person  elected  such  judge  for  any  office  other  than 
judicial,  given  either  by  the  legislature  or  the  people,  shall  be  void. 

Sec.  10.  The  supreme  court  may  appoint  a  reporter  of  its  decisions.  The 
decisions  of  the  supreme  court  shall  be  in  writing,  and  signed  by  the  judges 
concurring  therein.  Any  judge  dissenting  therefrom,  shall  give  the  reasons 
of  such  dissent  in  writing,  under  his  signature.  All  such  opinions  shall 
be  filed  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  supreme  court.  The  judges  of  the 
circuit  court,  within  their  respective  jurisdictions,  may  fill  vacancies  in  the 
office  of  county  clerk  and  of  prosecuting  attorney ;  but  no  judge  of  the 
supreme  court,  or  circuit  court,  shall  exercise  any  other  power  of  appoint 
ment  to  public  office. 

See.  11.  A  circuit  court  shall  be  held  at  least  twice  each  year  in  every 
county  organized  for  judicial  purposes,  and  four  times  in  each  year  in  coun 
ties  containing  ten  thousand  inhabitants.  Judges  of  the  circuit  court  may 
hold  courts  for  each  other,  and  shall  do  so  when  required  by  law. 

Sec.  12.  The  clerk  of  each  county  organized  for  judicial  purposes,  shall 
be  the  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  of  such  county,  and  of  the  supreme  court 
when  held  within  the  same. 

Sec.  13.  In  each  of  the  counties  organized  for  judicial  purposes,  there 
shall  be  a  court  of  probate.  The  judge  of  such  court  shall  be  elected  by 
the  electors  of  the  county  in  which  he  resides,  and  shall  hold  his  office  for 
four  years,  and  until  his  successor  is  elected  and  qualified.  The  jurisdic 
tion,  powers  and  duties  of  such  court  shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  14.  When  a  vacancy  occurs  in  the  office  of  judge  of  the  supreme, 
circuit,  or  probate  court,  it  shall  be  filled  by  appointment  of  the  gov 
ernor,  which  shall  continue  until  a  successor  is  elected  and.  qualified. 
When  elected,  such  successor  shall  hold  his  office  the  residue  of  the  unex- 
pired  term. 

Sec.  15.  The  supreme  court,  the  circuit  and  probate  courts  of  each  county, 
shall  be  courts  of  record,  and  shall  each  have  a  common  seal. 

Sec.  16.  The  legislature  may  provide  by  law  for  the  election  of  one  or 
more  persons  in  each  organized  county,  who  may  be  vested  with  judicial 
powers,  not  exceeding  those  of  a  judge  of  the  circuit  court  at  chambers. 

Sec.  17.  There  shall  be  not  exceeding  four  justices  of  the  peace  in  each 
organized  township.  They  shall  be  elected  by  the  electors  of  the  town 
ships,  and  shall  hold  their  offices  for  four  years,  and  until  their  successors 
are  elected  and  qualified.  At  the  first  election  in  any  township,  they  shall 
be  classified  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law.  A  justice  elected  to  fill  a  va 
cancy  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  residue  of  the  unexpired  term.  The 
legislature  may  increase  the  numbsr  of  justices  in  cities. 

Sec.  18.  In  civil  cases,  justices  of  the  peace  shall  have  exclusive  juris- 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  535 

diction  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  dollars,  and  concurrent  jurisdiction 
to  the  amount  of  three  hundred  dollars,  which  may  be  increased  to  five 
hundred  dollars,  with  such  exceptions  and  restrictions  as  may  be  provided 
by  law.  They  shall  also  have  such  criminal  jurisdiction,  and  perform  such 
duties  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  the  legislature. 

Sec.  19.  Judges  of  the  supreme  court,  circuit  judges,  and  justices  of  the 
peace,  shall  be  conservators  of  the  peace  within  their  respective  jurisdictions. 

Sec.  20.  The  first  election  of  judges  of  the  circuit  courts  shall  be  held  on 
the  first  Monday  in  April,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fiftv-one,  and 
every  sixth  year  thereafter.  Whenever  an  additional  circuit  is  created, 
provision  shall  be  made  to  hold  the  subsequent  election  of  such  additional 
judges  at  the  regular  election  herein  provided. 

Sec.  21.  The  first  election  of  judges  of  the  probate  courts  shall  be  held 
on  the  Tuesday  succeeding  the  first  Monday  of  November,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  fifty-two,  and  every  fourth  year  thereafter. 

Sec.  22.  Whenever  a  judge  shall  remove  beyond  the  limits  of  the  juris 
diction  for  which  he  was  elected,  or  a  justice  of  the  peace  from  the  town 
ship  in  which  he  was  elected,  or  by  a  change  in  the  boundaries  of  such 
township  shall  be  placed  without  the  same,  they  shall  be  deemed  to  have 
vacated  their  respective  offices. 

Sec.  23.  The  legislature  may  establish  courts  of  conciliation,  with  such 
powers  and  duties  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  24.  Any  suitor  in  any  court  of  this  State  shall  have  the  right  to 
prosecute  or  defend  his  suit,  either  in  his  own  proper  person  or  by  an  attor 
ney  or  agent  of  his  choice. 

ISec.  25.  In  all  prosecutions  for  libels,  the  truth  may  be  given  in  evidence 
to  the  jury  ;  and  if  it  shall  appear  to  the  jury  that  the  matter  charged  as 
libelous  is  true,  aivd  was  published  with  good  motives  and  for  justiti able 
ends,  the  party  shall  be  acquitted.  The  jury  shall  have  the  right  to  deter 
mine  the  law  and  the  fact. 

Sec.  26.  The  person,  houses,  papers,  and  possessions  of  every  person  shall 
be  secure  from  unreasonable  searches  and  seizures.  No  warrant  to  search 
any  place  or  to  seize  any  person  or  things  shall  issue  without  describing 
them,  nor  without  probable  cause,  supported  by  oath  or  affirmation. 

Sec.  27.  The  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  remain,  but  shall  be  deemed  to 
be  waived  in  all  civil  cases,  unless  demanded  by  one  of  the  parties,  in  such 
manner  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  28.  In  every  criminal  prosecution  the  accused  shall  have  the  right 
to  a  speedy  and  public  trial  by  an  impartial  jury,  which  may  consist  of  less 
than  twelve  men  in  all  courts  not  of  record ;  to  be  informed  of  the  nature 
of  the  accusation ;  to  be  confronted  with  the  witnesses  against  him ;  to 
have  compulsory  process  for  obtaining  witnesses  in  his  favor,  and  have  the 
assistance  of  counsel  for  his  defense. 

Sec.  29.  No  person,  after  acquittal  upon  the  merits,  shall  be  tried  for  the 
same  offense;  all  persons  shall,  before  conviction,  be  bailable  by  sufficient 
sureties,  except  for  murder  and  treason,  when  the  proof  is  evident  or  the 
presumption  great. 

Sec.  30.  Treason  against  the  State  shall  consist  only  in  levying  war 
against  [it,]  or  in  adhering  to  its  enemies,  giving  them  aid  and  comfort. 
No  person  shall  be  convicted  of  treason  unless  upon  the  testimony  of  two 
witnesses  to  the  same  overt  act,  or  on  confession  in  open  court. 

See.  31.  Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required ;  excessive  fines  shall  not  be 
imposed  ;  cruel  or  unusual  punishment  shall  not  be  inflicted,  nor  shall  wit 
nesses  be  unreasonably  detained. 


536  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

Sec.  32.  No  person  shall  be  compelled,  in  any  criminal  case,  to  be  a  wit 
ness  against  himself,  nor  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without 
due  process  of  law. 

See.  33.  No  person  shall  be  imprisoned  for  debt  arising  out  of  or  founded 
on  a  contract,  express  or  implied,  except  in  cases  of  fraud  or  breach  of 
trust,  or  of  moneys  collected  by  public  officers,  or  in  any  professional  em 
ployment.  No  person  shall  be  imprisoned  for  a  militia  fine  in  time  of 
peace. 

Sec.  34.  No  person  shall  be  rendered  incompetent  to  be  a  witness  on 
account  of  his  opinions  on  matters  of  religious  belief. 

Sec.  35.  The  style  of  all  process  shall  be  :  "  In  the  name  of  the  people  of 
the  State  of  Michigan." 

ARTICLE     VII. 

ELECTIONS. 

Section  1.  In  all  elections  every  white  male  citizen,  every  white  male 
inhabitant  residing  in  the  State  on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  June,  one  thou 
sand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-five ;  every  white  male  inhabitant  residing 
in  this  State  on  the  first  day  of  January,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
fifty,  who  has  declared  his  intention  to  become  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  pursuant  to  the  laws  thereof,  six  months  preceding  an  election,  or 
who  has  resided  in  this  State  two  years  and  six  months,  and  declared  his 
intention  as  aforesaid ;  and  every  civilized  male  inhabitant  of  Indian 
descent,  a  native  of  the  United  States,  and  not  a  member  of  any  tribe,  shall 
be  an  elector  and  entitled  to  vote;  but  no  citizen  or  inhabitant  shall  be  an 
elector,  or  entitled  to  vote  at  any  election,  unless  he  shall  be  above  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years,  and  has  resided  in  this  State  three  months,  and  in  the 
township  or  ward  in  which  he  offers  to  vote,  ten  days  next  preceding  such 
election. 

Sec.  2.  All  votes  shall  be  given  by  ballot,  except  for  such  township  offi 
cers  as  may  be  authorized  by  law  to  be  otherwise  chosen. 

Sec.  3.  Every  elector,  in  all  cases  except  treason,  felony,  or  breach  of  the 
peace,  shall  be  privileged  from  arrest  during  his  attendance  at  election, 
and  going  to  and  returning  from  the  same. 

Sec.  4.  No  elector  shall  be  obliged  to  do  military  duty  on  the  day  of 
election,  except  in  time  of  war  or  public  danger,  or  attend  court  as  a  suitor 
or  witness. 

Sec.  5.  No  elector  shall  be  deemed  to  have  gained  or  lost  a  residence  by 
reason  of  his  being  employed  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  or  of  this 
State ;  nor  while  engaged  in  the  navigation  of  the  waters  of  this  State  or 
of  the  United  States,  or  of  the  high  seas ;  nor  while  a  student  of  any  sem 
inary  of  learning ;  nor  while  kept  at  any  alms-house  or  other  asylum  at 
public  expense ;  nor  while  confined  in  any  public  prison. 

Sec.  6.  Laws  may  be  passed  to  preserve  the  purity  of  elections,  and  guard 
against  abuses  of  the  elective  franchise. 

Sec.  7.  No  soldier,  seaman,  nor  marine  in  the  army  or  navy  of  the  Uni 
ted  States  shall  be  deemed  a  resident  of  this  State  in  consequence  of  being 
stationed  in  any  military  or  naval  place  within  the  same. 

Sec.  8.  Any  inhabitant  who  may  hereafter  be  engaged  in  a  duel,  either 
as  principal  or  accessory  before  the  fact,  shall  be  disqualified  from  holding 
any  office  under  the  constitution  and  laws  of  this  State,  and  shall  not  be 
permitted  to  vote  at  any  election. 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  537 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

STATE  OFFICERS. 

Section  1.  There  shall  be  elected  at  each  general  biennial  election  a  sec 
retary  of  State,  a  superintendent  of  public  instruction,  a  State  treasurer,  a 
commissioner  of  the  land  office,  an  auditor  general,  and  an  attorney  gene 
ral,  for  the  term  of  two  years.  They  shall  keep  their  offices  at  the  seat  of 
government,  and  shall  perform  such  duties  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  2.  Their  term  of  office  shall  commence  on  the  first  day  of  January, 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-three,  and  of  every  second  year 
thereafter. 

Sec.  3.  Whenever  a  vacancy  shall  occur  in  any  of  the  State  offices,  the 
governor  shall  fill  the  same  by  appointment,  by  and  with  the  consent  of 
the  Senate,  if  in  session. 

Sec.  4.  The  secretary  of  State,  State  treasurer,  and  commissioner  of  the 
State  land  office  shall  constitute  a  board  of  State  auditors,  to  examine  and 
adjust  all  claims  against  the  State  not  otherwise  provided  for  by  general 
law.  They  shall  constitute  a  board  of  State  canvassers  to  determine  the 
result  of  all  elections  for  governor,  lieutenant  governor,  and  State  officers, 
and  of  such  other  officers  as  shall  by  law  be  referred  to  them. 

Sec.  5.  In  case  two  or  more  persons  have  an  equal  and  the  highest  num 
ber  of  votes  for  any  office,  as  canvassed  by  the  board  of  State  canvassers, 
the  legislature  in  joint  convention  shall  choose  one  of  such  -persons  to  fill 
such  office.  When  the  determination  of  the  board  of  State  canvassers  is 
contested,  the  legislature  in  joint  convention  shall  decide  which  person  is 
elected. 

ARTICLE   IX. 


Section  1.  The  governor  shall  receive  an  annual  salary  of  one  thousand 
dollars  ;  the  judges  of  the  circuit  court  shall  each  receive  an  annual  salary 
of  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars ;  the  State  treasurer  shall  receive  an 
annual  salary  of  one  thousand  dollars;  the  auditor  general  shall  receive  an 
annual  salary  of  one  thousand  dollars ;  the  superintendent  of  public  in 
struction  shall  receive  an  annual  salary  of  one  thousand  dollars ;  the  secre 
tary  of  State  shall  receive  an  animal  salary  of  eight  hundred  dollars  ;  the 
commissioner  of  the  land  office  shall  receive  an  annual  salary  of  eight  hun 
dred  dollars ;  the  attorney  general  shall  receive  an  annual  salary  of  eight 
hundred  dollars.  They  shall  receive  no  fees  or  perquisites  whatever,  for  the 
performance  of  any  duties  connected  with  their  offices.  It  shall  not  be  com 
petent  for  the  legislature  to  increase  the  salaries  herein  provided. 

ARTICLE  X. 

COUNTIES. 

Section  1.  Each  organized  county  shall  be  a  body  corporate,  with  such 
powers  and  immunities  as  shall  be  established  by  law.  All  suits  and  pro 
ceedings  by  or  against  a  county  shall  be  in  the  name  thereof. 

Sec.  "2.  No  organized  county  shall  ever  be  reduced  by  the  organization  of 
new  counties  to  less  than  sixteen  townships,  as  surveyed  by  the  United 
States,  unless,  in  pursuance  of  law,  a  majority  of  electors  residing  in  each 
county  to  be  affected  thereby  shall  so  decide.  The  legislature  may  organ 
ize  any  city  into  a  separate  county,  when  it  has  attained  a  population  of 
twenty  thousand  inhabitants,  without  reference  to  geographical  extent,  when 

2  H  * 


538  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

a  majority  of  the  electors  of  a  county  in  which  such  city  may  be  situated, 
voting  thereon,  shall  be  in  favor  of  a  separate  organization. 

Sec.  3.  In  each  organized  county  there  shall  be  a  sheriff,  a  county  clerk, 
a  county  treasurer,  a  register  of  deeds,  and  a  prosecuting  attorney,  chosen 
by  the  electors  thereof,  once  in  two  years,  and  as  often  as  vacancies  shall 
happen,  whose  duties  and  powers  shall  be  prescribed  by  law.  The  board 
of  supervisors  in  any  county  may  unite  the  offices  of  county  clerk  and  regis 
ter  of  deeds  in  one  office,  or  disconnect  the  same. 

Sec.  4.  The  sheriff,  county  clerk,  county  treasurer,  judge  of  probate,  and 
register  of  deeds,  shall  hold  their  offices  at  the  county  seat. 

Sec.  5.  The  sheriff  shall  hold  no  other  office,  and  shall  be  incapable  of 
holding  the  office  of  sheriff  longer  than  four  in  any  period  of  six  years. 
He  may  be  required  by  law  to  renew  his  security  from  time  to  time,  and  in 
default  of  giving  such  security,  his  office  shall  be  deemed  vacant.  The 
county  shall  never  be  responsible  for  his  acts. 

Sec.  6.  A  board  of  supervisors,  consisting  of  one  from  each  organized 
township,  shall  be  established  in  each  county,  with  such  powers  as  shall  be 
prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  7.  Cities  shall  have  such  representation  in  the  board  of  supervisors 
of  the  counties  in  which  they  are  situated,  as  the  legislature  may  direct. 

Sec.  8.  No  county  seat  once  established  shall  be  removed  until  the  place 
to  which  it  is  proposed  to  be  removed  shall  be  designated  by  two-thirds  of 
the  board  of  supervisors  of  the  county,  and  a  majority  of  the  electors  vot 
ing  thereon  shall  have  voted  in  favor  of  the  proposed  location,  in  such  man 
ner  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  9.  The  board  of  supervisors  of  any  county  may  borrow  or  raise  by 
tax  one  thousand  dollars,  for  constructing  or  repairing  public  buildings, 
highways  or  bridges ;  but  no  greater  sum  shall  be  borrowed  or  raised  by 
tax  for  such  purpose  in  any  one  year,  unless  authorized  by  a  majority  of  the 
electors  of  such  county  voting  thereon. 

Sec.  10.  The  board  of  supervisors,  or,  in  the  county  of  Wayne,  the  board 
of  county  auditors,  shall  have  the  exclusive  power  to  prescribe  and  fix  the 
compensation  for  all  services  rendered  for,  and  to  adjust  all  claims  against, 
their  respective  counties;  and  the  sum  so  fixed  or  defined  shall  be  subject 
to  no  appeal. 

Sec.  11.  The  board  of  supervisors  of  each  organized  county  may  provide 
for  laying  out  highways,  constructing  bridges,  and  organizing  townships, 
under  such  restrictions  and  limitations  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

TOWNSHIPS. 

Section  1.  There  shall  be  elected  annually,  on  the  first  Monday  of  April, 
in  each  organized  township,  one  supervisor,  one  township  clerk,  who  shall 
be,  ex-officio,  school  inspector,  one  commissioner  of  highways,  one  township 
treasurer,  one  school  inspector,  not  exceeding  four  constables,  and  one  over 
seer  of  highways  for  each  highway  district,  whose  powers  and  duties  shall 
be  prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  2.  Each  organized  township  shall  be  a  body  corporate,  with  such 
powers  and  immunities  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law.  All  suits  and  pro 
ceedings  by  or  against  a  township  shall  be  in  the  name  thereof. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

IMPEACHMENTS    AND    REMOVALS    FROM    OFFICE. 

Section  1.  The  house  of  representatives  shall  have  the  sole  power  of  im- 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  539 

peaching  civil  officers  for  corrupt  conduct  in  office,  or  for  crimes  and  mis 
demeanors;  but  a  majority  of  the  members  elected  shall  be  necessary  to 
direct  an  impeachment. 

Sec.  2.  Every  impeachment  shall  be  tried  by  the  senate.  When  the  gov 
ernor  or  lieutenant  governor  is  tried,  the  chief  justice  of  the  supreme  court 
shall  preside.  When  an  impeachment  is  directed,  the  senate  shall  take  an 
oath  or  affirmation  truly  and  impartially  to  try  and  determine  the  same 
according  to  the  evidence.  No  person  shall  be  convicted  without  the  con 
currence  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  elected.  Judgment  in  case  of  im 
peachment  shall  not  extend  further  than  removal  from  office ;  but  the  party 
convicted  shall  be  liable  to  punishment  according  to  law. 

Sec.  3.  When  an  impeachment  is  directed,  the  house  of  representatives 
shall  elect  from  their  own  body  three  members,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
prosecute  such  impeachment.  No  impeachment  shall  be  tried  until  the 
final  adjournment  of  the  legislature,  when  the  senate  will  proceed  to  try 
the  same. 

Sec.  4.  No  judicial  officer  shall  exercise  his  office  after  an  impeachment 
is  directed,  until  he  is  acquitted. 

Sec.  5.  The  governor  may  make  a  provisional  appointment  to  fill  a  va 
cancy  occasioned  by  the  suspension  of  an  officer  until  he  shall  be  acquitted, 
or  until  after  the  election  and  qualification  of  a  successor. 

Sec.  6.  For  reasonable  cause,  which  shall  not  be  sufficient  ground  for  the 
impeachment  of  a  judge,  the  governor  shall  remove  him  on  a  concurrent 
resolution  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  elected  to  each  house  of  the  legis 
lature  ;  but  the  cause  for  which  such  removal  is  required,  shall  be  stated 
at  length  in  such  resolution. 

Sec.  7.  The  legislature  shall  provide  by  law  for  the  removal  of  any  officer 
elected  by  a  county,  township  or  school  district,  in  such  manner  and  for 
such  cause  as  to  them  shall  seem  just  and  proper. 


ARTICLE    XIII. 

EDUCATION. 


Section  1.  The  superintendent  of  public  instruction  shall  have  the  gen 
eral  supervision  of  public  instruction,  and  his  duties  shall  be  prescribed  by 
law. 

Sec.  2.  The  proceeds  from  the  sales  of  all  lands  that  have  been  or  here 
after  may  be  granted  by  the  United  States  to  the  State,  for  educational 
purposes,  and  the  proceeds  of  all  lands  or  other  property  given  by  indi 
viduals,  or  appropriated  by  the  State  for  like  purposes,  shall  be  and  re 
main  a  perpetual  fund,  the  interest  and  income  of  which,  together  with  the 
rents  of  all  such  lands  as  may  remain  unsold,  shall  be  inviolably  appro 
priated  and  annually  applied  to  the  specific  objects  of  the  original  gift, 
grant  or  appropriation. 

Sec.  3.  All  lands,  the  titles  to  which  shall  fall  from  a  defect  of  heirs, 
shall  escheat  to  the  State;  and  the  interest  on  the  clear  proceeds^  from  the 
sales  thereof,  shall  be  appropriated  exclusively  to  the  support  of  primary 
schools. 

Sec.  4.  The  legislature  shall,  within  five  years  from  the  adoption  of  this 
constitution,  provide  for  and  establish  a  system  of  primary  schools,  whereby 
a  school  shall  be  kept  without  charge  for  tuition,  at  least  three  months  in 
each  year,  in  every  school  district  in  the  State;  and  all  instruction  in  said 
schools  shall  be  conducted  in  the  English  language. 

Sec.  5.  A  school  shall  be  maintained  in  each  school  district  at  least  three 


540  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

months  in  each  year.  Any  school  district  neglecting  to  maintain  such 
school,  shall  be  deprived  for  the  ensuing  year  of  its  proportion  of  the  in 
come  of  the  primary  school  fund,  and  of  all  funds  arising  from  taxes  for 
the  support  of  schools. 

See.  6.  There  shall  be  elected  in  each  judicial  circuit,  at  the  time  of  the 
election  of  the  judge  of  such  circuit,  a  regent  of  the  university,  whose  term 
of  office  shall  be  the  same  as  that  of  such  judge.  The  regents  thus  elected 
shall  constitute  the  board  of  regents  of  the  University  of  Michigan. 

Sec.  7.  The  regents  of  the  university,  and  their  successors  in  office,  shall 
continue  to  constitute  the  body  corporate,  known  by  the  name  and  title  of 
"  The  Regents  of  the  University  of  Michigan." 

Sec.  8.  The  regents  of  the  university  shall,  at  their  first  annual  meeting, 
or  as  soon  thereafter  as  may  be,  elect  a  president  of  the  university,  who 
shall  be  ex-officio  a  member  of  their  board,  with  the  privilege  of  speaking, 
but  not  of  voting.  He  shall  preside  at  the  meetings  of  the  regents,  and  be 
the  principal  executive  officer  of  the  university.  The  board  of  regents 
shall  have  the  general  supervision  of  the  university,  and  the  direction  and 
control  of  all  expenditures  from  the  university  interest  fund. 

Sec.  9.  There  shall  be  elected  at  the  general  election  in  the  year  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-two,  three  members  of  a  State  board  of 
education,  one  for  two  years,  one  for  four  years,  and  one  for  six  years ;  and 
at  each  succeeding  biennial  election  there  shall  be  elected  one  member  of 
such  board,  who  shall  hold  his  office  for  six  years.  The  superintendent  of 
public  instruction  shall  be  ex-officio  a  member  and  secretary  of  such  board. 
The  board  shall  have  the  general  supervision  of  the  State  normal  school, 
and  their  duties  shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

See.  10.  Institutions  for  the  benefit  of  those  inhabitants  who  are  deaf, 
dumb,  blind,  or  insane,  shall  always  be  fostered  and  supported. 

Sec.  11.  The  legislature  shall  encourage  the  promotion  of  intellectual, 
scientific  and  agricultural  improvement;  and  shall,  as  soon  as  practicable, 
provide  for  the  establishment  of  an  agricultural  school.  The  legislature 
may  appropriate  the  twenty-two  sections  of  salt  spring  lands  now  unap 
propriated,  or  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  the  same,  where  such 


in  agriculture  and  the  natural  sciences  connected  therewith,  and  place  the 
same  under  the  supervision  of  the  regents  of  the  university. 

Sec.  12.  The  legislature  shall  provide  for  the  establishment  of  at  least 
one  library  in  each  township;  and  all  fines  assessed  and  collected  in  the 
several  counties  and  townships  for  any  breach  of  the  penal  laws,  shall  be 
exclusively  applied  to  the  support  of  such  libraries. 


ARTICLE  XIV. 

FINANCE    AND     TAXATION. 


Section  1.  All  specific  State  taxes,  except  those  received  from  the  mining 
companies  of  the  upper  peninsular,  shall  be  applied  in  paying  the  interest 
upon  the  primary  school,  university,  and  other  educational  funds,  and  the 
interest  and  principal  of  the  State  debt  in  the  order  herein  recited,  until 
the  extinguishment  of  the  State  debt,  other  than  the  amounts  due  to  edu 
cational  funds,  when  such  specific  taxes  shall  be  added  to,  and  constitute  a 
part  of  the  primary  school  interest  fund.  The  legislature  shall  provide  for 
an  annual  tax,  sufficient,  with  other  resources,  to  pay  the  estimated  expenses 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  541 

of  the  State  government,  the  interest  of  the  State  debt,  and  such  deficiency 
as  may  occur  in  the  resources. 

See.  2.  The  legislature  shall  provide  by  law  a  sinking  fund  of  at  least 
twenty  thousand  dollars  a  year,  to  commence  in  eighteen  hundred  and 
fifty-two,  with  compound  interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum, 
and  an  annual  increase  of  at  least  five  per  cent.,  to  be  applied  solely  to  the 
payment  and  extinguishment  of  the  principal  of  the  State  debt,  other  than 
the  amounts  due  to  educational  funds,  and  shall  be  continued  until  the 
extinguishment  thereof.  The  unfunded  debt  shall  not  be  funded  or  re 
deemed  at  a  value  exceeding  that  established  by  law  in  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  forty-eight. 

Sec.  3.  The  State  may  contract  debts  to  meet  deficits  in  revenue.  Such 
debts  shall  not  in  the  aggregate  at  any  one  time  exceed  fifty  thousand  dol 
lars.  The  moneys  so  raised  shall  be  applied  to  the  purposes  for  which  they 
were  obtained,  or  to  the  payment  of  the  debts  so  contracted. 

Sec.  4.  The  State  may  contract  debts  to  repel  invasion,  suppress  insur 
rection,  or  defend  the  State  in  time  of  war.  The  money  arising  from  the 
contracting  of  such  debts  shall  be  applied  to  the  purposes  for  which  it  was 
raised,  or  to  repay  such  debts. 

Sec.  5.  No  money  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  treasury,  except  in  pursuance 
of  appropriations  made  by  law. 

Sec.  6.  The  credit  of  the  State  shall  not  be  granted  to,  or  in  aid  of,  any 
person,  association  or  corporation. 

Sec.  7.  No  scrip,  certificate,  or  other  evidence  of  State  indebtedness  shall 
be  jssued,  except  for  the  redemption  of  stock  previously  issued,  or  for  such 
debts  as  are  expressly  authorized  in  this  constitution. 

Sec.  8.  The  State  shall  not  subscribe  to,  or  be  interested  in,  the  stock  of 
any  company,  association,  or  corporation. 

Sec.  9.  The  State  shall  not  be  a  party  to,  or  interested  in,  any  work  of 
internal  improvement,  or  engaged  in  carrying  on  any  such  work,  except  in 
the  expenditure  of  grants  to  the  State  of  land  or  other  property. 

Sec.  10.  The  State  may  continue  to  collect  all  specific  taxes  accruing  to 
the  Treasury  under  existing  laws.  The  legislature  may  provide  for  the 
collection  of  specific  taxes  from  banking,  railroad,  plank  road,  and  other 
corporations  hereafter  created. 

Sec.  11.  The  legislature  shall  provide  an  uniform  rule  of  taxation,  except 
on  property  paying  specific  taxes ;  and  taxes  shall  be  levied  on  such  prop 
erty  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

See.  12.  All  assessments  hereafter  authorized  shall  be  on  property  at  its 
cash  value. 

Sec.  13.  The  legislature  shall  provide  for  an  equalization  by  a  State  board 
in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-one,  and  every  fifth  year 
thereafter,  of  assessments  on  all  taxable  property,  except  that  paying  spe 
cific  taxes. 

Sec.  14.  Every  law  which  imposes,  continues,  or  revives  a  tax,  shall  dis 
tinctly  state  the  tax,  and  the  object  to  which  it  is  to  be  applied  ;  and  it 
shall  not  be  sufficient  to  refer  to  any  other  law  to  fix  such  tax  or  object. 

ARTICLE     XV. 

CORPORATIONS. 

Section  1.  Corporations  may  be  formed  under  general  laws,  but  shall  not 
be  created  by  special  act,  except  for  municipal  purposes.  All  laws  passed 
pursuant  to  this  section  may  be  altered,  amended,  or  repealed. 


542  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

Sec.  2.  No  banking  law,  or  law  for  banking  purposes,  or  amendments 
thereof,  shall  have  effect  until  the  same  shall,  after  its  passage,  be  submit 
ted  to  a  vote  of  the  electors  of  the  State,  at  a  general  election,  and  be 
approved  by  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  thereon  at  such  election. 

Sec.  3.  The  officers  and  stockholders  of  every  corporation  or  association 
for  banking  purposes,  issuing  bank  notes  or  paper  credits  to  circulate  as 
money,  shall  be  individually  liable  for  all  debts  contracted  during  the 
time  of  their  being  officers  or  stockholders  of  such  corporation  or  asso 
ciation. 

Sec.  4.  The  legislature  shall  provide  by  law  for  the  registry  of  all  bills 
or  notes  issued  or  put  in  circulation  as  money,  and  shall  require  security  to 
the  full  amount  of  notes  and  bills  so  registered,  in  State  or  United  States 
stocks  bearing  interest,  which  shall  be  deposited  with  the  State  treasurer  for 
the  redemption  of  such  bills  or  notes  in  specie. 

Sec.  5.  In  case  of  the  insolvency  of  any  bank  or  banking  association,  the 
bill-holders  thereof  shall  be  entitled  to  preference  in  payment,  over  all 
other  creditors  of  such  bank  or  association. 

Sec.  6.  The  legislature  shall  pass  no  law  authorizing  or  sanctioning  the 
suspension  of  specie  payments  by  any  person,  association,  or  corporation. 

Sec.  7.  The  stockholders  of  all  corporations  and  joint  stock  associations 
shall  be  individually  liable  for  all  labor  performed  for  such  corporation  or 
association. 

Sec.  8.  The  legislature  shall  pass  no  law  altering  or  amending  any  act  of 
incorporation  heretofore  granted,  without  the  assent  of  two-thirds  of  the 
members  elected  to  each  house;  nor  shall  any  such  act  be  renewed  o»ex- 
tended.  This  restriction  shall  not  apply  to  municipal  corporations. 

Sec.  9.  The  property  of  no  person  shall  be  taken  by  any  corporation  for 
public  use  without  compensation  being  first  made  or  secured  in  such  man 
ner  as  may  be  prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  10.  No  corporation,  except  for  municipal  purposes,  or  for  the  con 
struction  of  railroads,  plank  roads,  and  canals,  shall  be  created  for  a  longer 
time  than  thirty  years. 

Sec.  11.  The  term  "corporation,"  as  used  in  the  preceding  sections  of 
this  article,  shall  be  construed  to  include  all  associations  and  joint  stock 
companies  having  any  of  the  powers  or  privileges  of  corporations  not  pos 
sessed  by  individuals  or  partnerships.  All  corporations  shall  have  the  right 
to  sue  and  be  subject  to  be  sued  in  all  courts  in  like  cases  as  natural  per 
sons. 

Sec.  12.  No  corporation  shall  hold  any  real  estate  hereafter  acquired  for 
a  longer  period  than  ten  years,  except  such  real  estate  as  shall  be  actually 
occupied  by  such  corporation  in  the  exercise  of  its  franchises. 

Sec.  13.  The  legislature  shall  provide  for  the  incorporation  and  organiza 
tion  of  cities  and  villages,  and  shall  restrict  their  powers  of  taxation,  bor 
rowing  money,  contracting  debts,  and  loaning  their  credit. 

Sec.  14.  Judicial  officers  of  cities  and  villages  shall  be  elected,  and  all 
other  officers  shall  be  elected  or  appointed  at  such  time  and  in  such  manner 
as  the  legislature  may  direct. 

^  Sec.  15.  Private  property  shall  not  be  taken  for  public  improvements  in 
cities  and  villages  without  the  consent  of  the  owner,  unless  the  compensa 
tion  therefor  shall  first  be  determined  by  a  jury  of  freeholders,  and  actually 
paid  or  secured  in  the  manner  provided  by  law. 

Sec.  16.  Previous  notice  of  any  application  for  an  alteration  of  the  char 
ter  of  any  corporation  shall  be  given  in  such  manner  as  may  be  prescribed 
by  law. 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  543 


ARTICLE  XVI. 

EXEMPTIONS. 


Section  1.  The  personal  property  of  every  resident  of  this  State,  to  con 
sist  of  such  property  only  as  shall  be  designated  by  law,  shall  be  exempted 
to  the  amount  of  not  less  than  five  hundred  dollars,  from  sale  on  execution 
or  other  final  process  of  any  court,  issued  for  the  collection  of  any  debt 
contracted  after  the  adoption  of  this  constitution. 

Sec.  2.  Every  homestead  of  not  exceeding  forty  acres  of  land,  and  the 
dwelling  house  thereon,  and  the  appurtenances,  to  be  selected  by  the  owner 
thereof,  and  not  included  in  any  town  plat,  city,  or  village;  or  instead 
thereof,  at  the  option  of  the  owner,  any  lot  in  any  city,  village,  or  recorded 
town  plat,  or  such  parts  of  lots  as  shall  be  equal  thereto,  and  the  dwelling 
house  thereon,  and  its  appurtenances,  owned  and  occupied  by  any  resident 
of  the  State,  not  exceeding  in  value  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  shall  be  exempt 
from  forced  sale  on  execution,  or  any  other  final  process  from  a  court,  for 
any  debt  contracted  after  the  adoption  of  this  constitution.  Such  exemp 
tion  shall  not  extend  to  any  mortgage  thereon  lawfully  obtained  ;  but  such 
mortgage  or  other  alienation  of  such  land  by  the  owner  thereof,  if  a  mar 
ried  man,  shall  not  be  valid  without  the  signature  of  the  wife  to  the  same. 

Sec.  3.  The  homestead  of  a  family,  after  the  death  of  the  owner  thereof, 
shall  be  exempt  from  the  payment  of  his  debts,  contracted  after  the  adop 
tion  of  this  constitution,  in  all  cases  during  the  minority  of  his  children. 

Sec.  4.  If  the  owner  of  a  homestead  die,  leaving  a  widow,  but  no  chil 
dren,  the  same  shall  be  exempt,  and  the  rents  and  profits  thereof  shall 
accrue  to  her  benefit  during  the  time  of  her  widowhood,  unless  she  be  the 
owner  of  a  homestead  in  her  own  right. 

Sec.  5.  The  real  and  personal  estate  of  every  female,  acquired  before 
marriage,  and  all  property  to  which  she  may  afterwards  become  entitled  by 
gift,  grant,  inheritance,  or  devise,  shall  be  and  remain  the  estate  and  prop 
erty  of  such  female,  and  shall  not  be  liable  for  the  debts,  obligations,  or 
engagements  of  her  husband,  and  may  be  devised  or  bequeathed  by  her  as 
if  she  were  unmarried. 


ARTICLE  XVII. 


Section  1.  The  militia  shall  be  composed  of  all  able  bodied  white  male 
citizens  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty-five  years,  except  such  as 
are  exempted  by  the  laws  of  the  United  States  or  of  this  State ;  but  all 
such  citizens,  of  any  religious  denomination  whatever,  who,  from  scruples 
of  conscience,  may  be  adverse  to  bearing  arms,  shall  be  excused  therefrom, 
upon  such  conditions  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  2.  The  legislature  shall  provide  by  law  for  organizing,  equipping, 
and  disciplining  the  militia,  in  such  manner  as  they  shall  deem  expedient, 
not  incompatible  with  the  laws  of  the  United  States. 

Sec.  3.  Officers  of  the  militia  shall  be  elected  or  appointed,  and  be  com 
missioned  in  such  manner  as  may  be  provided  by  law. 

ARTICLE  XVIII. 
MISCELLANEOUS    PROVISIONS. 

Section  1.  Members  of  the  legislature,  and  all  officers,  executive  and  judi 
cial,  except  such  officers  as  may  by  law  be  exempted,  shall,  before  they 
enter  on  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices,  take  and  subscribe  the  follow- 


544  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

ing  oath  or  affirmation :  "  I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm,)  that  I  will  sup- 
po'rt  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  the  constitution  of  this  State, 
and  that  I  will  faithfully  discharge  the  duties  of  the  office  of  -  —  accord 
ing  to  the  hest  of  my  ability."  And  no  other  oath,  declaration,  or  test, 
shall  be  required  as  a  qualification  for  any  office  or  public  trust, 

Sec.  2.  When  private  property  is  taken  for  the  use  or  benefit  of  the  pub 
lic,  the  necessity  for  using  such  property,  and  the  just  compensation  to  be 
made  therefor,  except  when  to  be  made  by  the  State,  shall  be  ascertained 
by  a  jury  of  twelve  freeholders,  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  such  property, 
or  by  not  less  than  three  commissioners,  appointed  by  a  court  of  record,  as 
shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  3.  No  mechanical  trade  shall  hereafter  be  taught  to  convicts  in  the 
State  prison  of  this  State,  except  the  manufacture  of  those  articles  of  which 
the  chief  supply  for  home  consumption  is  imported  from  other  States  or 
countries. 

Sec.  4.  No  navigable  stream  in  this  State  shall  be  either  bridged  or 
dammed  without  authority  from  the  board  of  supervisors  of  the  proper 
county,  under  the  provisions  of  law.  No  such  law  shall  prejudice  the  right 
of  individuals  to  the  free  navigation  of  such  streams,  or  preclude  the  State 
from  the  further  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  such  streams. 

Sec.  5.  An  accurate  statement  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the 
public  moneys  shall  be  attached  to  and  published  with  the  laws,  at  every 
regular  session  of  the  legislature. 

Sec.  6.  The  laws,  public  records,  and  the  written  judicial  and  legislative 
proceedings  of  the  State  shall  be  conducted,  promulgated,  and  preserved  in 
the  English  language. 

Sec.  7.  Every  person  has  a  right  to  bear  arms  for  the  defence  of  himself 
and  the  State. 

Sec.  8.  The  military  shall,  in  all  cases,  and  at  all  times,  be  in  strict  sub 
ordination  to  the  civil  power. 

Sec.  9.  No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in  any  house 
without  the  consent  of  the  owner  or  occupant,  nor  in  time  of  war,  except  in 
a  manner  prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  10.  The  people  have  the  right  peaceably  to  assemble  together,  to 
consult  for  the  common  good,  to  instruct  their  representatives,  and  to  peti 
tion  the  legislature  for  redress  of  grievances. 

Sec.  11.  Neither  slavery,  nor  involuntary  servitude,  unless  for  the  punish 
ment  of  crime,  shall  ever  be  tolerated  in  this  State. 

Sec.  12.  No  lease  or  grant  hereafter  of  agricultural  land  for  a  longer 
period  than  twelve  years,  reserving  any  rent  or  service  of  any  kind,  shall 
be  valid. 

Sec.  13.  Aliens  who  are,  or  who  may  hereafter  become,  bona  fide  residents 
of  this  State,  shall  enjoy  the  same  rights  in  respect  to  the  possession,  enjoy 
ment,  and  inheritance  of  property,  as  native  born  citizens. 

Sec.  14.  The  property  of  no  person  shall  be  taken  for  public  use  without 
just  compensation  therefor.  Private  roads  may  be  opened  in  the  manner 
to  be  prescribed  by  law ;  but  in  every  case  the  necessities  of  the  road  and 
the  amount  of  all  damage  to  be  sustained  by  the  opening  thereof,  shall  be 
first  determined  by  a  jury  of  freeholders;  and  such  amount,  together  with 
the  expenses  of  proceedings,  shall  be  paid  by  the  person  or  persons  to  be 
benefited. 

Sec.  15.  No  general  revision  of  the  laws  shall  hereafter  be  made.  When 
a  reprint  thereof  becomes  necessary,  the  legislature  in  joint  convention  shall 
appoint  a  suitable  person  to  collect  together  such  acts  and  parts  of  acts  as 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  545 

are  in  force,  and  without  alteration,  arrange  them  under  appropriate  heads 
and  titles.  The  laws  so  arranged  shall  be  submitted  to  two  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  governor,  for  examination,  and  if  certified  by  them  to  be 
a  correct  compilation  of  all  general  laws  in  force,  shall  be  printed  in  such 
manner  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 


ARTICLE   XIX. 

UPPER    PENINSULA. 


Section  1.  The  counties  of  Mackinaw,  Chippewa,  Delta,  Marquette, 
Schoolcraft,  Houghton,  and  Ontonagon,  and  the  islands  and  territory  there 
unto  attached,  the  islands  of  Lakes  Superior,  Huron,  and  Michigan,  and  in 
Green  Bay,  and  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw  and  the  River  Ste.  Marie,  shall 
constitute  a  separate  judicial  district,  and  be  entitled  to  a  district  judge  and 
district  attorney. 

See.  2.  The  district  judge  shall  be  elected  by  the  electors  of  such  district, 
and  shall  perform  the  same  duties  and  possess  the  same  powers  as  a  circuit 
judge  in  his  circuit,  and  shall  hold  his  office  for  the  same  period. 

Sec.  3.  The  district  attorney  shall  be  elected  every  two  years  by  the  elec 
tors  of  the  district,  shall  perform  the  duties  of  prosecuting  attorney  through 
out  the  entire  district,  and  may  issue  warrants  for  the  arrest  of  offenders  in 
cases  of  felony,  to  be  proceeded  with  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

Sec.  4.  Such  judicial  district  shall  be  entitled  at  all  times  to  at  least  one 
senator;  and  until  entitled  to  more  by  its  population,  it  shall  have  three 
members  of  the  houne  of  representatives,  to  be  apportioned  among  the  sev 
eral  counties  by  the  legislature. 

Sec.  5.  The  legislature  may  provide  for  the  payment  of  the  district  judge 
a  salary  not  exceeding  one  thousand  dollars  a  year,  and  of  the  district  attor 
ney  not  exceeding  seven  hundred  dollars  a  year;  and  may  allow  extra  com 
pensation  to  the  members  of  the  legislature  from  such  territory,  not  exceed 
ing  two  dollars  a  day  during  any  session. 

Sec.  6.  The  elections  for  all  district  and  county  officers,  State  senator  or 
representatives,  within  the  boundaries  defined  in  this  article,  shall  take 
place  on  the  last  Tuesday  of  September  in  the  respective  years  in  which 
they  may  be  required.  The  county  canvass  shall  be  held  on  the  first  Tues 
day  in  October  thereafter,  and  the  district  canvass  on  the  last  Tuesday  of 
said  October. 

Sec.  7.  One-half  of  the  taxes  received  into  the  treasury  from  mining  cor 
porations  in  the  upper  peninsula,  paying  an  annual  State  tax  of  ono  per 
cent.,  shall  be  paid  to  the  treasurers  of  the  counties  from  which  it  is  received, 
to  be  applied  for  township  and  county  purposes,  as  provided  by  law.  The 
legislature  shall  have  power,  after  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
fifty-five,  to  reduce  the  amount  to  be  refunded. 

Sec.  8.  The  legislature  may  change  the  location  of  the  State  prison  from 
Jackson  to  the  upper  peninsula. 

Sec.  9.  The  charters  of  the  several  mining  corporations  may  be  modified 
by  the  legislature,  in  regard  to  the  term  limited  for  subscribing  to  stock, 
and  in  relation  to  the  quantity  of  land  which  a  corporation  shall  hold;  but 
the  capital  shall  not  be  increased,  nor  the  tim3  for  the  existence  of  char 
ters  extended.  No  such  corporation  shall  be  permitted  to  purchase  or  hold 
any  real  estate,  except  such  as  shall  be  necessary  for  the  exercise  of  its 
corporate  franchises. 

ARTICLE  XX. 
AMENDMENT   AND    REVISION    OF   TUB    CONSTITUTION. 

Section  1.  Any  amendment  or  amendments  to  this  constitution  may  be 
2  I 


546  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

proposed  in  the  senate  or  house  of  representatives.  If  the  same  shall  be 
agreed  to  by  two-thirds  of  the  members  elected  to  each  house,  such  amend 
ment  or  amendments  shall  be  entered  on  their  journals  respectively,  with 
the  yeas  and  nays  taken  thereon,  and  the  same  shall  be  submitted  to  the 
electors  at  the  next  general  election  thereafter ;  and  if  a  majority  of  the 
electors  qualified  to  vote  for  members  of  the  legislature  voting  thereon, 
shall  ratify  and  approve  such  amendment  or  amendments,  the  same  shall 
become  part  of  the  constitution. 

Sec.  2.  At  the  general  election  to  be  held  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  sixty-six,  and  in  each  sixteenth  year  thereafter;  and  also  at 
such  other  times  as  the  legislature  may  by  law  provide,  the  question  of  a 
general  revision  of  the  constitution  shall  be  submitted  to  the  electors  quali 
fied  to  vote  for  members  of  the  legislature ;  and  in  case  a  majority  of  the 
electors  so  qualified,  voting  at  such  election,  shall  decide  in  favor  of  a  con 
vention  for  such  purpose,  the  legislature,  at  the  next  session,  shall  provide 
by  law  for  the  election  of  delegates  to  such  convention.  All  the  amend 
ments  shall  take  effect  at  the  commencement  of  the  political  year  after 
their  adoption. 

SCHEDULE. 

That  no  inconvenience  may  arise  from  the  changes  in  the  constitution  of 
this  State,  and  in  order  to  carry  the  same  into  complete  operation,  it  is 
hereby  declared,  that 

Section  1.  The  common  law,  and  the  statute  laws  now  in  force,  not  repug 
nant  to  this  constitution,  shall  remain  in  force  until  they  expire  by  their 
own  limitations,  or  are  altered  or  repealed  by  the  legislature. 

Sec.  2.  All  writs,  actions,  causes  of  action,  prosecutions  and  rights  of  in 
dividuals  and  of  bodies  corporate,  and  of  the  State,  and  all  charters  of  in 
corporation,  shall  continue ;  and  all  indictments  which  have  been  found, 
or  which  may  hereafter  be  found,  for  any  crime  or  offense  committed 
before  the  adoption  of  this  constitution,  may  be  proceeded  upon  as  if  no 
change  had  taken  place.  The  several  courts,  except  as  herein  otherwise 
provided,  shall  continue  with  the  like  powers  and  jurisdiction,  both  at  law 
and  in  equity,  as  if  this  constitution  had  not  been  adopted,  and  until  the 
organization  of  the  judicial  department  under  this  constitution. 

Sec,  3.  That  all  fines,  penalties,  forfeitures,  and  escheats  accruing  to  the 
State  of  Michigan  under  the  present  constitution  and  laws,  shall  accrue  to 
the  use  of  the  State  under  this  constitution. 

Sec.  4.  That  all  recognizances,  bonds,  obligations,  and  all  other  instru 
ments  entered  into  or  executed  before  the  adoption  of  this  constitution,  to 
the  people  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  to  any  State,  county  or  township,  or 
any  public  officer  or  public  body,  or  which  maybe  entered  into  or  executed 
under  existing  laws  "to  the  people  of  the  State  of  Michigan,"  to  any  such 
officer  or  public  body,  before  the  complete  organization  of  the  departments 
of  government  under  this  constitution,  shall  remain  binding  and  valid;  and 
rights  and  liabilities  upon  the  same  shall  continue,  and  may  be  prosecuted 
as  provided  by  law.  And  all  crimes  and  misdemeanors  and  penal  actions, 
shall  be  tried,  punished  and  prosecuted,  as  though  no  change  had  taken 
place,  until  otherwise  provided  by  law. 

Sec.  5.  A  governor  and  lieutenant  governor  shall  be  chosen  under  the 
existing  constitution  and  laws,  to  serve  after  the  expiration  of  the  term  of 
the  present  incumbent. 

.  Sec.  6.  All  officers,  civil  and  military,  now  holding  any  office  or  appoint 
ment,  shall  continue  to  hold  their  respective  offices,  unless  removed  by  coin- 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  547 

petent  authority,  until  superseded  under  the  laws  now  in  force,  or  under 
this  constitution. 

See.  7.  The  members  of  the  senate  and  house  of  representatives  of  the 
legislature  of  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-one  shall  continue  in 
office,  under  the  provisions  of  law,  until  superseded  by  their  successors, 
elected  and  qualified  under  this  constitution. 

Sec.  8.  All  county  officers,  unless  removed  by  competent  authority,  shall 
continue  to  hold  their  respective  cffices  until  the  first  day  of  January,  in 
the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-three.  The  laws  now  in  force 
as  to  the  election,  qualification,  and  duties  of  township  officers  shall  con 
tinue  in  force  until  the  legislature  shall,  in  conformity  to  the  provisions  of 
this  constitution,  provide  for  the  holding  of  elections  to  fill  such  offices,  and 
prescribe  the  duties  of  such  officers  respectively. 

Sec.  9.  On  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hun 
dred  and  fifty-two,  the  terms  of  cffice  of  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court 
under  existing  laws,  and  of  the  judges  of  the  county  courts,  and  of  the 
clerks  of  the  supreme  court,  shall  expire  on  the  said  day. 

Sec.  10.  On  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hun 
dred  and  fifty-two,  the  jurisdiction  of  all  suits  and  proceedings  then  pend 
ing  in  the  present  supreme  court  shall  become  vested  in  the  supreme  court 
established  by  this  constitution,  and  shall  be  finally  adjudicated  by  the 
court  where  the  same  maybe  pending.  The  jurisdiction  of  all  suits  and 
proceedings  at  law  and  equity,  then  pending  in  the  circuit  courts  and  county 
courts  for  the  several  counties  shall  become  vested  in  the  circuit  court  of 
the  said  counties  and  district  court  of  the  upper  peninsula. 

Sec.  11.  The  probate  courts,  the  courts  of  justices  of  the  peace,  and  the 
police  court  authorized  by  an  act  entitled  "  an  act  to  establish  a  police 
court  in  the  city  of  Detroit,"  approved  April  second,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  fifty,  shall  continue  to  exercise  the  jurisdiction  and  powers 
now  conferred  upon  them  respectively,  until  otherwise  provided  by  law. 

Sec.  12.  The  office  of  State  printer  shall  be  vested  in  the  present  incum 
bent  until  the  expiration  of  the  term  for  which  he  was  elected  under  the 
law  then  in  force;  and  all  the  provisions  of  the  said  law  relating  to  his 
duties,  rights,  privileges,  and  compensation,  shall  remain  unimpaired  and 
inviolate  until  the  expiration  of  his  said  term  of  office. 

Sec.  13.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  legislature,  at  their  first  session,  to 
adapt  the  present  laws  to  the  provisions  of  this  constitution,  as  far  as  may  be. 

Sec.  14.  The  attorney  general  of  the  State  is  required  to  prepare  and  re 
port  to  the  legislature,  at  the  commencement  of  the  next  session,  such 
changes  and  modifications  in  existing  laws  as  may  be  deemed  necessary  to 
adapt  the  same  to  this  constitution,  and  as  may  be  best  calculated  to  carry 
into  effect  its  provisions  ;  and  he  shall  receive  no  additional  compensation 
therefor. 

Sec.  15.  Any  territory  attached  to  any  county  for  judicial  purposes,  if 
not  otherwise  represented,  shall  be  considered  as  forming  part  of  such 
county,  so  far  as  regards  elections  for  the  purpose  of  representation. 

[Sections  16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  and  21,  referring  to  the  mode  of  voting  for 
the  new  constitution,  are  omitted,  not  having  any  direct  connection  with 
the  instrument] 

Sec.  22.  Every  county  except  Mackinaw  and  Chippewa,  entitled  to  a  repre 
sentative  in  the  legislature,  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  constitution, 
shall  continue  to  be  so  entitled  under  this  constitution  ;  and  the  county  of 
Saginaw,  with  the  territory  that  may  be  attached,  shall  be  entitled  to  one 
representative  ;  the  county  of  Tuscola,  and  the  territory  that  may  be  attach- 


548  MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS. 

ed,  one  representative ;  the  county  of  Sanilac  and  the  territory  that  may 
be  attached,  one  representative;  the  counties  of  Midland  and  Arenac, 
[Bay,]  with  the  territory  that  may  be  attached,  one  representative ;  the 
county  of  Montcalm,  with  the  territory  that  may  be  attached  thereto,  one 
representative;  and  the  counties  of  Newaygo  and  Oceana,  with  the  territory 
that  may  be  attached  thereto,  one  representative.  Each  county  having  a 
ratio  of  representation  and  a  fraction  over,  equal  to  a  moiety  of  said  ratio, 
shall  be  entitled  to  two  representatives,  and  so  on  above  that  number,  giv 
ing  one  additional  member  for  each  additional  ratio. 

Sec.  23.  The  cases  pending  and  undisposed  of  in  the  late  court  of  chan 
cery,  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  constitution,  shall  continue  to  be 
heard  and  determined  by  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court.  But  the  legis 
lature  shall,  at  its  session  in  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-one,  pro 
vide  by  law  for  the  transfer  of  said  causes  that  may  remain  undisposed  of 
on  the  first  day  of  January,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-two,  to 
the  supreme  or  circuit  court,  established  by  this  constitution,  or  require  that 
the  same  may  be  heard  and  determined  by  the  circuit  judges. 

Sec.  21.  The  term  of  office  of  the  governor  and  lieutenant  governor  shall 
commence  on  the  first  day  of  January  next  after  their  election. 

Sec.  25.  The  territory  described  in  the  article  entitled  "  Upper  Peninsula," 
shall  be  attached  to  and  constitute  a  part  of  the  third  circuit  for  the  elec 
tion  of  a  regent  of  the  university. 

Sec.  26.  The  legislature  shall  have  authority,  after  the  expiration  of  the 
term  of  office  of  the  district  judge  first  elected  for  the  upper  peninsula,  to 
abolish  said  office  of  district  judge  and  district  attorney,  or  either  of  them. 

Sec.  27.  The  legislature  shall,  at  its  session  of  one  thousand  eight  hun 
dred  and  fifty-one,  apportion  the  representatives  among  the  several  counties 
and  districts,  and  divide  the  State  into  senate  districts,  pursuant  to  the 
provisions  of  this  constitution. 

Sec.  28.  The  terms  of  office  of  all  State  and  county  officers,  of  the  circuit 
judges,  members  of  the  board  of  education,  and  members  of  the  legislature, 
shall  begin  on  the  first  day  of  January  next  succeeding  their  election. 

Sec.  29.  The  State,  exclusive  of  the  upper  peninsula,  shall  be  divided  into 
eight  judicial  circuits,  and  the  counties  of  Monroe,  Lenawee,  and  Hillsdale, 
shall  constitute  the  first  circuit;  the  counties  of  Branch,  St.  Joseph,  Cass, 
and  Berrien,  shall  constitute  the  second  circuit;  the  county  of  Wayne  shall 
constitute  the  third  circuit;  the  counties  of  Washtenaw,  Jackson,  and  Ing- 
ham,  shall  constitute  the  fourth  circuit;  the  counties  of  Calhoun,  Kalama- 
zoo,  Allegan,  Eaton,  and  Van  Buren,  shall  constitute  the  fifth  circuit;  [the] 
counties  of  St.  Glair,  Macomb,  Oakland,  and  Sanilac,  shall  constitute  the 
sixth  circuit;  the  counties  of  Lapeer,  Genesee,  Saginaw,  Shiawassee,  Liv 
ingston,  Tuscola,  and  Midland,  shall  constitute  the  seventh  circuit;  and 
the  counties  of  Barry,  Kent,  Ottawa,  Ionia,  Clinton,  and  Montcalm  shall 
constitute  the  eighth  circuit. 

Done  in  convention,  at  the  capital  of  the  State,  this  fifteenth  day  of 
August,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty,  and 
of  the  independence  of  the  United  States  the  seventy-fifth. 

D.  GOODWIN,  President. 


AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  CONSTITUTION. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1870,  the  people  of  Michigan  voted  upon  the 
ratification  of  four  amendments  to  the  State  constitution,  as  follows :  First, 


MISCELLANEOUS  RECORDS.  549 

an  amendment  striking  out  the  word  "  white"  wherever  it  occurs  in  the 
organic  law ;  Second,  authorizing  the  board  of  supervisors  of  any  county 
to  borrow  or  raise  by  tax  two  thousand  dollars,  for  constructing  or  repair 
ing  public  buildings,  highways,  or  bridges,  but  no  greater  amount  without 
the  sanction  of  the  electors  of  such  county;  Third,  an  amendment  for  in 
creasing  the  salaries  of  the  State  executive  and  judicial  officers;  and  Fourth, 
an  amendment  authorizing  the  legislature  to  pass  laws  establishing  certain 
charges  on  the  railroads  of  the  State,  prohibiting  running  contracts  between 
railroad  companies  with  certain  discriminations,  also  prohibiting  the  con 
solidation  of  stock,  property,  or  franchises  between  parallel  or  competing 
lines  of  railroads  without  due  notice  to  stockholders,  and  finally,  that  the 
legislature  may  provide  by  law  for  the  payment  by  counties,  townships,  and 
municipalities  of  the  State,  of  all  bonds  or  other  obligations  heretofore 
issued  in  aid  of  railroads,  subject  to  the  will  of  the  electors  of  each  county. 
As  the  concluding  page  of  this  volume  is  passing  through  the  press,  it  is 
quite  impossible  to  ascertain  the  official  result  of  the  election  on  these 
amendments ;  but  according  to  the  latest  newspaper  reports,  they  have  all 
been  defeated  excepting  the  two  articles,  placing  railroad  tariffs  under  the 
control  of  the  legislature,  and  forbidding  the  consolidation  of  competing 
lines  of  railroads,  and  perhaps  the  amendment  on  suffrage. 


